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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2002
WESLEY CHAPEL -- To be absolutely frank, Kent Mills didn't believe this could happen.
The coach really didn't believe Wesley Chapel had a chance against a quicker, faster, more athletic Immokalee squad in Tuesday night's Class 3A, Region 3 semifinal.
He didn't believe his Wildcats had the defensive intensity to match the Indians' transition game; didn't believe Wesley Chapel could beat the opposing press; didn't believe they could make it to the elite eight against the No. 3-ranked team in the state.
Well, everyone believes it now.
Underdog Wesley Chapel stunned Immokalee 58-55 in Tuesday's dramatic, intense, emotional cauldron of a playoff game in front of a raucous crowd of more than 900.
The Wildcats advance to Saturday's regional final at Avon Park, a 76-73 winner over No. 10 Jesuit. The Red Devils (12-13) upset the host Tigers (24-7) Tuesday when Kirk Taylor sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left over three defenders.
"I told them I believed they could do it," Mills said. "But did I really believe it? No.
"But I do now."
Wesley Chapel becomes the first Pasco County team to advance to the elite eight since Pasco did it in 1995. It was also the last time a county team made it to the final four. The Wildcats can advance to the Lakeland Center for the March 6 state semifinals with one more victory.
And to think, the Indians (27-4) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the final seconds after a superb defensive stand.
The Wildcats (24-8) held a 54-53 lead with 48 seconds left and were trying to run the clock down when Immokalee's Jonathan Jackson stripped Chase Bussey of the ball, drove to his basket and was fouled attempting a shot. Jackson hit both free throws to give his team a 55-54 lead.
Then Wesley Chapel's Spencer Honeycutt forced a bad pass inside to Marcus Stewart, which was knocked away by Yves Diedonne with 28 seconds left. Walner Belleus was fouled on the other end -- but missed his free throw. The Wildcats' Sandor Riholm grabbed the rebound and was fouled falling out of bounds.
With 25 seconds left, the season on the line, the entire gym shaking around him, Riholm stepped to the free throw line.
He was nervous at first -- incredibly nervous, he said later -- until he blocked out the crowd noise and found himself back at practice.
"I was listening to coach, listening to what he tells us in practice every day," Riholm said.
"Free throws win games. Free throws win games."
Riholm's did. He calmly knocked both down to take a 56-55 lead.
Immokalee ran the clock down to 11 seconds and took a timeout. Taking the last shot of the game was Devedrick Edwards, who drove to the lane and rolled the lay-up off the backboard ... then into the rim ... where the ball rolled inside ... and then popped out.
Wesley Chapel's David Simpson grabbed the rebound and was fouled with two seconds left. The Wesley Chapel crowd spilled out onto the floor, celebrating wildly. School officials had to push the crowd back into the stands. Simpson hit both his free throws, and the Indians' desperation, halfcourt 3-pointer hit the backboard as time expired.
The Wildcats ended the Indians' 18-game win streak. Immokalee was bounced from the region semis for the third-consecutive season -- but losing for the first time to a foe that wasn't ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the state.
The gym floor was a mosh pit afterward, as students mobbed the players and carried Riholm on their shoulders, dancing by stunned Immokalee players, who had collapsed onto the floor. Pushing and shoving ensued outside, and the histrionics didn't end until 10 Pasco County sheriff's cruisers arrived and a sheriff's helicopter circled overhead.
So how did Wesley Chapel do it? It started with Eric Sorensen's red-hot start, scoring 11 in the first quarter, 23 in all and sinking five 3-pointers. Simpson turned it on late, scoring 13 inside, and going 4-for-4 from the line in the fourth. Stewart chipped in 10. The defense never let the Indians' transition game loose, preventing any easy baskets.
And then there's this: the Wildcats won without forward and leading rebounder Tyrone Tomlin, out for the season with sprained knee ligaments.
"I believed," Riholm said. "But to think that we're here now is unbelievable."