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.
Weston Sagemont 80, Wellington 42
The first game of the day (8:30AM) started out well for Wellington as they led 18-11 after the first ten-minute running clock quarter. At that point, the reigning Class 1A state champs found another gear and made systematic work of the opponent. A ten-point halftime lead ballooned to twenty-four points heading into the third quarter.
Sagemont was led by 6’4 sophomore Branden Sharpe with 18 points while 6’7 senior Kevin Thomas tossed in 16 points and 6’2 sophomore Ezra Gelin added 10 points.
For Wellington, 5’10 senior Rashard Reinhardt led the way with 14 points.
Orlando Boone 47, Pompano Beach Highlands Christian 45
HC is a very young team but has a lot of promising talent. Both of those qualities played out as the team held a 33-27 lead on a more experienced Boone squad out of Orlando heading into the final period. The Braves stayed with it and eventually pulled out the win, draining a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds left to grab the win.
Boone was led by 6’1 senior Hunter Thomason with 14 points while 5’8 senior Makauri Massey added 11 points, including the game winning free throws.
For Highlands Christian, 6’4 rising 8th grader Isaiah Bridges was the top scorer with 13 points while 6’5 incoming freshman Desean Clayton added 12 points.
Coral Springs Coral Glades 73, Miami Divine Savior 50
The head coach for Divine Savior shared with us that his top three players were out playing with their respective national teams but he didn’t make any excuses. In fact, DS led after the first period 18-17, thanks to some stellar three-point shooting. From that point, Coral Glades overall advantage in speed and size took control, building their lead throughout the remaining three quarters.
Kyler Theophile, a 6’5 senior, led Coral Glades with 17 points. Gavin Reed, a 6’0 junior added 16 points and 6’2 junior Donovan Swain connected for 12 poins.
For Divine Savior, 6’4 junior Nelson Saurell paced the team with 15 points while 5’10 junior Jacob Acevedo added 11 points.
Hialeah Mater Lakes 65, Tampa Newsome 30
Supposedly, Mater Lakes hasn’t been together in the gym since the end of the season but you sure couldn’t tell from this game. A dominating 20-7 first quarter was a foreshadowing of things to come. Newsome simply didn’t have the horses to stay with Mater Lakes and never seriously challenged to get back to within double-digits.
Khanye Moss, a 6’0 junior, and Tai Bell, a 6’2 sophomore, each scored 15 points for Mater Lakes.
Will Patterson, a 6’0 junior for Newsome, led the team with seven points.
Jacksonville Providence 71, Miami True North Classical 46
The first half of this contest was quite a battle. Providence led by just one, 17-16 after one quarter of play but True North used the power of the three-point shot to lead at the break 29-26. Providence stiffened up on defense in the second half, building a 49-38 lead after the third quarter before going on to dominate the final period.
Evan Hines, a 5’9 senior, and William Stewart, a 6’3 sophomore, each tallied 15 points for Providence. Cameron Huguenard, a 6’3 sophomore, and Nolan Nelson, a 6’9 junior, each added 11 points.
Michael Vilmenay, a 5’9 junior, led True North with 18 points.
Jupiter 76, Tallahassee Rickards 53
Jupiter jumped out fast in this one, using the three-point shot from all types of distances and angles, to lead 26-17 after one period of play. The Indians built a double-digit lead at the break but really cranked things up in the third quarter to lead 64-41. Rickards tried a host of different defenses but nothing seemed to be able to slow down Jupiter.
Jupiter was led by 5’9 junior Brandon Collum with 32 points including nine made threes, two of which beat quarter-ending buzzers. Zach Bombardier, a 5’10 senior, tossed in 11 points.
For Rickards, 6’4 senior Calvin Thomas scored 27 points.
Orlando Dr. Philips 46, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 42
This game wasn’t pretty, just gritty. Scoring was difficult for both teams. DP was able to grab a 13-7 lead after one period and then held two point margins at the end of the next two quarters. Things got interesting at the end as DP hit a three to go up 44-39 with twenty seconds left but Stranahan came right back down and hit a three of their own to make the score 44-42 with ten seconds remaining. Stranahan was forced to foul and DP hit a pair with seven seconds left for the final margin.
Dr. Phillips was led by 6’3 senior Isaiah Gillard with 18 points while London Hatch, a 6’4 senior, added 14 points.
For Stranahan, 6’0 junior Damari Foster led the team with 17 points.
Orlando Lake Highland Prep 59, Miami Country Day 47
Lake Highland got out to fast start, leading 13-5 after one quarter. Miami Country Day closed the gap to 28-23 at the break. The third quarter was much like the first as LHP ending up with a 41-32 lead going into the final period. This time, MCD was not able to make a run to threaten the Highlanders.
R.J. Ingram, a 6’3 senior, led Lake Highland Prep with 22 points. Michael Madueme, a 6’5 senior, added 16 points and Shiva Atwal, a 6’5 senior, dropped in 14 points.
Malik Charles, a 6’0 junior, and Miguel Orbe, a 6’3 junior, each scored 12 points for Miami Country Day. Fernando Romero, a 6’4 senior, added 11 points.
Lakeland Victory Christian 69, Clearwater Calvary Christian 51
Victory grabbed an 18-12 lead after one period but it was their 14-2 second quarter that put Calvary in hole they could not dig out of. Calvary was within 50-40 heading into the final period, but Victory manufactured points out of Calvary turnovers to increase their lead.
Quinton Wilson, a 6’4 sophomore, led Victory with 22 points, some in spectacular fashion. Tucker Fox, a 5’11 senior, was just behind him with 21 points. Menthon McCalla, a 6’4 senior, added 10 points.
For Calvary, 6’8 senior Ehtan Sabec led the way with 24 points.
St. Augustine Tocoi Creek 62, Pembroke Pines Charter 55
Pines Charter got off to a good start and grabbed an early lead but Tocoi was able to stay within reach thanks to some torrid three-point shooting. At the half, Tocoi Creek was up double-digits, 32-21. With one period left to play, TC’s lead was 54-36 and Pines Charter seemed to have no answer. However, they found one in extended pressure, and combined with TC taking its foot off the gas a bit, Pines Charter able to fight back and make the final score more competitive.
Ty Duncan, a 6’2 junior, led Tocoi Creek with 18 points. Javares Rickerson, a 6’0 senior, added 16 points and 6’2 senior Daniel Figueroa added 10 points.
For Pines Charter, 6’2 senior Jordan Moshe had 11 points and both 6’0 senior Roman Hughes and 6’8 senior Robert Guishard scored 10 points each.
Orlando The First Academy 58, St. Petersburg Northside Christian 55
Both teams are quite young so it wasn’t much of a surprise to see some sloppy play. Northside led after one quarter 16-14 but TFA was able to assume control in the second period and retain it the rest of the contest. Northside made a late push and looked like the might pull out the win, but TFA was able to hang on.
TFA was led by 5’9 junior Cory McPherson with 17 points while Jerry Bacon, a 6’2 sophomore, added 10 points.
For Northside Christian, Tegra Makabu, a 6’9 senior, had 13 points.
Player of the Day: There are many worthy candidates to choose from, put Jupiter’s Brandon Collum was absolutely extraordinary today. As mentioned, he had nine threes, two of them buzzer beaters. One was also an “and one”. Collum was also solid with the basketball, distributed it well, and proved to be a tough floor general at both ends of the court.
Find of the Day: If not for Collum’s performance in the same game, Calvin Thomas of Rickards may very well have earned the POD. A long 6’4, he showed a knack for getting to and scoring at the basket, finishing in transition, rebounding in traffic and defending a variety of positions. He drained his only two perimeter jump shot attempts, one a three. If he can prove to be a reliable perimeter shooter with three-point range, he will get an opportunity at the next level.