It was a full but fun and fruitful day two at the FABC Live Period Showcase. Here is just a taste of what we saw in Gainesville.
Orlando Edgewater 46, Tampa Blake 42
For an 8:30AM game, this was a high-level matchup. The Eagles of Edgewater almost let a double-digit halftime lead slip away, but righted the ship just in time to snare the win. Myles Mayfield, a 6’8 rising senior, led Edgewater with 14 points.
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 55, Lake Worth 30
The Eagles of NBP got out fast and never let up against a short-handed Trojans squad from Lake Worth. Christian Rosado, a 6’0 rising senior, got hot from deep late in the contest to lead North Broward Prep with 15 points.
Clearwater Calvary Christian 48, Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 45
Calvary got out to a fast start and led much of the way. In the second half, Santa Fe got to within 37-36 with just a few minutes left. Calvary was able to hold them off, but just barely. Ethan Bergantino, a 6’3 rising junior, led Calvary with 20 points.
Daytona Beach DME Academy 49, Tallahassee Process Academy 48
A clash of Sunshine Independent Athletic Association teams, DME led most of the contest until Process amped up the defensive pressure, got some stops as well as scores. They got to within one point with five seconds left but time simply ran out. DME as led by Heri Bukinga, a 6’10 rising senior, with 16 points.
Milton 65, Tampa Carrollwood Day 39
This was our “lunch” game, so we didn’t get to our spot until the second half and by then Milton was well ahead and there was no need to take notes. Milton, near Pensacola, is a solid squad that plays well together on both ends of the floor. They will be a dangerous opponent come the regular season.
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 56, Fort Pierce Central 52 OT
This was a competitive game from start to finish. Both teams had players come through in big moments but it as Stranahan that got a couple of stickback buckets in OT to seal the win. Christian Yeargin, a 6’3 rising junior, led Stranahan with 20 points.
Clearwater Balboa School 39, DME Academy 27
As you might have guessed by the score, this wasn’t a thing of beauty. Both teams struggled to shoot the ball, but Balboa made more threes to put them on top by the time the horn sounded. Balboa was led by 6’6 rising senior Vito Albanse with 9 points.
Orlando Lake Highland Prep 65, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 63 Sudden Death
This may have been the best game of the day. Lake Highland got out to a double-digit lead by the break. Chaminade used physical play at both ends of the floor to mount a comeback. At the end of regulation, the game was tied at 57-57. In the one-minute overtime period, each team scored four points. So now the next bucket wins. Lake Highland got first crack at it and made the most of it as 6’3 rising junior R.J. Ingram scored a floater in the lane to get the win. He led the team with 16 points in the game.
Miami Belen Jesuit 45, Ocoee Legacy Charter 39
This as our “dinner” game, so we watched the closest court from above in the hospitality suite. Fortunately, Belen Jesuit was playing. This meant that we would be watching a team with players that know and understand where to go and what to do in almost any given basketball situation. The ball and player movement is refreshing to see and they end up with a lot of easy baskets.
Miami Palmetto 54, Orange Park Oakleaf 53
This was a wild and crazy game. Palmetto was down the entire first half and fought back to tie the game at 34-34 with thirteen minutes left in the second period. Oakleaf then went on an 11-2 run and it looked like Palmetto was gassed. Not the case, as Palmetto fought back to within one, 53-52, with twenty-four seconds left. Palmetto got the ball back and Santiago Henriquez, a 5’8 rising senior, scored on a drive with six seconds left to give Palmetto the lead. Oakleaf was unable to respond. Henriquez led Palmetto with 32 points, many from well behind the three-point line.
Williston 68, Miami True North Classic 65
In the final game of the night, Williston was able to overcome a barrage of deep True North threes to get the win. DeAndre Harvey, a 6’4 rising junior, led the Red Devils with 20 points.
Player of the Day: We are going to hand this one to Ingram of Lake Highland Prep. The 6’3 rising junior simply makes winning plays and to do so in sudden death overtime against a tough Chaminade squad was very impressive.
Surprise of the Day: We’d seen Christian Yeargin out of Stranahan earlier in the spring at both individual and travel team events but we weren’t really expecting the offensive explosiveness, athletic finishes, and all out competitiveness that he showed in the teams OT win over Fort Pierce Central.
Old Faces in New Places: Bergantino of Clearwater Calvary spent his first two years at Brooksville Central. A tough, physical guard with size and skill, he is going to make life much easier for the likes of Ethan Sabec and Madden Geiger come the regular season.
Notable Newcomer: North Broward Prep has a third Borio brother in the pipeline. Luigi Borio, a 6’5 freshman, showed smarts and toughness in the game against Lake Worth this morning. He has some skill as well and will certainly be one to watch going forward.