While nobody was giving Boyd Anderson and Cardinal Gibbons much of a chance in the boys basketball state semifinals last week at the Lakeland Center, neither team was about to back down.

Pitted against one of the nation’s best basketball teams, Winter Park, Boyd Anderson fell behind 18-2 in the FHSAA Class 6A state semifinals, and while the Cobras lost to the eventual state champions, it was one of those games where everyone left shaking their heads, thinking about what if.

The Cobras regrouped against the No. 8 team in the country and left with a 51-42 loss. It was enough for Boyd Anderson head coach Eugene Richardson to proclaim that his team was truly one that nobody gave any chance of upsetting the Wildcats.

While 6-foot-8 center Travis Elliott was held in check, coming up with seven points and six rebounds, his teammates certainly made a lasting impression. Marvens Metellus had a team-high 15 points while T'Vaughn Ferguson and Dyllan Jones added six points each.

CHIEFS COME CLOSE TO A WIN
One of the coaches who has made a lasting impression in Broward County is Marty Seidlin. This is someone who has enjoyed success throughout his storied coaching career, and now, he has spread his wealth of knowledge and tremendous zest for the sport of basketball to the players at Cardinal Gibbons.

So, it was really no surprise that the Chiefs made it the 4A Final Four this season, losing to Orlando Oak Ridge, 56-46, as University of Georgia-bound center Cady Lalanne proved to be too much as he had a game-high 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Seidlin realized that mistakes his team made ended up being too much against a quality Pioneer team that had won 23 of 31 games this season.

``We missed a number of foul shots and key jump shots, but that’s part of the game,” Seidlin said. ``Oak Ridge was well coached and they limited the mistakes.“

The Chiefs got 15 points from Marcus Neely and 14 points from the only starting senior, LaSalle University signee Sam Mills, but when Keenan Clark, one of the Chiefs' key ball handlers, had three teeth knocked out with 1:45 left in the third quarter.

“That really hurt us,” Seidlin pointed out. “That was really the turning point in the game.”

While nobody gave Boyd Anderson or Cardinal Gibbons a chance of doing anything at the state championships, both teams left a mark that will open the way for a chance to come back in 2011 and finish what was started this season!

NEXT WEEK: A look at the rising seniors everyone is watching this spring on the football field.

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).