Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School boys basketball team punched its ticket to yet another regional final Monday night in Middleton. 

The Buffalo bounced Discovery (Lake Alfred) from the Class 3A-Region 2 semifinals, pulling away down the stretch of an 80-47 win inside the VHS Gymnasium.

With the victory, The Villages (24-5 overall) will host Tampa Catholic (21-9) at 7 p.m. Thursday for a trip to the Class 3A Final Four. The Buffalo, who will play in their third consecutive regional final, will look to avenge a 74-64 loss to the Crusaders back in November.

VHS used a balanced scoring effort to advance — six players tallied eight points or more in the win — with Herly Brutus scoring a game-high 21 points.

The Buffalo led 21-11 through one quarter of play, before doubling up the visitors from Polk County at 42-21 entering halftime. 

Brutus scored eight points in the second period and added nine more in the third, helping VHS out to a 65-32 lead through three quarters of action.

VHS secured a running clock early in the fourth quarter and led by as much as 39 down the stretch of their runaway win.

Jared Thompson scored 15 points for VHS and Ethan Bevis added 11, while Jomar Bernard had 10, Adyn Corbin finished with nine and Aaron Britt, Jr. scored eight. 

The Buffalo were also 14-of-16 from the free-throw line in the win. 


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment via email at cody.hills@tvcs.org.