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Plant girls prove they’re clearly the class of their district, perhaps state

Now it’s on to the region tournament, where the Panthers have hopes of a state final four berth.
 
Published Feb. 8, 2020

TAMPA ― There’s no doubt that Plant is the best team in Class 7A, District 7 after Friday night’s 61-18 win over No. 2 Alonso. Now it’s time to see if the Panthers are the best team in the state.

Plant (26-1) will host a region quarterfinal Thursday and could have home-court advantage throughout. The Panthers are ranked first in Class 7A and 12th overall in the state. Region tournament brackets will be released by the Florida High School Athletic Association on Sunday.

“The main thing is to just stay loose and not listen to what other people are saying,” Plant coach Carrie Mahon said. “This team is businesslike. Every game is the most important game. They are really enjoying each other right now.”

Related: Final high school girls basketball rankings for Tampa Bay

The Panthers took care of business early in the final. They scored the first 14 points, highlighted by six straight points from junior guard Nyla Jean. By the end of the first quarter, Plant led 28-5 and there wasn’t much drama left — except for one moment in the third quarter.

With just over five minutes left, and with the clock running due to a 35-plus point lead, Mahon shouted to her team to run “14.” It was designed to get Jean, who wears No. 14, free for a shot. She lofted a 3-pointer but missed. Plant got the rebound and found Jean again. This time she nailed the shot and Mahon quickly called a timeout.

It was Jean’s 15th point of the game. She needed 13 to eclipse 1,000 points in her career. Teammates gave her a poster and flowers to mark the milestone.

“I had no idea,” Jean said. “They stopped the game and I didn’t know why. I saw the poster and then I figured it out. I was like ‘Wow.'”

It’s been a season of milestones for the Panthers. Junior forward Kendal Cheesman surpassed 1,000 points earlier in the season. And Mahon earned her 500th win two weeks ago against Tampa Bay Tech.

“She’s special,” Mahon said of Jean. “And now her and Kendal both have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, which is incredible to happen to two juniors in one season.”

Soon after Jean made her shot, Plant cleared its bench and the final quarter was played with reserves. That was also the case in the district semifinals Wednesday, a 72-4 win over Wharton.

Jean led all scorers with 16 points. Kayla Sieper scored 14, many of which were layups. Cheesman added 10 points and Tanner Strickland scored eight.

Alonso (15-11) found it hard to get baskets all night. Chanelle Harrison and Lillian Barnes each had six points.

Plant also won the district championship last season. The Panthers advanced to the region final before losing to St. Cloud. St. Cloud is now in Class 6A, so this year’s postseason is wide open.

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Their only loss this season was to Fayetteville (Ark.). If the regular season and district tournament are any indication, the Panthers are ready to make a championship run. And they know exactly how many games it takes to win it all.

“We have five games left,'” Jean said.