The thing about tournament time is you just never know.
You can never predict who the star will be. Who will make the key play. Who will be the difference between wearing a first- or second-place medal at game’s end.
Take the Providence School’s boys basketball team.
In its Class 2A state semifinal win over Northside Christian, the trio of Luke Mayberry, Marvin Christie and William Stewart combined for 38 of the Stallions’ 59 points.
But in the final against Miami Country Day School? Sixteen points on a combined 2-of-17 shooting.
Junior big fella Nolan Nelson was dominant, but the Stallions needed somebody else.
Junior guard Ryan Gornto raised his hand … and raised the trophy.
Gornto scored 14 points in Providence’s 51-43 win to clinch its first state title in 11 years and win the first boys title for a Jacksonville school in 10 years.
Gornto scored six of the Stallions’ 11 first-quarter points and after not scoring in the second and third quarters, he scored eight of the Stallions’ 18 fourth-quarter points.
Coach Jim Martin: “He was big time.”
Mayberry: “He’s been doing that all year.”
Gornto: “I shoot every day in practice for these moments and I was super confident.”
Two key fourth-quarter buckets
The Stallions needed every bit of Gornto’s offense because Mayberry picked up his second foul only 3:47 into the game, much to Martin’s exasperation.
“I was pretty mad because that was a middle-school foul,” Martin said.
Mayberry sat out the rest of the first half; when he departed, Providence trailed 6-3. It forged a 24-all tie at halftime.
“Coach said, ‘I won’t let you sit for the whole quarter,’ but the guys were holding it down and keeping it tied,” he said.
Providence led 34-31 when Gornto took over. He hit a 3-pointer with 6:05 remaining (37-31) and out of a timeout, he hit another triple with 4:56 remaining. Assist to Mayberry.
The Stallions led by nine points. Miami Country Day would get no closer than six points.
“That set the tone for the last five minutes,” Mayberry said.
Leading 45-39, Gornto scored on a backdoor play. Assist to Mayberry.
Ballgame.
“I’ve been working on that play because teams play me as a shooter and when I saw the wide open la-up, I had to finish,” Gornto said.
When it was over, Providence celebrated on the floor. Martin clutched the game ball and the players took turns holding the trophy.
Gornto is a junior, but Mayberry, a senior, will never put on a Providence jersey again. He will end as a champion.
“This has been a dream since I was a little kid,” he said. “To finally do it as a senior is nothing but great.”
March Madness for Jacksonville
For the first time in at least 50 years, the state tournament is in Jacksonville after being held in Lakeland from 1996-2025. The atmosphere for the Miami Country Day-Providence game was electric, the fans hanging on every possession, complaining about perceived missed calls and cheering for every bucket.
We have only seen Class 1A and Class 2A play so far, but we’ve seen enough: Jacksonville needs to host this tournament more often.
“I hope UNF hosts this every year,” Martin said. “At UNF, they do it right. Lakeland, not so good. Jacksonville, Fla., the best.”
Still to play are the Bolles girls and Jackson boys in Class 3A (March 9), the Bishop Kenny boys and girls in Class 4A (March 10), the Fleming Island boys in Class 5A (March 11) and the Bartram Trail girls in Class 6A (March 12).
Having this event go against The Players is unfortunate, but that shouldn’t prevent you (and me) from doing a double duty of golf in the morning/afternoon and basketball at night.
The Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. The state tournament. The Players. Jaguars free agency.
It truly is March Madness in Jacksonville.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ryan Gornto leads Providence to first state title in 11 years
Reporting by Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
