Ponte Vedra boys can’t catch up to Pembroke Pines Charter in state hoops semifinals

Pembroke Pines Charter jumped all over Ponte Vedra early and ended the Sharks’ season in the boys basketball state semifinals on Thursday night.

The Jaguars blitzed Ponte Vedra from the start and rolled to a 61-34 win in the Class 6A final four at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The Sharks were making their third trip to the state semifinals. It was their first loss after back-to-back appearances in the state championship game. David Sanchez Barrera and Tyler Cowan had eight points apiece on a tough night for the Sharks (23-8).

Ponte Vedra trimmed a 6-0 deficit to a possession after a 3-pointer from Trace Westercamp with just under five minutes to play in the opening quarter. That was as close as it would be the rest of the way.

The loss continued the area’s championship drought.

No area team from the News4JAX core coverage region (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns) has won a state championship since Bolles in 2016.