Bartow takes down Sickles in Class 5A championship

LAKELAND (AP) — Jeremiah Samarrippas scored 20 points and Bartow defeated Tampa Sickles 53-41 to claim the Class 5A state boys basketball championship Thursday night at the Lakeland Center.

The title is Bartow’s fourth, but first since 1988. The Yellow Jackets also won championships in 1958 and 1975. Samarrippas, a 5-foot-10 senior point guard, was 7 of 17 from the field, 2 of 7 from 3-point range. Fellow guard Richard Murvin added 13.

Bartow (25-5) led just 24-22 at the break after shooting only 29 percent (9 of 31) in the opening half. But the Yellow Jackets, paced by Samarrippas, took control in the third quarter.

While Sickles (29-3) missed its first seven shots after the half, Bartow raced to a double-digit lead and the Gryphons never recovered. Samarrippas had eight points in the quarter.

Sickles, trying to win its first championship, shot only 35 percent for the game, and 33 percent in the second half. The Gryphons committed 17 turnovers to only nine for Bartow.

Point guard Jordan Davis led Sickles with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists.