(03-01-08)
LAKELAND, Fla. -- University of New Haven alumnus David A. Beckerman coached the Pine Crest High school boys' basketball team to a Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 3A state championship on Friday afternoon at The Lakeland Center.
Beckerman and Pine Crest defeated Gainesville's P.K. Younge High by a score of 69-50, giving Pine Crest its first-ever state championship.
"Obviously, we had some pressure on ourselves," coach Beckerman told the Miami Herald, after his Panthers capped their championship season with a 28-4 record. "It was our 20th straight win. It was part of an objective we set at the beginning of the year. We wanted to win districts, regionals and get to states and win it. We were fortunate enough to do that."
Beckerman is one of UNH Athletics' biggest supporters and was inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 with the Alumni Award of Excellence.
You can read more about Beckerman and Pine Crest's championship season by clicking the following links:
Miami Herald: "Dream becomes reality for Pine Crest" http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/439903.html
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Pine Crest wins state championship" http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/sfl-pinecrest022808,0,659088.story
Gainesville Sun: "P.K. boys hoops upended by Pine Crest" http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080229/NEWS/893094593/1046/sports
(Photo courtesy of the Miami Herald/Phil Sears)
