Basketball: Ocoee can't keep pace late with Hagerty, falls in regional quarterfinals -- Observer Preps

OCOEE After tying the game at 42-42 on Sadeem Blake’s free throws with three minutes left, the Ocoee Knights (14-15) were unable to keep pace with the Hagerty Huskies (18-11) for the duration. The Knights ultimately suffered a 54-46 loss in the regional quarterfinals of the FHSAA Class 8A State Playoffs.

Ocoee went into halftime up by three, but the Huskies would outscore the Knights 15-8 in the third quarter to take a 35-31 lead going in the fourth quarter.

The Knights tied the game on four-straight points from Azim Hutson to even up the game with 7:07 left in the game, after which both teams would go back-and-forth until the three minute mark, when the Huskies would close the game on a 12-4 run to clinch their spot in the Sweet 16.

Hagerty will go on the road Feb. 21 to take on the Melbourne Bulldogs in a rematch of its district final matchup.

Hutson led Ocoee with 15 points.

Despite the loss, Ocoee head coach John “Sarge” Siers said he is proud of his team's accomplishments this season.

“I’m proud of all of them,” said Siers. "We lost to a very good team in a great game. Our guys are champions, our guys made history. That is forever.”