Ponte Vedra's playoff run ends at Parker

For a team with only two games of postseason history, the Ponte Vedra boys basketball team will have a lot to recount about its playoff run.

After a one-point win over Bishop Kenny in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals, the Sharks pushed Terry Parker to overtime before being eliminated 65-59 in Tuesday's regional semifinal game.

Richard Westbury hit two 3-pointers in the final 19 seconds of regulation, including one at the buzzer to tie the game at 55 and force overtime.

But Parker (22-5) held Ponte Vedra (17-12) without a field goal in overtime to advance.

"This was exciting for everybody," Ponte Vedra coach Bud Beech said. "Everyone is going to take a lot away from this. I can't say enough about these guys."

The game marked the end of Beech's time as coach of his son Beau. The senior forward finished with 25 points, but he was limited to one field goal in the second half by a physical Parker team.

"It was a little bit frustrating, but our guys know how to get me the ball," Beau Beech said.

In the first half, Beech squeezed off nine shots and finished with 18 points, but Parker still led by four at the break.

Parker dominated the third period as Lamar Seymore scored eight of his 14 points - all in the paint.

The Braves scored the first basket of the fourth quarter and led 47-37. With 6:09 to play, the Parker advantage was 50-39.

Despite having every starter in danger of fouling out - three of whom eventually did - the Sharks put together a comeback.

A layup by James Crowther followed by a basket and two free throws by Jackson Johnson pulled the Sharks to within 50-45 a minute later.

Morris Tisby's follow with 4:20 on the clock put Parker back ahead by seven, but it was the last field goal the Braves would get until overtime.

Beech, who has been the main scoring option for Ponte Vedra the last two seasons, made a couple of free throws to get the Sharks within three.

He had a chance to tie the game after a Parker turnover, but his 3-pointer from the top of the key missed with 1:20 remaining. Two Parker players made 1 of 2 from the free throw line to make it a five-point game with 26 seconds left.

That's when Westbury nailed his first 3-pointer.

Seymore made one more free throw for the Braves to make it 55-52 with 13 seconds to play.

On next the Ponte Vedra possession, Beech missed a well-defended 3-pointer, but the Sharks got the ball back with three seconds to play.

While the Sharks were looking to get the ball to Beech, Westbury was wide open on the left side. The ball was inbounded to him, and he sank the shot to send the game to overtime.

"He was close on a couple of those in the first half, and he was frustrated," Bud Beech said of Westbury. "I thought that (last-second shot) was a great situation for Richard."

Add Beau Beech: "He was ready and knocked down a big shot."

Beech and Johnson each made two free throws for Ponte Vedra in overtime, but Parker hit on 5 of 6 from the line to take the victory.

It was a heartbreaking end for a Ponte Vedra team coming off its first district championship and having recovered from a winless first season four years ago.

Beau Beech was a freshman on that team and remembered how tough it was to get to where the Sharks are now. He also said the experience of playing four years with his dad as the coach was a blessing.

"I would have liked to have gone farther, but I'm satisfied with my career at Ponte Vedra," Beech said. "It was still a dream lived out."

For Bud, he'll now go from coaching Beau to watching him play at North Florida.

"It's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," he said. "It had everything I hoped for."

Boys basketball

Class 5A regional semifinals

Parker 65, Ponte Vedra 59

PONTE VEDRA (59)

Jackson Johnson 8, James Crowther 9, Beau Beech 25, Brooks Bartley 8, Richard Westbury 7, Kellen Wilson 2

PARKER (65)

Ricardo Harris 6, Keith Williams 12, Michael Hoy 3, Patrick Baker 3, Christopher Journet 12, Morris Tisby 11, Joshua Parks 4, Lamar Seymore 14

3-pointers: Ponte Vedra 6 (Beech 3, Westbury 2, Crowther); Parker 3 (Williams, Baker, Journet).

PV 11 18 8 18 4 - 59

TP 7 26 12 10 10 - 65

Records: Ponte Vedra 17-12; Parker 23-5