Posted: Apr 08, 2021
NICEVILLE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers FCSAA State Tournament run came to a close Wednesday night the same way it had the past three seasons, with a loss to the Gulf Coast State Commodores. Unlike the other three years though, FSW had a real shot on Wednesday, taking a fourth quarter lead before seeing it disappear and the Commodores run away with an 81-71 win to end the Bucs season.
FSW came out strong, scoring the first four points of the game to take a quick 4-0 lead. They went cold from there though, failing to score on their next eight possessions, but thankfully, Gulf Coast couldn't get anything going either as it was just a 4-2 game seven minutes into the action. The Bucs finally found the bucket and Gulf Coast got things moving in the right direction themselves to take a 9-8 lead after one quarter of action.
The Bucs scored six of the first eight points of the second quarter to push back ahead 14-11, but went through another drought, going without a field goal for the next 4:25 as Gulf Coast worked their way back in front and take their largest lead of the half at 26-16 with 3:47 to go in the second. Four straight from Sheslanie Laureano got the Bucs back to within six, but a late three from the Commodores gave Gulf Coast a 31-22 lead at the end of 20 minutes of play.
The Bucs shot just 27% in the half and were 0-7 from three and just 2-7 from the free throw line.
Laureano single handedly kept the Bucs in the game in the third, going off for 19 points in the period to get FSW back to within one at the end of three, 54-53.
Back to back buckets on the inside from Patience Williams early in the fourth gave the Bucs the lead back at 57-56 and after Gulf Coast went back on top, Laureano connected on a three from the wing to give FSW another lead at 64-63 with 5:29 to go. After trading baskets to 66-65, both teams went scoreless for a 2:27 stretch until the Commodores scored on the inside to take a one point lead of their own at 67-66. The Bucs never led again. Gulf Coast stretched their lead to seven with 40 seconds left and finished the Bucs off 81-71 to bring FSW's season to a close.
Laureano had a huge game on both sides of the floor, scoring a season high 30 points on the offensive end while picking off a career high eight steals on the defensive side. Macarena Retamales scored 18 off the bench while Patience Williams also reached double figures in scoring with 12.
The Bucs finish their season at 13-6 and will miss the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in three seasons. Gulf Coast State improves to 11-8 on the year and advance to Friday's semifinal where they will take on conference rival and tournament host Northwest Florida State.
