We head back out to Montverde Academy for the second day of their Invitational Tournament. We got there at the half of the first game of the day, a consolation round game between Orlando Dr. Phillips and Bethel Academy from Manassas, VA.
The Panthers of DP held a 29-23 lead coming out of the halftime break. Bethel scored the first bucker of the quarter to draw within four, but DP stayed in control. The lead gradually increased over the course of the period, spearheaded by the play of 6’0 sophomore Josiah Gillard. With ten seconds left in the period, Gillard hit three free throws after being fouled to send DP into the fourth period with a double-digit lead of 47-35.
DP increased its lead to fifteen, 52-37, with 6:55 left in the contest. The Panthers seemed to be in complete control but Bethel had other ideas. They ripped off thirteen unanswered points over the next six minutes to get to within two, 52-50. It looked like DP would stave off the comeback after Gillard made one of two free throws with eight seconds left to go up 55-52, but 5’11 senior Devin Toatley knocked down a three just before the horn to send the game into overtime tied at 55-55.
Dr. Phillips drew first blood in the OT session and led 59-57 with 2:34 remaining. Once again, Bethel got on a roll, scoring seven unanswered points to lead 64-59 with just under thirty-seconds to play. DP got to within two points, 64-62 with twenty-seconds to play, but was forced to foul. Bethel hit a free throw with eight seconds left and DP was unable to get off a quality shot to tie the game. Bethel came all the way back to win in OT 65-62.
Bethel was led by Toatley with 18 points. Kye Gray, a 6’1 junior, added 16 points while 6’7 junior Cameron Prosper finished with 11 points.
Gillard of DP led all scorers with 27 points. C.J. Thomas, a 6’4 sophomore, added 10 points.
Game Two: Miami Riviera Prep vs. Clearwater Northside Christian
The second game in the consolation bracket, this game was back-and-forth the entire way. The Bulldogs of Riviera Prep got out to an early 7-3 lead but Northside turned the tables and led 14-11 with just under two minutes to go in the opening period. Now it was Riviera Prep’s turn to make a run and they did, closing out the quarter with an 8-3 run to led by a score of 19-17.
Northside tied the game on the first possession of the second quarter, then the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to lead 25-19 with just over four minutes to play in the period. Northside again responded, tying the game at 30-30 with 2:33 remaining. Riviera Prep hit a three and kept that lead at the break, up 35-32.
Another 6-0 run by Riviera Prep to start the third gave them a nine-point lead at 41-32 with just over five minutes to play in the period. Northside cut the lead to five but RP responded with a three to go back up eight. That was the last points the Bulldogs would score in the period as Northside scored six unanswered to go into the fourth quarter down by just two, 44-42.
Northside’s roll continued to start the period, taking a 46-44 lead. Northside maintained a slim lead through much of the period and led 52-48 with just under three minutes to play. In less than a minutes, Riviera Prep tied the score at 52-52. With the score tied at 54-54 with thirty seconds left, Northside connected on one of two free throws to take a one-point lead. Riviera Prep got the last possession of the quarter and put back a miss with twenty-one seconds left to retake the lead. Northside was unable to get a shot off to win and Riviera Prep eked out a 56-55 victory.
A trio of players scored twelve points each to pace Riviera Prep. J.J. Watts, a 6’7 junior, Anton Safin, a 6’8 junior, and Laron Mack, a 6’9 sophomore.
For Northside Christian, Elijah Ahlers, a 6’5 junior, led all scorers with 17 points, going 5-9 from deep in the process. C.J. Hearn, a 6’4 senior, added 14 points and Isaac Jacobs, a 6’6 senior, tallied 10 points.
GAME THREE: TX Faith Family Academy vs. Daytona Beach DME Academy
After an OT game and a one-point thriller, we expected much of the same from these two teams in the first semi-final game. And for the first quarter, we got that. Faith Family got out to a quick 6-2 lead but DME never let them get much farther ahead. After one quarter of play, Faith Family led by the score of 21-16.
Faith Family opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run over the first two minutes of the period. That was the part of a unique scoring quarter for FFA. On their eight scoring possessions, all but one was a three-point play: three free throws, four made three pointers, and two “and one” completions. DME was unable to keep up with this type of onslaught. At the half, FFA’s lead had ballooned to seventeen, 44-27.
To DME’s credit, the kept pace with FFA throughout the third quarter. That being said they were down 64-45 heading into the final period. FFA’s Josiah Rose, a 6’3 sophomore, hit a three-point play to start the fourth quarter. After DME put back a miss, FFA’s 6’2 junior Josiah Jones connected on a four-point play. At this point, FFA led 71-47 and the two Josiahs had combined for as many points as DME. With just over five minutes to play and down 75-52, DME pulled its starters. FFA would go on to win big, 91-60.
Rose finished with 31 points for FFA while Jones ended the game with 23 points. Gallagher Placide, a 6’9 senior added 14 points and twin brother 6’11 Gavin Placide put up 13 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
For DME, Katanjay Jenkins, a 6’7 sophomore, had 15 points and Nathan Kirk, a 6’1 senior, added 11 points.
The final game of the night, Montverde vs. The Rock School, turned out to be a barn burner, with the Eagles of Montverde scoring a bucket with fifteen seconds left to go up by one and win by the score of 70-69.