The Wellington High School boys basketball team continues to make school history, this time notching a sixth-straight district title with a 50-42 victory over Jupiter High School on Friday, Feb. 15.
The Wolverines were the number-one seed in the District 9-9A tournament, which landed them a first-round bye. They swept the rest of the way, but it did not come easy.
Wellington (21-6) faced a stubborn John I. Leonard High School team that locked the game up at 46-46 with seconds left in the semifinal round. Linton Brown hit a fade-away at the buzzer from an inside pass from Cornelius Butler. The 48-46 win put the Wolverines against second-seeded Jupiter, which defeated Palm Beach Central High School earlier to advance.
Wellington defeated the Warriors twice earlier in the regular season, both by narrow margins, so the Wolverines knew they would be in for a battle. “They’re always tough; they’re a well-coached team,” Wellington head coach Matt Colin explained. “They have a lot of talent. We knew we were in for a war.”
In the final match, the Wolverines held just a one-point 19-18 lead at the half, which was a benchmark of sorts to indicate the battle that would ensue during the second half.
The Warriors scored the first points of the second half to go up 20-19, and the battle began. Jupiter held the lead until about four minutes into the third period, when Brown unleashed a fury of scores for Wellington. The Wolverines closed the third period with a narrow 34-27 advantage.
Jupiter fought back to get within two points, but trailed 40-38 with just over three minutes remaining. They pressured the Wolverines, but Wellington responded by picking up rebounds and converting them into points to extend their lead in the final minute. Late aggressive play led the Wolverines to the 50-42 win, and their sixth-straight district title.
“It’s amazing, it’s awesome; these guys have come a long way, they’re very young,” Colin said. “It’s a statement about the program. Every year the bodies change, the kids change, but the success doesn’t. We were a group that was searching for leadership for the longest time, and slowly we’re getting leaders to emerge, so I’m pleased.”
Brown put up 19 points and a three-point basket in the final match and totaled 33 points through the district tournament. Chris Walker also recorded 22 points during the tournament.
The Wolverines hosted Lake Worth High School on Thursday, Feb. 21 in the first round of the regional playoffs, but results were not available by press time.
