FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island forward Carson Crawford had a game for the ages, scoring 50 points and collecting 15 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles to an 86-64 Region 1-5A semifinal victory over visiting Pensacola Booker T. Washington on Feb. 21.

With their sixth straight win, the Golden Eagles improved to 21-8. They will host Lake City Columbia (17-11), an upset winner over fourth-ranked Ponte Vedra in the other regional semifinal, on Feb. 28. The Golden Eagles topped the Tigers 74-58 at Fleming Island on Dec. 18, but Fleming Island High Head Coach Traavis Chandler is not taking the game for granted.

“We know that in the playoffs they will go harder, so we got to be ready,” Chandler said. “We will study what they do and be ready.”

Crawford splashed down a 3-pointer for the game’s first points and never took his foot off the gas pedal. The 6-foot-7 junior scored 23 points in the first half and 27 in the second, doing so with eye-popping efficiency. Crawford put the ball through the hoop on 17 of his 23 field goal attempts, made four of five 3-point shots and converted 12 of 15 free throws. He hustled on the fast break to make multiple lay-ups, scored in the half-court offense on drives to the basket and contested put backs, and displayed a feathery touch on mid-range jumpers and rainbows from beyond the arc. He fittingly scored the game’s last points on a triple from the top of the key to reach the half-century mark, sending an adoring student section into a frenzy.

“I was going to do whatever I had to do to win,” said Crawford, who noted that he had a height advantage over the Wildcats, whose tallest starter was 6-foot-3. “Once one goes in, I have the mindset that they are all going in.”

After the game, Crawford was surrounded by teammates and fellow students seeking selfies, wanting to share the moment with him or merely to bask in the glow of his performance. Crawford’s previous high point game had been 30 points.

“Carson was in a zone. He scored from all three levels,” said Chandler. “He was aggressive, going to the rim with reckless abandon. And tonight, he showed he is pretty reliable (from the 3-point line). That is a heck of an achievement.”

The win over the Wildcats was not nearly as easy as the final score would indicate. Aside from Crawford and off-guard Ryan Turner, who scored 20 points on nine of 11 shooting, the Golden Eagles struggled. Taking out Crawford and Turner’s statistics, Fleming Island missed all 10 three-point attempts and shot just six of 25 (24%) on all field goals. As a result, the Wildcats trailed only 19-15 after the first period and took a 30-29 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter on a baseline jump shot by guard Zavier Starks, who scored 15 points in the first half. Crawford turned the tide in the hosts’ favor by scoring the next seven points on two lay-ups and three free throws and then gave Fleming Island a 39-36 at halftime lead by swishing a trey from the left wing with 30 seconds remaining.

The Golden Eagles continued to play fast, and the Wildcats simply could not maintain their effort level. The wearying Wildcats made only three of 10 free throws in the second half after converting seven of nine in the first two quarters and were short on all four of their second half 3-point attempts. Turner scored four points during an 8-0 Golden Eagles run capped by a Crawford fadeaway jumper that stretched the lead to 74-58 with three minutes remaining.

Washington, which ends their season with a 22-6 record, never threatened again.