Buzzer beater sends Barron Collier to regional finals

NAPLES, FLORIDA – The shots were falling like they usually do for the Barron Collier boys basketball team in Tuesday's Class 5A-Region 3 semifinal.

But the Cougars got the ball last, and that's all that mattered.

That final shot went in, and Barron Collier grabbed a 57-55 win over Mariner (Cape Coral) at home. With the win the Cougars advance to the regional finals for the second year in a row.

Bryce Clayton's floater with 2.1 seconds left was the game-winner.

"Shoot, man, it felt so good," Clayton said of the victory. "I just drove into the lane and (Mariner defenders) were backing off, so I hit the floater."

Barron Collier (23-5) averages 10 made 3-pointers per game this season. In a regular-season win over Mariner, the Cougars hit 11 shots from deep.

On Tuesday, Barron Collier made six 3s, and five of them came in a seven-minute span of the second and third quarters. During that hot streak the Cougars built an 11-point lead.

However, the Tritons (19-10) battled back. They even took a 47-45 lead with five minutes left.

After Barron Collier regained the lead, Mariner leading scorer Justin Lewis hit a driving layup to tie the game, 55-55, with 13.7 seconds left. The Cougars called timeout, then had to go the length of the court before Clayton's game-winner.

"Our first thought (on the final play) was, 'No turnovers. Don't let them have a chance to win it,'" Cougars senior Noah French said. "Our second thought was, 'Try to get someone one on one, which we did, and have someone make the shot.'"

French had a game-high 24 points. He helped his team battle out of its cold spell by scoring 13 of the Cougars' 15 points during an eight-minute period in the second half.

Bryce Clayton finished with 15 points, while Brayden Touchette had nine. The rest of the Cougars combined to score just nine points.

Barron Collier was without senior starter Mike Reyes, who injured his ankle in the district finals. Another starter, point guard Spencer Clayton, rolled his ankle with 1:34 left in Tuesday's game and had to be helped off the court.

The Cougars could be short-handed Friday when they host No. 2 seed St. Petersburg (22-6). Last year Barron Collier lost by two points in the regional finals at St. Pete. This year the Cougars get to host because they are the top seed in the region.

"It eats at us a lot," French, one of four senior starters, said of last year's loss. "This year hopefully we can get revenge."

It is just the third trip to the regional finals in school history, and just the second time at home. The Barron Collier boys have never won a regional championship (although the girls team has two state titles).

Mariner put up an impressive showing after losing 84-42 at Barron Collier in November. Lewis scored 18 points to lead the Tritons. Marcus Kelley had 13 points and Kelvin Jimenez added 10 for Mariner.