Junior guard Jakecea Rodriguez sank a 3-pointer and a 2-point basket in the final minute to lift the No. 6 seed Vanguard girls basketball team to a 55-51 victory at third-seeded Lakeland Lake Gibson in the FHSAA Class 5A, Region 2 quarterfinals on Thursday night.

The Knights trailed 12-6 after one quarter and then tied it at the half. It stayed knotted through three quarters before Vanguard opened the fourth on a 12-5 run. LGHS was able to cut VHS's advantage to 49-47 and then 53-51 but never was able to get closer.

The victory lifts Vanguard (16-8) into Tuesday's regional semifinal at No. 2 seed Melbourne Palm Bay (22-5). The Pirates defeated Rockledge, the 7 seed, for the third time this season to advance.

FAMU 67, Meadowbrook 20: At FAMU, the No. 2 seed Baby Rattlers jumped out to a 29-5 lead in the first quarter and never looked back against the seventh-seeded Mustangs in the 2A, Region 1 quarterfinals.

Meadowbrook finished its season 13-12. FAMU (14-7) will host No. 3 seed Countryside Christian (17-4) in Tuesday's regional semifinals.


Eastside 4, Belleview 3: At Tuscawilla, Francisco Davila was victorious in singles and doubles for the Rattlers.

(Singles) 1. Francisco Davila (B) def. Tristin Tan, 8-1; 2. Viktor Mai (E) def. Thomas DeIorio, 8-4; 3. Trevor Moran (B) def. Vedant Karalkar, 8-5; 4. Remington Kail (E) def. Evan Thomas, 8-0; 5. David Lui (E) def. Caleb Emerson, 8-0; (Doubles) 1. Davila/DeIorio (B) def. Tan/Kail, 8-6; 2. Mai/Karalka (E) def. Moran/Thomas, 8-3.

BHS (0-2) will travel to Lake Weir on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.


North Marion 7, Dunnellon 0: At DHS, Leslie Torres-Lugo and Katie Carlson each picked up doubles and singles wins for the Colts.

(Singles): 1. Leslie Torres-Lugo def. Madison Miguel, 8-6; 2. Katie Carlson def. Madison Clark, 8-0; 3. DHS forfeit; 4. DHS forfeit; 5. DHS forfeit; (Doubles) 1. Torres-Lugo/Carlson def. Miguel/Clark, 8-6; 2. DHS forfeit.

NMHS (2-0) will will play West Port on Wednesday at 4 p.m.


Montverde Black 44, Heart 35: The Falcons were led by Cameron King (10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals), Cody Bagley (12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) and Mike Lusher (8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals).

HEART (21-16) will compete at the NACA Tournament in Dayton, Tenn., beginning March 4 against an opponent to be determined.