FORT MYERS, Fla.- There have been two things that FSW fans could count during the Spring for the past three years.  One, unfortunately was their yearly tax bill being due in April, the second, is a little more positive, and it is our #6 moment on our countdown of the top moments of the 2019-20 FSW Athletics Year, the Bucs going undefeated in Suncoast Conference play for the third straight season. 

 

The Bucs were once again unstoppable in their fourth and final season in the Suncoast Conference in 2020.  They went a perfect 12-0, rarely being challenged, winning the 12 contests by an average of 19 points per game.  The Bucs clinched the league title with three games to go and never looked back, pushing their overall conference win streak to 40 games at season's end.  

 

FSW opened conference action at home against St. Petersburg just after the new year and got things started with a bang, led by a record breaking 41 point performance from Keon Ellis, the Bucs rolled to a 15 point win over the Titans.  Their first road contest was in Tampa as they visiting Hillsborough and again it was all Purple and Aqua from the tip. The Bucs put up 50 in the first half and were never challenged in an 18 point win to move to 2-0 in league play.  A big matchup with rival State College of Florida was up next for the Bucs and they asserted their dominance from the start, blowing the Manatees away 96-69 to remain unbeaten in Suncoast action.  They wrapped up the first stanza of conference play on the road with a 15 point win over Polk State to improve to 4-0. 

 

After rolling through the first four conference games behind a potent offense, the Bucs got after it on defense in their opening game of round two, holding St. Petersburg to just 53 points and 38% shooting for a blowout win on the road.  Hillsborough again couldn't slow FSW's attack in Suncoast Arena as the Bucs exploded for 54 second half points to hammer the Hawks 94-71. State College of Florida thought playing in their home gym in Bradenton could turn their historical tide against the Bucs, but they were wrong as FSW marched into Bradenton and lit up the scoreboard, dominating the Manatees to the tune of a 94-67 victory to improve to 7-0 in conference play.  The Bucs faced their toughest challenge of the conference season at home against Polk State as they trailed at the break in front of a big home crowd before roaring back to win by six late 81-75.  

 

The Bucs clinched the league title in their third matchup with St. Petersburg as Keon Ellis set the single season scoring record with 504 points and Jalen Finch broke the career assist mark with 283.  The Bucs went with a brand new, all freshman starting lineup on the road at Hillsborough next, but it didn't affect their flow as they blew the Hawks out 93-59 to go to 10-0 in Suncoast play.  The Bucs survived a small scare on Sophomore Night at home against State College of Florida, but gutted out a 76-69 win thanks in part to another Jermaine Marshall double-double to move to within one game of another undefeated campaign.  They wrapped up their third straight undefeated conference season on the road at Polk State, leading wire to wire against the Eagles for their 40th straight Suncoast win, in what ultimately would be their final game in history in the league. 

 

The Bucs spent the final six weeks of the season ranked #1 in the country and eventually earned their third straight trip to the NJCAA National Tournament that never was, finishing the year at 29-2. 

 

Stay tuned to FSWBucs.com and @FSWBucs on social media next week as we continue our countdown the top five moments of the Bucs Athletics season beginning on Monday.  

 

Top 10 Moments of the 2019-2020 FSW Athletics Year

#10- Bucs Volleyball Opens Inaugural Season

#9- Bucs Women's Basketball Earns Second Straight Bid to Nationals

#8- Ellefson Blasts Three Home Runs vs. Miami Dade

#7- Bucs Baseball Stuns San Jac in Extras

#6- Bucs Roll Through Third Straight Undefeated Conference Season

#5- 7/13/20

#4- 7/14/20

#3- 7/15/20

#2- 7/16/20

#1- 7/17/20