Final Four-bound
![Final Four-bound]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772817261/jesuittampa/dcs7wfliakngjbxkbf3e/Homepageteamphotoafterwin.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772817261/jesuittampa/dcs7wfliakngjbxkbf3e/Homepageteamphotoafterwin.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772817261/jesuittampa/dcs7wfliakngjbxkbf3e/Homepageteamphotoafterwin.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772817261/jesuittampa/dcs7wfliakngjbxkbf3e/Homepageteamphotoafterwin.jpg","width":1200}])
On another magical Saturday night (February 28) in the Tiger Palace, Jesuit basketball captured the Region Championship!
Led by 39th-year head coach Neal Goldman, the Tigers played a spectacular 4th quarter to break open a close game and defeat St. Petersburg, 75-56.
It is the basketball program's 4th berth in the State Tournament since winning State in 2013. Jesuit (24-6) closed out the game by outscoring St. Petersburg 36-11, after the Tigers had trailed 45-39 late in the 3rd quarter. It was the fourth straight Saturday night Jesuit had won a playoff game in the Tiger Palace before a raucous Blue Tide, starting with the District Final and then all three Region games.
Per usual, it was a tremendous team effort that catapulted Jesuit to the Region Final victory: Tyler Caouette '26 paced the Tigers with 17 pts, 7 rebs, and 5 asts; Dre Taylor '28 had 16 pts, 6 rebs, and 3 blks; Damien Ross '26 had 15 pts, 7 rebs, and 4 stls; Junior Arroyo '28 had 13 pts and 9 asts; and Mike McLendon '28 set the tone with elite defense from tip to buzzer.
Jesuit will face Fleming Island (22-8) in a Class 5A State Semifinal on March 11 at 1:00pm at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The other 5A semifinal is Pembroke Pines Charter vs. Lecanto, and the 5A championship game is March 13 at 8:00pm.
The last time the Tigers made the Final Four, in 2021, they fell in overtime to Pembroke Pines Charter, which went on to win the State title that season. PPC has become a winter sports rival for Jesuit, with soccer having defeated PPC in the 2020 State Championship game but losing to PPC on penalty kicks in a State Semifinal on Feb. 27.
Seniors Caouette (17.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 spg, 52% FG) and Ross (15.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 51% FG) have led the Tigers all season long, while four sophomores have been the core of the supporting cast: Taylor (10.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 57% FG), McLendon (12.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 spg, 52% shooting, leads team in deflections and charges taken), Arroyo (9.8 ppg, 4.3 apg), and Zach Larson (6.2 ppg, team-high 54 3-pointers).