High School Hoops Recap: Eastside girls win district title over Palatka

BY CLIFF TUMETEL

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the 4A District 5 title up for grabs, the Eastside Rams girls basketball team defeated the Palatka Panthers Friday night, 57-32; the team’s last district title was in 2019.

Back and forth we go

Eastside’s Precious Marshall got things going for her team, scoring a layup in the first few seconds of the game; later, other Rams players like Merveille Namusura and Trinity Cooper also contributed baskets as well.

Palatka responded back as Jhane Fountain and Charnelle Cue made sure the Panthers were in striking distance. The first quarter was a battle as both teams either pulled even or took a slim lead, letting each know that it was going to be a fight and getting the title wouldn’t be easy. 

At the end of the first quarter, Eastside was up, 15-10.

Game remained close at the end of the 2nd quarter

Both teams came out strong in the second quarter and picked up the intensity. The Rams seemed to pull away, but the Panthers managed to close the gap and tie the game, 21-21, courtesy of a Deandra Fields bucket. 

Eastside’s Aniya West was able to draw a foul and knocked down a free throw to put her team back up 22-21.

Rams defense

Knowing that they had missed opportunities in the second quarter, Eastside readied themselves and stepped up on their defense. 

Marshall, as in the first quarter, scored in the third, but this time it was from downtown, nailing a three. After that, Eastside’s Akira Martin grabbed a steal and laid it in, adding to the lead.

The Rams defense was suffocating the Panthers; as they extended the lead, West hit a 3-pointer to increase the lead once again. 

Palatka was finally able to get on the scoreboard at the 3:11 mark when Cue scored.

At the end of the third, Eastside was up 35-26, having held Palatka to only five points in the quarter. 

Finishing strong 

With great defense, the Rams built upon the lead, and in the fourth, they could almost see the finish line. 

Keyauri O’Neal started off with a mid-range shot, but Palatka responded when Fountain knocked down a three.

However, as the game continued, Eastside began to pull away; Martin managed to get yet another steal and layup to put her team up 47-32, and later on, West scored to increase the lead once again. The duo combined for 13 points of the Rams’ 17 points in the fourth. 

The final buzzer went off, and the Rams claimed the district title. 

Comments from Head Coach Lonna Turner

The Rams poured out their hearts on the floor, and in Head Coach Lonna Turner’s eyes, that was what got them this win. 

“Their hearts. We kind of got a little jittery, we had to calm it down, we had to be disciplined, we had to stay true to everything we had practiced all the way from the summertime,” Turner said. 

This program hasn’t won a district title since their back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019; funny enough, Coach Turner was part of the staff back then, and now in 2024, in her first year as the head coach, she and her squad won it all. You can bet she’s a bit stunned. 

“Speechless… I don’t even know what to say right now,” Turner said with a smile, shaking her head in disbelief.

Eastside will compete in Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) regionals on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and they’re waiting to see who they’re up against. 

However, Coach Turner is ready. 

“We won district, but we’re still the underdogs. They’re going to underestimate us,” Turner said. “With that heart of ours, that Ram Power, that Ram Pride in us, we gotta show them this is in our blood, and we gotta put our foot down as soon as the ball goes up.”