2/2/00- Verot 51, Fort Myers 50
In the first year of the Herting era, the Bishop Verot-Fort Myers rivalry began its rise to one of the best rivalries in the state. Casey Breen, who became a Verot assistant coach, drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer, sparking a wild celebration from the Verot students in attendance. It was one of three buzzer beaters hit by Breen during his Verot career.
2/19/05- Verot 62, North Port 56 (District Championship)
For the first time in 14 years, Verot claimed a district championship and a trip to the state playoffs. Battling against North Port star Kyle Rowland, junior Reed Baker scored 31 points, including six late free throws to clinch the district title. The victory was the 16th in a row for the Vikings, a streak that would stretch to 17 in the regional quarterfinals.
2/16/06- Verot 105, Tampa Catholic 77 (Regional Quarterfinals)
The Vikings set still-standing records for points, three-pointers, and assists, pouring in 16 threes and dishing out 39 assists in the first round playoff victory. Reed Baker, John Keim, Zack Ward, and Tyler Adams all recorded double-doubles in the win, led by the 29 points of Baker and the six threes from Ward. The 2006 Vikings would advance to the first Elite Eight in program history.
12/21/06- Verot 50, Jacksonville Providence 40 (Outback Steakhouse Invitational Championship)
After wins over Florida powers The First Academy and Berkeley Prep, Verot won the Outback Steakhouse Invitational by defeating Jacksonville Providence. Brennen Melvin, as a sophomore, led the Vikings with 16 points and seven rebounds. Senior Brent Wood added 14 points. The trophy from the 2006 Outback Steakhouse Invitational stands in Coach Herting’s classroom to this day.
2/2/07- Verot 68, Fort Myers 57
If Verot’s win in 2000 began Southwest Florida’s Greatest Rivalry, the games in 2006 and 2007 confirmed it. The Vikings dealt Fort Myers their first loss to a team from Florida that season, with a 24-point Senior Night performance from Brent Wood leading the way. The game is perhaps most remembered for Chris Scanlan’s crossover near midcourt, which sent Greenie star Lance Kearse to the floor and the capacity crowd into a frenzy.
2/15/07- Verot 62, St. Pete Catholic 60 (Regional Quarterfinal)
In back to back seasons, the Barons of Saint Pete Catholic had eliminated the Vikings from the state playoffs. Verot was finally able to get the monkey off their backs in the opening round of the state playoffs, and did so at the buzzer. On an inbounds play with two seconds remaining, Kurt Kosek cut to the basket and laid the ball in for a 62-60 victory. Brennen Melvin paced Verot with 16 points.
1/19/08- Verot 55, Tampa Plant 38 (Wally Keller Classic)
Playing one of the top 5A teams in the state, Verot turned in perhaps its greatest defensive performance in years. Plant scored just 14 points in the second half as the Vikings pulled away for a victory at Charlotte High in Punta Gorda. Senior Oliver Pluss scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds, and the Vikings held the Panthers to 6-of-29 shooting from inside the three-point arc.
2/1/08- Verot 77, Fort Myers 59
The Vikings dominated the Green Wave for the first time in the history of the rivalry, rolling over a Green Wave team that had entered the game with a 22-2 record and was considered by many locally to be the favorite over a 14-10 Verot team. Sophomore Jacquard Hagan scored 18 points, and Etienne Effenberg scored 17 points and recorded nine rebounds.
1/10/09- Verot 63, Williston 61 (OT) (Cape Classic)
Ranked seventh in the state, Verot went to overtime with the third-ranked Devils of Williston. In one of the most dramatic finishes in Verot history, senior point guard Jesse Kane drilled a running double-pump shot as time expired to claim the victory. Kane’s heroics came after a three by Bobby Thomas to tie the game and two missed free throws by Williston. At the time, the game was considered a possible Final Four preview.
2/14/09- Verot 53, Dunbar 51 (District Championship)
In the late 2000’s and early 2010’s, the Verot-Dunbar rivalry may have even been more intense than that of Fort Myers and Verot. In perhaps the best game ever played between the two schools, Verot claimed victory on an and-one with mere seconds to play by Etienne Effenberg, who scored 20 points on the night. Effenberg’s late game winner came after a steal and layup by Darius Perkins gave Dunbar a 51-50 lead.
2/24/09- Verot 53, Berkeley Prep 50 (Sweet 16)
For three quarters, the sixth-ranked Vikings had controlled the fourth-ranked Buccaneers of Berkeley Prep. Verot held a 40-26 lead with eight minutes to play, but saw Berkeley come storming back to within one. Jesse Kane hit two free throws in the closing seconds of the contest, and Brennen Melvin stole Berkeley’s final pass to seal the victory. Etienne Effenberg scored 19 points to lead Verot to the Elite Eight.
2/28/09- Verot 44, Melbourne Central Catholic 35 (Elite Eight)
In a list of Verot’s Greatest Victories, there are none greater. Verot finally accomplished a dream over 40 years in the making, advancing to the FHSAA Final Four for the first time. The Vikings led by eleven at halftime, and withstood a third quarter charge to win the Regional title. SWFL Mr. Basketball Brennen Melvin scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, sending the Vikings to Lakeland for a date with Brandon Knight and Pine Crest.
2/23/10- Verot 55, Dunbar 53 (Sweet 16)
For all the battles between the Vikings and the Tigers, the teams had never met in the state playoffs before. That changed in the 2010 Regional Semifinals, when the Vikings escaped with a two-point win in a back and forth showdown. Jacquard Hagan’s 28 points was key for the Vikings, but no play was bigger than senior post Abner Sandoval jumping on a loose ball with mere seconds to play to help seal the win.
2/5/11- Verot 61, Fort Myers 57 (OT)
With just 50 seconds to go in the bi-annual rivalry, the Green Wave seemed to have their third win in four tries over Verot wrapped up. Fort Myers led by eight points, and were at the foul line. However, missed free throws and a furious Viking comeback, culminated by a spinning lay-in from senior Nate Howard tied the game and forced overtime. An early dunk from high scorer Ricky Doyle set the tone for overtime as Verot was able to pull off the shocking victory in front of an electric crowd at the Nevins Gym.
12/20/11- Verot 78, Philadelphia Constitution 75 (City of Palms Classic)
Despite hosting the tournament since 1994, the Vikings had never won a City of Palms Classic game on their home floor. In a challenge round contest, the Vikings broke a losing streak of 29 games in the City of Palms with an upset of one of Philadelphia’s top teams, led by Arizona State commit Savon Goodman. Ricky Doyle led all scorers with 22 points, and Mark Wagner added 18, including a deep three pointer that helped seal the win.
1/14/12- Verot 79, Mariner 44 (Wally Keller Classic)
The Wally Keller Classic matched up what were believed to be the two best teams in Lee County, and the Vikings dominated from the jump. Verot put the running clock on the Tritons, and two Verot players- Mark Wagner and Mason Taylor- outscored Mariner themselves. The Vikings led 40-16 at halftime, silencing any doubt as to who the best team in Lee County was.
12/18/12- Verot 49, St. Thomas Aquinas 48 (City of Palms Classic)
Even after the previous year’s win over Constitution, Verot had never won a championship bracket game of the nation’s best high school basketball tournament. In dramatic fashion, the Vikings recorded one of their highest profile victories ever on a buzzer-beating nine footer by senior Max Williams. Without the services of an injured Ricky Doyle, Mason Taylor stepped up for 24 points in the win, which sparked what was referred to by then-ESPN scout Dave Telep as “mini-pandemonium.”
1/3/13- Verot 75, OKC Douglass 67 (Sugar Bowl Classic)
Playing in the prestigious Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic, Verot shocked defending champion Oklahoma City Douglass and star recruit Stevie Clark. Mason Taylor outdueled Clark, posting one of the greatest single games in Verot history with 35 points and six rebounds. The Vikings trailed entering the fourth quarter, but scored 30 points in the final frame to upset Douglass.
1/18/14- Verot 57, Suwanee 56 (Wally Keller Classic)
In a showcase game billed as a battle between Michigan-bound Ricky Doyle and Florida commit Kevarrius Hayes, it was junior guard Thaddeus Ward that hit the biggest shots, making two key threes in regulation and overtime. Doyle and Ward each scored nineteen points, and late shots from Doyle and Jack Kavanagh helped the Vikings put Suwanee away.
2/12/15- Verot 52, Lincoln Park 47 (Regional Quarterfinals)
Despite a season of challenges, Verot posted a playoff victory on the road, rallying in the fourth quarter and hanging on in the final seconds thanks to a charge taken by Matt Medovich and free throws from Stephen Wagner. Wagner led Verot with 13 points, followed by 11 points each from Medovich, Hunter Hand, and Thaddeus Ward. The win sent the Vikings to the Sweet 16 for the ninth time in eleven seasons.
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