Entering the game against North Port, Durant was averaging 63.7 points per game, while their opponent was averaging 48.7 per game.
The game started slowly as neither team scored in the first two and a half minutes. Juan Lopez got the scoring started for the Cougars by hitting a nice floater. Then North Port’s Elijah Lubsey got it going, making back-to-back shots to give them the lead. The Cougars responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, made by Isaac Correa and Austin White. The first quarter came to an end as Juan Lopez hit a layup off an inbounds pass and then found Wylde Correa for a cutting layup on the very next possession. With no timeouts or fouls sending players to the free-throw line, the quarter flew by and ended with the Cougars up 14-8.
The second quarter started with Wylde Correa getting a nice block on North Port. North Port got hot though, responding with back-to-back 3s, with Lubsey making one of them. The score was tied 14-14, but once again Juan Lopez scored, hitting a nice spin move in the paint for the contested layup. Lubsey got called for his third travel of the game. The Cougars missed on the offensive end and North Port regained the lead with a 3, but it wasn’t for long as Caden Bokor found Wylde Correa for the baseline shot and Durant was back up. North Port responded with another 3 and took the lead 20-18, forcing Durant to call a timeout with 3:51 to cool off the opposing team. Fresh off the timeout, it was just what Durant needed as they went on a scoring frenzy. Isaac found Wylde in the paint for some nice post-work and a score, then Austin White hit a 3 and a fadeaway mid-range on the very next two possessions. Then both teams exchanged free throws heading to half with the Cougars up 26-23.
The third quarter started with back-to-back 3s as number 2 for North Port made it and Caden Bokor hit the equalizer for Durant. North Port called a time-out as Lumsey and teammate number 24 got into it, having to get separated. Lumsey got hot after the timeout, scoring 5 points in a row for the team, but Juan Lopez got to the line for Durant and knocked down both. Austin White got to the free-throw line and made both. Isaac Correa then backed down the North Port defender with post moves and scores, followed by his brother Wylde making the reverse lay. The crowd erupted as Juan Lopez stole it, then found Austin White for the baseline 3. A timeout was called and Durant was ahead 43-32 with 1:48 left in the third. Wylde got the block, Juan Lopez brought it into transition and found Ajani Peavy for another 3 for the Cougars. Lumsey did get it going for North Port, scoring 5 points in a row, but the third ended with the Cougars scoring as Wylde Correa got a buzzer-beater layup! Durant was up 48-39 heading into the final 8 minutes of the game.
The fourth quarter started with a takeover from Wylde Correa as he started the quarter off with an and-1, followed by an offensive rebound and putback for the Cougars. Austin White grabbed a rebound, went coast to coast for a layup, missed but Isaac Correa was there for the rebound and drew the foul, going 1-2 from the line. Then more Correa brother content as Wylde found Isaac for the mid-range. Lumsey once again remained the only scorer for North Port, scoring 5 points in a row off two free throws and an and-1. A timeout is called with 3:46 left and Durant up 55-46. Wylde Correa went to the free throw line and went 1-2, followed by Isaac Correac hitting the spin move into the paint for a Cougars layup. North Port responded with a 3 by number 24. Both teams started fouling, sending both offenses to the free-throw line for multiple possessions. A timeout was called with 42 seconds left and the Cougars up 64-53. The game ended after Isaac Correa made the very last shot of the game, with Durant winning 66-53.
Durant was defeated by Winter Haven on Tues., Feb. 20, 68-53. Plant City defeated Sarsota’s Riverview High School 58-51 on Tuesday and will play Winter Haven on Fri., Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. for a chance to reach the state semifinals.