The Sonic Drive-in Player-of-the-Game for Friday, January 18, is Anthony Richardson of the Eastside (Gainesville) boys’ basketball team.
With his future college football coach looking on, Richardson helped lead the Rams to a 48-43 win against rival Gainesville at Santa Fe College
The junior University of Florida football commit scored a game-high 14 points with Gators’ football coach Dan Mullen in attendance. He scored six in the fourth quarter and ignited the near capacity crowd with highlight dunks.
It was the second straight win for the Rams (15-2) and their fifth in the past six games.
Eastside won back-to-back games in the series for the first time since 2011. The Rams have now won three of the previous four games against the ‘Canes.
It was the second of three meetings between the crosstown rivals. GHS (8-9) will be the host team when the two teams play again on Friday, February 8, in the regular season finale for both teams.
After the game, Eastside coach Pop Williams, who is now seven victories away from 500 wins in his career, put things in perspective about the significance of the game.
“This is a rivalry game, but this isn’t like the district,” Williams told the Gainesville Sun. “Our team needs to remember that.”
Eastside (5-0 in 6A-District 6) closes out its district slate at Santa Fe (Alachua) on Thursday, Jan. 24. The Rams, who will play four of their next five on the road, travel to Class 1A Williston on Tuesday night.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
