We headed down to Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda to catch one of our favorite events of the year – The Wally Keller Classic. The event always features outstanding matchups with games going on in two gyms separated by a thirty-foot corridor.
Game One: Naples Barron Collier vs. St. Petersburg High
This was the first game of the day and while we couldn’t stay for its entirety, it was pretty clear that after St. Pete started the game with a 10-0 run, it was going to be difficult for Barron Collier to keep pace. The Green Devils led 35-17 at the break which was when we headed to the other gym. St. Pete ultimately won by the score of 82-56. Nijaun Harris, a 6’5 sophomore, scored 26 points for the Green Devils on his way to being named his team’s Player of the Game. Jayden Martinez, a 6’3 junior, was Barron Collier’s POG.
Game Two: Parrish Community vs. Naples Palmetto Ridge
This was our first full game of the day and it featured two of the better teams in Southwest Florida. Parrish led by just four, 11-7, after the first four minutes. They got rolling from that point to lead 20-12 going into the second period. Palmetto Ridge worked hard to stay within striking distance, but Parrish had a hot hand from behind the arc and at the break, Parrish led by a dozen, 37-25.
The third and fourth quarters were somewhat anticlimactic as Parrish was able to turn back every Palmetto Ridge run. Parrish went to win by the score of 62-48.
Chris Roberts, a 6’3 sophomore, was named the Player of the Game for Parrish after scoring 19 points. Dante Rivers, a 6’4 sophomore, added 12 points while 6’5 junior Kendall Davis finished with 11 points.
The Player of the Game for Palmetto Ridge was 6’6 junior Judah Lopez. He tallied 19 points. E.J. McCray, a 6’3 sophomore, led the team with 20 points.
Game Three: Orlando Christian Prep vs. Miami Norland
We got back into the main gym as this one was going to halftime. OCP was up by a score of 34-26. Norland threatened on a couple of occasions, but OCP would hold on to win by a score of 62-53.
OCP’s Player of the Game was 6’7 sophomore Jayden Strawder as he notched 17 points in the win. Zachary Joseph, a 6’0 junior scored 20 points for Norland to earn the Vikings’ Player of the Game honors.
Game Four: Jacksonville Providence vs. Coral Springs Coral Glades
It was a quick turnaround for Providence as they took down nationally ranked Bartow on Friday night. The Stallions didn’t show any ill effects from that tussle, grabbing an early lead and were up 15-11 going into the second quarter. They were able to keep the Jaguars of Coral Glades at arm’s length and led 33-27 at the break.
Providence grew its lead gradually over the course of the third quarter. The margin grew to double-digits, 43-33, with 3:15 left in the period. Midway thru the final quarter, Providence led by fifteen, 53-38, its largest of the game, with four minutes left to play. Coral Glades was able to slice into that margin to make the final score 65-56 in favor of Providence.
Marvin Christie, a 6’3 senior, led Providence with 20 points to earn Player of the Game for the Stallions. He got help from 6’9 junior Nolan Nelson and 6’4 sophomore Will Stewart as each scored 10 points.
For Coral Glades, Kyler Theophile, a 6’5 senior and Kennesaw State commit, scored 16 points on his way to earning his team’s POG award. Ali Atallah, a 6’5 junior, added 13 points and Gavin Reed, a 6’0 junior, tallied 12 points.
Game Five: The Villages Charter vs. Pembroke Pines Charter
Both teams have taken on downright brutal schedules this season. The first quarter was tightly contested and ended with the score deadlocked at 14-14. The Villages was the first to make a move, using an 11-4 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to gain some separation. At the break, the Buffaloe were up by eight, 33-25.
Pines Charter seized momentum at the start of the third period, using an 11-5 run to draw within 38-36 midway thru the quarter. At that point, The Villages nailed consecutive three-point shots to increase their lead. With one period left to play, The Villages looked in good shape, up 45-38. A 9-2 run by the Jaguars of Pines Charter tied the game with 5:41 left to play. The teams exchanged points and leads for awhile but with two minutes to play Pines Charter was up 59-55. Pines Charter then had a decisive 8-0 run. A late three from The Villages made the final score 67-58 in favor of Pines Charter.
Zack Dawson, a 5’11 junior, poured in 25 points for Pines Charter, earning Player of the Game honors. Anthony Walcott, a 6’6 junior, added 16 points while 6’8 senior Robert Guishard contributed 14 points.
For The Villages, Aaron Britt, a 6’2 junior, tallied 20 points to earn POG honors. Cameron Lee, a 6’0 freshman, added 10 points.
Game Six: Orlando Olympia vs. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas was coming off a loss to Pines Charter and were quick to get the bad taste of defeat out of its mouth, scoring the game’s first eight points in a quick couple of minutes to lead 8-0 and force an Olympia time out. The Titans of Olympia got off the mat after that break but were down those eight initial points, 21-13, going into the second quarter. Olympia continued to have momentum and were down just a bucket, 30-28, at the half.
St. Thomas was able to keep its lead until Olympia tied the game at 37-37 with 2:15 left to play in the third quarter. The Titans grabbed its first lead a short time later but entering the final period, St. Thomas had regained control to lead 43-41. The Raiders extended that lead, scoring the first four points of the fourth to give them some breathing room. That lead grew to double-digits, 54-44, with four minutes remaining. Olympia was unable to overcome that. St. Thomas goes on to win by the score of 63-53.
St. Thomas Aquinas received 25 points from 6’1 junior Clarence Westbrook and he was named the team’s Player of the Game for his efforts. Mason Mallory, a 6’3 senior, added 12 points.
For Olympia, James Nowells, a 6’3 junior, had 15 points to earn POG honors. Terrance Moore, a 6’3 junior, tossed in 11 points while 6’5 junior Kevin Edou added 10 points.
Game Seven: Sarasota HS vs. Coatesville (PA)
Coatesville features 6’6 sophomore Colton Hiller, considered a top five player nationally in the 2028 Class (sophomores). The Sailors of Sarasota came in short-handed as Johnny Lackaff, a 6’2 junior and the team’s leader, was on the shelf with a calf injury sustained at the Kingdom of the Sun tournament over the holidays.
Coatesville got the upper-hand early, leading 16-9 going into the second quarter. Sarasota scratched and clawed its to within four, 20-16, midway thru the period but at the break, Coatesville had grabbed back momentum to lead by double-digits, 28-18.
Sarasota returned to the floor with a spark in the third period. The Sailors cut the deficit in half early on and were down just three, 36-33, entering the final period of play. With a minute left to play, Coatesville clung to a 48-44 lead. Sarasota’s David Young scored inside to make it a two-point contest and it looked like Sarasota would tie the game after Coatesville committed a live ball turnover on the next possession. However, fate was unkind and Sarasota was unable to take advantage. Coatesville would hang on from the free throw line to win a dogfight, 51-48.
Lawrence Brown, a 6’9 senior, led Coatesville with 29 points. However, because of the event’s policy of not giving the same player POG honors on consecutive nights, Hiller was named Coatesville’s POG with 13 points.
For Sarasota, Greg Dauer, a 6’5 sophomore, tallied 16 points to earn Player of the Game honors for the Sailors. Young finished with 10 points.
Game Eight: Punta Gorda Charlotte vs. Port Charlotte
Per tradition, the finale at The Wally Keller Classic features these two rivals. Fans from both teams pack the gym and it makes for an electric atmosphere.
Things got off to a slow start as the score was only 4-2 in favor of Charlotte after the first four minutes. Things finally opened up and Charlotte led 13-9 entering the second quarter. In that period, Charlotte discovered its mojo at both ends of the floor, outscoring Port Charlotte 19-7 to lead 32-16 at the break.
In a rivalry like this, no mercy is given. Charlotte continued to play at a level that the visiting Pirates could not match. The lead was twenty, 50-30, going into the fourth period. The Tarpons nearly made it a thirty-point romp, winning by a final score of 66-37.
Jianny Reyes-Sanchez, a 6’3 senior, was dynamic in scoring 23 points. He earned POG honors the previous night so that award went to Devan Jones, a 6’3 senior, who scored 14 points. Obi Edeoga, a 6’6 sophomore, added 10 points.
Zeke Settles, a 6’4 junior, earned POG honors for Port Charlotte with 10 points. Jio Cruz, a 6’0 sophomore led the Pirates with 11 points.