Final four veteran Impact Christian ready for shot at Sagemont in Class 2A state semis

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The boys high school basketball state tournament begins this week at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Here’s a glance at the Class 2A state semifinal.

Class 2A boys basketball state semifinals

Impact Christian (18-10) vs. Sagemont (23-6)

Where: RP Funding Center, Lakeland

When: Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Watch it: Game can be streamed through the NFHS Network. Cost is $11.99 for a monthly pass.

Winner gets: Orlando Christian Prep or SLAM Academy in the state championship on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Notable: Coach Benjamin Jones has built the Lions into more than just a one-year wonder. Since arriving at Impact in 2016 from White (and before the Lions were even fielding a program), Jones began building Impact from the floor up. In their first season of playoff eligibility in 2018, the Lions played for a state championship. They added return trips to Lakeland in 2020 and ‘21, playing for titles in each. Impact made a sharp turnaround, going from a 3-8 start to a blistering finish. The Lions enter on a seven-game winning streak, including a 64-62 win over University Christian in the regional final. G Ronald Clark hit a walk-off layup at the buzzer to send the Lions on. G Taylor Thompson (11.5 ppg) and G/F Wilmer De Jesus (10.3 ppg) are powering Impact this season.