Fleming Island basketball’s state title hopes dashed in 5A final

In his final high school basketball game, Robert Guishard was a big man with big plans — and big numbers.

Numbers just a bit too big for Fleming Island.

“I just did my job and did it to the fullest, man,” Guishard said. “Last game of my career.”

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Pembroke Pines Charter denied the Golden Eagles’ charge toward a championship, edging Fleming Island 52-48 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A boys final on March 13.

Guishard starred with 19 points and 21 rebounds for Pembroke Pines Charter, nailing down a second FHSAA championship in three seasons.

Fleming Island (23-9), also a final four qualifier in 2019 under head coach Traavis Chandler, was aiming for the first FHSAA boys basketball state title in Clay County history.

Two nights after their highest offensive production of the year, 86 points in the semifinal against Tampa Jesuit, the Golden Eagles took nearly a half to find an offensive rhythm inside Jacksonville’s UNF Arena.

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WILD FLEMING ISLAND COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Still, the Golden Eagles, who had trailed by as many as eight points, fought to the finish.

Down seven with 2:59 to play, Fleming Island (23-9) rallied on two rapid-fire baskets and a free throw from junior Carson Crawford, who led with 20 points.

Guishard responded with a dunk, before Bryce Robinson made one of two from the line for Fleming Island and Crawford converted a fast break into a score to cut the gap to 48-47 with 37 seconds left.

After Anthony Walcott converted two Jaguar free throws, Fleming Island regained possession with a chance to tie, but Bryce Robinson missed an off-balance jumper with 14 seconds remaining and Walcott grabbed the rebound. Alex Vardakis and Guishard, at the four-second mark, iced the game from the line.

“It was just willpower,” Guishard said.

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Zac Dawson scored 12 points and nine rebounds for Pembroke Pines Charter (22-6), and Vardakis had 11 off the bench.

Key Golden Eagles on course to return, in addition to top scorer Crawford, include junior wing Ayden Greenidge and athletic freshman Jalil Hill, who blocked four shots.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Pembroke Pines Charter defeats Fleming Island in 5A state basketball