Rickards thumps Pine Crest in Class 3A title game

LAKELAND (AP) — Avery Moore scored 23 points to lead Tallahassee Rickards to a 70-46 win over Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest in the Class 3A state boys basketball final Thursday at the Lakeland Center, denying the Panthers a third straight championship.

The title is the third for Rickards (27-0), but the first since 1992.

Pine Crest (25-5) guard Brandon Knight, whom some recruiting services rate as the country’s top senior prospect, scored 18 points, 14 below his season average. He had only four points in the final quarter.

Moore outperformed his more heralded opponent, making 8 of 14 field goals and 5 of 9 3-point attempts. During a two-minute stretch early in the third quarter, the 5-foot-9 senior drained three 3-pointers as Rickards, which trailed by as many as seven in the first half, went ahead 35-29. Rickards led just 45-40 entering the fourth, but used solid defense to run away with it.

The Raiders held Pine Crest to 36 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers for the game. The 6-foot-4 Knight, playing with a sore groin, started slow and had only four points at the half. He finished 5 of 10 from the field, but committed four turnovers and did not record an assist. He fouled out with 1:08 left.

Guard Jakari Bush added 17 points for Rickards. Devonte Johnson, also a guard, added 16.