February 21, 2025
Eustis High School Boys Basketball Punch Ticket to FHSAA Class 4A Final Four In Lakeland
By Kyle Coppola
Eustis High School Boys Basketball Punch Ticket to FHSAA Class 4A Final Four In Lakeland
EUSTIS, Fla. — It was all smiles for Eustis High School boys basketball head coach Wesley Green, his staff, and players as the Panthers clinched a thrilling 56-50 victory over Atlantic High School on Tuesday night, securing their place in the FHSAA Class 4A State Semifinals for the first time in 16 years.
(A packed house watch Eustis High win the FHSAA Class 4A Regional Championship Game and they will head to Lakeland as part of the Final Four. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Playing in front of a packed home crowd, Eustis battled from start to finish, proving they belonged among Florida’s elite. Cornelius Hines led the charge with a stellar performance, while Timothy Key and Lomar Sparrow played crucial roles in one of the most memorable nights in recent program history.
“The energy was electric,” Green said. “Our guys gave everything they had, and the community support was incredible. This win is for Eustis.”
(Senior Timothy Key played his final home game in the Eustis High Gym,cuts down the net after the victory. Key is an amazing young man and will look to finish the job in Lakeland. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
With the victory, the Panthers advance to Lakeland, where they will compete for a chance at the state championship. It marks a milestone moment for the program. This team has been building for years and now has the opportunity to battle for a State Championship.
(Senior Cornelius Hines cuts down the net after the victory. Hines put together an amazing season. This is also his final home game at Eustis High School. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Players cut down the net. Cornelius Hines, Timothy Key and Lomar Sparrow were a few of the members to cut the net down. Andrew Riley and John Miller also contributed. For Hines, Key, Sparrow and Riley this was the final game they would ever play on their home court. But what a way to go out in their final home game! They earned this opportunity to host this game on their home court and now they will look to finish the job in Lakeland.
(Head coach Wesley Green gets a big hug after the win. Coach Green worked on building this team for this very moment years ago. For Green it’s a full circle moment as the former Eustis High basketball player now coached his team to the Final Four. Photo Credit – Joe Ott.)
Eustis will next play on March 4th against a TBD opponent and a TBD time. Once we know the game time and info we will pass that along. But be sure to mark March 4th to attend the State Semifinal at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
