It has taken the Principia Panthers just two games to put themselves in the national spotlight in boys high school basketball.
The Panthers have advanced to the Final Four of the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Meyers, Florida. It is regarded as the top holiday basketball tournament in the country.
Principia was not content to get an invitation to the party. The Panthers have crashed the proceedings by defeating two of the nation’s top programs in earning their spot in the Final Four.
On Thursday, the Panthers defeated No. 4 ranked Columbus (GA) 74-62 in the first round. Standout guards Quentin Coleman and Gassim Toure combined to score 50 points in the victory. Coleman, the Wake Forest recruit, scored a game-high 30 points while Toure, a dynamic junior guard, scored 20 points.
In the second round on Saturday, the Panthers upset No. 1 ranked Wheeler High from Marietta (GA) 69-63 behind Coleman’s 34 points. The 6’4” senior standout was 11 of 17 from the field, four of eight from 3-point range and a perfect eight of eight from the free throw line.
Principia returns to action on Monday when they take on Paul VI Catholic from Virginia in the semifinals. Tip off is at 5:30 p.m. (St. Louis time). The winner of that game will advance to the championship game on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. The finals will be televised on ESPN2.