Basketball state semis: Impact Christian, University Christian fall in openers

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.