Basketball state semis: Impact Christian, University Christian fall in openers
The Florida High School Athletic Association's girls basketball playoffs continue this week. (News4JAX)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a tough day for the University Christian girls and Impact Christian boys in the high school basketball state semifinals.
The Lions gave top-ranked Sagemont all it could handle for a half before falling 59-45 in the Class 2A final four game on Tuesday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Impact (18-11) trailed just 24-23 at the break before the bigger Sagemont lineup started pulling away. Wilmer DeJesus led Impact with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds). Taylor Thompson followed with 17.
It was the fourth time in the program’s seven seasons that it had reached the state semifinals.
In the Class 2A girls semis, Evangelical Christian built a big lead in the opening half and stretched it out in a 59-43 win over University Christian. Kamela Marshall had 17 points for UC, with Alanna Tatum adding 14. Tacarri Neal pulled down 12 rebounds for the Christians.
Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.
About the Author Justin Barney headshot
Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.
Nassau County Christmas tree lighting and fireworks ▶ 0:27
Nassau County Christmas tree lighting and fireworks
Vigil for high school senior killed at Westside Burger King ▶ 0:44
Vigil for high school senior killed at Westside Burger King
Tracking a rainy weekend of possibly disruptive storms ▶ 0:54
Tracking a rainy weekend of possibly disruptive storms
Jacksonville mother, 2 young children homeless after apartment fire ▶ 0:43
Jacksonville mother, 2 young children homeless after apartment fire
Ep. 5: Breakup blues? Practical mental health tools to help you bounce back ▶ 1:03
Ep. 5: Breakup blues? Practical mental health tools to help you bounce back
News4JAX wraps up its 2025 Toy Drive ▶ 1:01
News4JAX wraps up its 2025 Toy Drive
St. Johns County man charged with DUI after golf cart crash that fatally injured his wife ▶ 0:19
St. Johns County man charged with DUI after golf cart crash that fatally injured his wife
New fire station coming to Clay County for the first time in over 25 years ▶ 0:43
New fire station coming to Clay County for the first time in over 25 years
Richard's Swing Makeover Pt. 14: Time to file -- metal, not taxes ▶ 0:59
Richard's Swing Makeover Pt. 14: Time to file -- metal, not taxes
Local man shares warning after catching rare bacteria while fishing in St. Johns County ▶ 0:55
Local man shares warning after catching rare bacteria while fishing in St. Johns County
Donate toys to our annual Channel 4 Toy Drive! ▶ 0:24
Donate toys to our annual Channel 4 Toy Drive!
Voices of the 904 Ep. 7 - The one-man army cooking with a passion to feed the city that raised him ▶ 0:21
Voices of the 904 Ep. 7 - The one-man army cooking with a passion to feed the city that raised him
Culinary Nunnsense: Richard shares his stew recipe -- perfect for the lower temps in our forecast ▶ 2:28
Culinary Nunnsense: Richard shares his stew recipe -- perfect for the lower temps in our forecast
Nassau County community mourns passing of ‘cherished community advocate’ ▶ 0:40
Nassau County community mourns passing of ‘cherished community advocate’
Color the Weather: Zayne’s Forecast ☀️📚 ▶ 1:33
Color the Weather: Zayne’s Forecast ☀️📚
St. Johns County sheriff explains what led to deadly deputy-involved shooting ▶ 1:15
St. Johns County sheriff explains what led to deadly deputy-involved shooting
Byron Chandler Interiors in St. Johns County shares tips on home decor! ▶ 0:58
Byron Chandler Interiors in St. Johns County shares tips on home decor!
Final full moon of 2025 expected to be supermoon ▶ 0:53
Final full moon of 2025 expected to be supermoon
76-year-old mother killed in Lake City crash adopted two young girls who also died ▶ 1:32
76-year-old mother killed in Lake City crash adopted two young girls who also died
3 bills propose rules to prevent child drownings in Florida. There have already been 112 this year ▶ 0:38
3 bills propose rules to prevent child drownings in Florida. There have already been 112 this year
Annual Channel 4 Toy Drive tradition returns on Thursday, Dec. 4 ▶ 0:47
Annual Channel 4 Toy Drive tradition returns on Thursday, Dec. 4
Typical Florida household needs 17 years to save for a 10% home down payment, study finds ▶ 0:48
Typical Florida household needs 17 years to save for a 10% home down payment, study finds
Patchy dense fog ahead of storms ▶ 0:33
Patchy dense fog ahead of storms
St. Johns County commissioners push for developers to pay for land conservation ▶ 0:37
St. Johns County commissioners push for developers to pay for land conservation
Mother of 18-year-old killed in Burger King shooting shares her grief, along with a message ▶ 0:54
Mother of 18-year-old killed in Burger King shooting shares her grief, along with a message
Previous photo Next photo 