Columbus makes history with basketball win

By Lynn Ramsey - Florida Catholic

LAKELAND | This was the game the entire state of Florida waited for – No. 1 vs. No. 2. Cayden Boozer made sure that Christopher Columbus High School won more than just the clash of the titans.

Boozer made a free throw with 5 seconds left, and the second-ranked Explorers won their first state boys basketball championship with a 45-44 victory over top-ranked Dr. Phillips March 5, 2022, in the FHSAA Class 7A state-championship game.

The Explorers (28-2) had to withstand a couple of Dr. Phillips shots in the final seconds to win in their first final in school history. Their previous best finish was a 2011 state semifinal loss to a Winter Park team that beat Dr. Phillips in the final.

“I know that a lot of people were looking at me and my brother. At the end of the day, it’s not just me and him. It’s the whole team,” said Columbus guard Cameron Boozer, who led the Explorers with 17 points. “As a group, if we’re going to come together, we’ll beat anyone. I feel like we can compete with anyone in the nation. It’s not just pressure on us. It’s a team effort.”

Columbus made history, sending a squad with only two seniors against a Dr. Phillips squad laden with Division I signees. The defending champion Panthers trotted out 6-foot-10 Kansas signee Ernest Udeh, 6-6 Mississippi State signee Riley Kugel and 6-4 Florida signee Denzel Aberdeen.

However, the Explorers brought their own collection of blue-chip talent. Cameron and Cayden Boozer, twin sons of former Duke All-American and NBA all-star Carlos Boozer, have already received scholarship offers from University of Miami and Florida International University and are receiving notice in national recruiting rankings. Freshman Benny Fragela has received a South Carolina offer, while sophomore Malik Abdullah has received an offer from Florida Gulf Coast.

“I feel like we’re the hardest-playing team. We’ve got so much heart,” Columbus head coach Andrew Moran said. “They may be young, but they play like veterans. I’m so excited. This is the first state championship in school history. I’m so happy for the school and the fans and the alumni."

 

NO FEAR

Columbus went into Saturday’s final with no fear. The Explorers led most of the game. Cameron Boozer scored eight of his team-high 17 points in the first half. Cayden Boozer added nine points and four assists, while Garyn Bess had six points and eight rebounds.

They also surpassed Dr. Phillips’ physicality for most of the game. Abdullahi said the plan was to focus on rebounding. Cameron Boozer said that the Explorers had to focus on positioning.

“They’re athletic,” Cameron Boozer said. “You’re not going to outjump them, so you’ve got to get a body on every one of them.”

The Explorers led most of the game until Udeh stole an Explorers pass and assisted on a Jackson Slater bucket that gave the Panthers their first lead, 25-24, in the third quarter.

But the Explorers closed the third quarter with an 8-0 run, giving Dr. Phillips a taste of Cayden Boozer. His layup ignited the run, while Cameron Boozer’s three-point play gave Columbus the lead once more. Cameron Boozer then fed Fragela for a 3-pointer as the final seconds bled out of the third quarter.

“They defended him well. But we told him at halftime, ‘Don’t stop shooting the ball,’” Moran said. “That’s what we tell him all the time. He had an open look, and he knocked it in. That’s what he’s been doing all year.”

Cayden Boozer then scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter. Columbus needed the boost, because the Panthers made it a fight to the end. Aberdeen, who along with Kugel led the Panthers with 17 points each, tied the game 44-44 with a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left.

“We just play off each other,” said Cayden Boozer about sharing the spotlight with Cameron Boozer. “If he’s doing good, I’m going to give it to him. If I’m doing good, he’ll give it to me.”

Cayden Boozer then hit the first of two free-throw attempts with 5 seconds left, but Udeh rebounded the missed attempt. Garyn Bess, who had a team-high eight rebounds, fouled with 4 seconds left to disrupt the Panthers. But since the Explorers had only two team fouls at that point, the Panthers did not get a chance to tie it at the free-throw line. The Explorers prevented the Panthers from getting another shot as the final seconds ticked off, igniting a huge celebration.

“Cayden has been there for us all year,” Moran said. “He had huge baskets at the end, great baskets at the end. We just trust him so much. He’s what makes us go.”

 

NINE MONTHS IN THE MAKING

The finish was nine months in the making. After Columbus reached last year’s region final, they had to replace seniors Reggie Luis and Hubertas Pivorius, who had combined for 61% of the Explorers’ scoring.

Columbus inserted a group of freshmen with confidence they could contribute. Cameron Boozer led the way, leading the team in points (19.0 per game), rebounds (11.7) and blocks (2.3). The only categories Cameron didn’t lead, Cayden led (5.5 assists, 1.9 steals per game). Fragela averaged 8.9 points, leading the Explorers with 73 3-pointers.

“They’re very talented players,” Abdullahi said of the Boozer twins. “Having them on your team makes everyone better.”

Coaches also stirred in upperclassmen who went from background to key roles, and the Explorers knew they could have a team that could make history. Bess and Abdullahi contributed rebounding to the team’s success. Bess had eight rebounds in the state final, while Abdullahi added seven points and six rebounds in the final.

“Garyn was a player here last year and the year before, one of the best all-ball defenders,” Cameron Boozer said. “When he’s getting rebounds, it makes us a better team.”

 

TALENT TO WIN IT ALL

Columbus had the talent to win it all. Moran tested them with several tournaments including the John Wall Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina and the ARod Basketball Classic at home. They also faced Class 4A semifinalist Riviera Prep and several national-level teams.

Cameron Boozer said he thought the team would do well, but opening the season 9-0 opened his eyes to how great the team could be. He said the losses to Hudson (N.C.) Moravian Prep and Pembroke Pines Charter especially challenged the team to fight through adversity.

Bess said it took time to perfect the chemistry of a winner. That chemistry included growing in the faith. Bess and Cameron Boozer talked of prayer before games and attending Mass. They all said they gave glory to God for their efforts.

Bess said that faith helped the players learn to trust each other more. “The new freshmen Cam, Cayden and Benny came in,” he said. “We accepted them into our home and basically now we’re like a brotherhood. Getting closer with them causes us to become a great team.”

He added that this team had flaws. If they’re able to smooth those out, they may return to the summit of Florida basketball. However, he wants to let this year’s victory set in.

“We’re state champs. I’m excited to be a state champion,” Bess said. “Hopefully we can get another next year. Repeat.”