It is the first live period for High School teams and the FABC put on its Live Period Showcase beginning today in Gainesville. With will over 100 teams in attendance, we weren’t able to see everyone on the first day. However, here it just a taste of what we saw on Day One.
Academy of Central Florida 59, Process Basketball Academy 38
The FABC welcomed the Sunshine Interscholastic Athletic Association this year and it proved beneficial. ACF had just a bit more size and scoring ability than Process Basketball Academy out of Tallahassee. Both Nayvin Perez, a 6’4 rising senior and Seydina Faye, a 6’7 rising senior, scored 14 points to lead ACF.
Hilliard 63, Chipley 51
Whenever there is a chance to see powers in the Rural Classification, we take it. This was a real battle throughout until Hilliard pulled away late to secure the win. C.J. Hall, a 6’3 rising senior, led the way for Hilliard with 27 points.
Fleming Island 44, Ocala Vanguard 37
This was a very physical contest that Fleming Island led for much of the way but never by more than a couple of possessions at the very end. Carson Crawford, a 6’6 rising sophomore, paced Fleming Island in scoring with 10 points.
Davie Western 63, Sarasota 57
Both of these teams look solid and could be contenders in their respective 7A regions. This time around, Western had more success shooting from the perimeter. Western had a double-digit lead but Sarasota got to within four with under a minute to play but could not get closer. Maddox Fowles, a 6’8 rising senior, led a balanced Western attack with 9 points.
Ponte Vedra 50, Tampa Berkeley Prep 41
After a meal break, we got to this game at the half with Ponte Vedra up 25-19. Berkeley Prep was never able to make much of a dent in the margin to get back into the game. Ponte Vedra got 24 points from 6’3 rising senior David Sanchez-Barrera.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 55, St. Petersburg Gibbs 36
In a clash of two of the better teams in the state regardless of classification, Aquinas jumped out early and never looked back. Dwayne Wimbley, Jr., a 6’6 rising senior got Aquinas going with a game-high 23 points.
Miami High 57, Orlando Lake Highland Prep 34
“The High” used is superior size to jump out on a young Highlanders squad in the final game of the evening. Romari Robinson, a 6’5 rising senior, led Miami with 25 points.
Player of the Day: We give it to Wimbley of Aquinas just barely over Robinson of Miami simply because his performance came against a superior opponent.
Surprise of the Day: Sanchez-Barrera of Ponte Vedra isn’t known as a big scorer, so his output of a double-dozen was a bit of an eye opener.
Old Faces in New Places: Wimbley has spent the past three seasons at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale but now is at Aquinas. It is NOT a given that he will play football his senior season. That has yet to be determined.
Notable Newcomer: Jolani McMillian, a 6’2 incoming freshman played well for Hilliard. Rebounds, steals, assists, and some scoring slashes to the basket were all part of his package on Friday.