Cocoa Tigers Prep Basketball Falls to Villages Charter Buffalo 97-72 in Regional Finals Round
By Jordan Rocco // March 2, 2019
Tigers strong run in the playoffs was cut short by the Villages Charter Buffalo
ABOVE VIDEO: The Cocoa Tigers were defeated decisively in the Class 5A Regional Finals round to the Villages Charter Buffalo 97-72.
BREVARD COUNTY, COCOA FLORIDA – The Cocoa Tigers were defeated decisively in the Class 5A Regional Finals round to the Villages Charter Buffalo 97-72.
The Tigers strong run in the playoffs was cut short by the Villages Charter Buffalo. The Tigers fought hard but Tre Mann and the Villages were unstoppable in enemy territory.
The Villages brought a big crowd of over 400 people with them. At the end of the first quarter, the Tigers had a slim lead 25-24.
In the second quarter, the Villages began to take over by scoring 24 points, making the score 48-43. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 66-63.
The Villages shut the Tigers down in the fourth quarter by only allowing them to score nine points. The Villages scored 30 points in the fourth quarter.
The final score was 96-72, the Villages advance to the final four of the Class 5A State Championship tournament for the second time in the past three seasons. They will face 25-4 University School of Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Mar. 6.
The Villages will have a tough challenge facing off against Duke signee and McDonalds All-American Vernon Carey Jr. Standing at 6’10 and weighing 250 lbs Vernon has been an unstoppable force all season by averaging 19 PPG and 9 RPG.
Vernon Carey Jr. is the No. 3 ranked player in the entire nation by 247.
Tre Mann, the No. 26 ranked player in the nation by 247, hopes to help lead the Villages to the 5A State Championship.
Last season, the Cocoa Tigers did not make the playoffs and finished with 5 wins. This year under new head coach Edwin Jones and a team with players unfamiliar with each other the Tigers made it to the Regional Finals round and finished with 13 wins.
The Tigers will be losing five seniors, but they have forward Marquise Freeman returning along with guard Jamariyae Robinson, forward Jimmy Bell, guard Kendal Parker, forward Jackson Long, and guard Tre Lennear.
The Tigers will be working hard in the offseason to try and compete for a State Championship next season.
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