Look: Hykeem Williams leads Stranahan to Florida 5A boys basketball state championship

View photos and video highlights from Stranahan's 64-40 win over St. Petersburg

LAKELAND, Fla. - Junior forward Hykeem Williams poured in 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Stranahan to a 64-40 romp over St. Petersburg in the Florida Class 5A boys basketball state championship on Saturday. 

It’s the third state title in the last four seasons for the Mighty Dragons.

Senior guards Houston Culpepper and Tamarrien Thorpe each added 10 points for the Mighty Dragons, who finished the season 27-3.

“This one is for Jakhari,” Stranahan head coach Edward Schuler said after the game.

Jakhari Frye would have been a senior captain for the Mighty Dragons but tragically passed away in September 2020 due to a rare medical condition at the age of 16.

St. Petersburg scored the opening basket nearly two and a half minutes into the game, on a short jumper by senior forward Dylan Kramer. The Dragons answered with nine unanswered points and never trailed the rest of the game.

The Dragons held the Green Devils to just 24 percent shooting in the first half and nearly 36% for the game. Senior forward Derrick Mitchell did not play due to a sprained ankle he suffered in the state semifinal game vs. Orlando Jones.

The Green Devils were led by Kramer who finished with a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds. Junior guards Marquris Curry Jr. and Tristan Gross each finished with eight points.

The Green Devils (25-6), who last appeared in the state championship game in 2016, were seeking their first state championship since 1933.

PHOTO GALLERY

(All photos by Annette Wilkerson)

Photo by Annette Wilkerson

Photo by Annette Wilkerson