Blanton Returns to Lakeland 23 Years Later

By Clint Cox

In 1985 the Marianna Bulldogs basketball team pulled off a 1 point overtime win against the Sharks of Port St. Joe in the Sectional Finals (now called the Regional Finals). That win earned them a trip to Lakeland for the FHSAA Final Four. While that was Marianna’s fourth trip in nine years, little did folks know that it would take another 23 years before the Bulldogs headed back to Lakeland. But they have headed back this year after beating Florida High last Saturday night to earn a berth in the State Semi-Finals in Lakeland.
On that 1985 squad was a senior guard who 15 years later would take the helm as the Head Basketball Coach of the Bulldogs basketball squad. That young man was Travis Blanton and the Marianna alumni has been serving as Head Basketball Coach for 8 years now. In those 8 years his teams have made the FHSAA playoffs 6 times, including this year’s run to Lakeland.
Blanton recalled the two games in 1985 that allowed them to get to Lakeland. "Against Walton in the Regional Semi-Finals they had a guy catch an inbound pass, turn and make a shot with 1 second to send the game into overtime. John Walker hit six points for us in OT and we got the win. The next game, Sectional Finals, was the one point win in overtime against Port St. Joe at the Old Dog House. I remember the celebration after that win, everybody was hugging each other and crying we were so happy," said Blanton.
Even though the 85 squad lost the opening game in Lakeland, Blanton has fond memories of their trip. "The main thing I remember was the emotion of running out on the floor in Lakeland as a team. It had always been a goal of mine to make it to Lakeland and to realize that I had made it is something that I will always remember," Blanton said. He has tried to convey to his team to cherish the moments in Lakeland. "I’ve told them that in my life going to Lakeland was the fourth most important thing that has happened to me. The first is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the second was getting married and the third was having kids. After those three highlights, going to Lakeland is next on the list," commented Blanton.