Bradenton Southeast beats Choctawhatchee 52-35

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - DeAngela Mathis had 15 points to lead Bradenton Southeast to a 52-35 victory over Choctawhatchee in the Florida Class 5A girls state basketball championship game. Southeast (33-1) pulled away late in the third quarter behind the frontcourt of Mathis and Keshawna Robinson, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Seminoles led 28-21 at halftime but Choctawhatchee (31-3) trimmed the lead to 28-25 early in the third quarter after baskets by Shavonna Spaw and Tasharah Sanders.

Southeast, however, answered with a 7-0 run and took a 39-29 lead into the fourth period. The Seminoles clamped down on defense in the fourth and held Choctawhatchee scoreless for nearly five minutes as their lead increased to 52-32 in the game’s final seconds.

Brittany Washington led Choctawhatchee with 18 points and five rebounds.