The Sun Bash series made its first of four stops state-wide in Orlando yesterday at Central Florida Christian Academy. Five games with quality teams and individual talent made for a great day of watching hoops.
Game One: Eustis vs. Oviedo The Master’s Academy
Both the Panthers of Eustis (4A) and The Master’s Academy Eagles (2A) are considered favorites in their respective regions to reach Lakeland. It was a tight game in the first four minutes with Eustis up just 7-5. A 13-1 Master’s run gave them an 18-8 advantage going into the second quarter. That didn’t last long as Eustis opened up the period with a 12-0 run to give them a 20-18 lead with just over four minutes left in the half. Master’s was able to pull itself together to close out the half strong to lead 29-26 at the break.
The Master’s made the necessary adjustments at both ends to take control in the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 16-10 to lead by nine, 45-36, with one period left to play. Eustis slowly chipped away at the Eagles’ lead and were down just 55-53 with one minute left to play. Thanks to the presence of a shot clock, The Master’s couldn’t just hold the ball. However, Eustis’ aggressive defense was unable to force turnovers, fouling instead. The Master’s nailed 5-6 free throws to close out the game with a 60-53 victory.
Josh Pitts, a 6’0 senior, was named Player of the Game for The Master’s as he led them with 14 points. Jack Kaley, a 6’3 senior added 13 points while both 6’3 senior Jackson Weber and 6’7 senior Micah Tabor each dropped in 10 points.
For Eustis, 6’6 senior Cornelius Hines was named the Panthers’ Player of the Game with 10 points. Andrew Riley, a 6’4 junior, led the team in scoring with 12 points while 6’2 junior John Miller contributed 11 points.
Game Two: Deltona Pine Ridge vs. Fort Lauderdale Stranahan
Both Pine Ridge (5A) and Stranahan (4A) came in short-handed as the Panthers of Pine Ridge were missing 6’7 sophomore Henry Robinson, Jr., (shoulder) considered a top thirty player in the national Class of 2027 while the Dragons of Stranahan were missing both 6’9 junior Isaiah Brown (hand) and 5’10 sophomore Damari Foster (ankle), a pair of starters. Stranahan was able to carry that burden much better than Pine Ridge. The Dragons jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and never looked back. With scores of 25-9 after one quarter and 43-19 at the break, it looked like a running clock would be imminent at some point in the second half. That came to be after a Stranahan 11-0 run to start the third quarter made the score 54-19. The Dragons would breeze to a 65-31 win. As good as Robinson is, not sure his presence could have altered the final outcome very much.
Xavier Martin, a 5’10 junior, was named Stranahan’s Player of the Game with 10 points. Christian Yeargin, a 6’3 junior led the team with 11 points while 6’2 junior John Delva tallied 10 points.
Pine Ridge had three players score seven points each but Kadin Flores, a 5’10 freshman, earned the nod as the Panthers’ Player of the Game.
Game Three: Melbourne Holy Trinity vs. Orlando Central Florida Christian Academy
A young Tigers team for Holy Trinity (Class 2A) faced a revamped CFCA (Class 1A) Eagles squad. Holy Trinity came out ready early and kept the game close throughout the first quarter, down just 13-10. The host school took control in the second quarter, building a 24-14 advantage with 4:30 left in the half. The margin was thirteen at the break, 36-23.
The Eagles pretty much iced the game with a 9-0 run to start the third quarter. CFCA held Holy Trinity to just four points in the quarter, taking a 50-27 lead into the final period. The visiting Tigers didn’t sulk or pout, they strapped up and played hard in the fourth quarter. Still, they couldn’t get the margin out of double-digits and CFCA won comfortably by the score of 65-44.
Julian DeClou, a 6’5 junior, led CFCA with 19 points and named the Eagles’ Player of the Game for his efforts. Classmate 6’5 Alexander Dipaola, added 17 points. Dylan Duchesne, a 5’11 senior tossed in 11 points and Josh Hernandez, a 5’8 sophomore added 10 points for CFCA.
For Holy Trinity, Michael Otero, a 5’10 junior, scored 9 points and was selected as the team’s Player of the Game. Derrick Flowers, a 5’10 sophomore, led the squad with 10 points. Cayden Gaskins, a 6’6 eighth grader, scored six points while playing just the second half.
Game Four: Orlando Edgewater vs. Tampa Blake
From the moment the teams took the floor to warm up, you could tell this would be a game played at a much higher level than the first three of the night. Edgewater (6A) features a pair of D-I signees in 6’7 senior Myles Mayfield (UNC-Asheville) and 6’4 senior Darius Washington III (Kennesaw State). Blake (4A) countered with 6’7 top one hundred senior Josh Lewis and 6’6 top one hundred junior Joe Philon.
In a bit of a surprise, both teams struggled out of the gate at the offensive end. Midway through the first quarter, Blake led by just 5-3. From there, the Yellow Jackets of Blake finished the period with an 8-2 run to lead 13-5. Edgewater worked furiously to close the gap in the second quarter. While the Eagles never took the lead, the margin at the break was just two points, 25-23.
Edgewater tied the score at 25-25 on their first possession of the third period. That was the start of an 11-4 Edgewater run that would give them a 34-29 lead with just under five minutes left in the period, forcing a timeout by Blake. The Yellow Jackets scored four quick points to get to within one. A 10-4 run by Blake to end the third found them up 43-38. A key moment for Blake was a half-court buzzer beater by 6’0 senior M.J. Ward at the close of the period.
Edgewater fought back and with three minutes to go was within three, 47-44. Blake then rattled off seven consecutive points but Edgewater scored five quick points to make the score 54-49 with just under one minute to play. The Eagles of Edgewater needed to foul to get the ball back with time enough to score. Blake made its free throws to win by ten, 59-49.
Lewis led Blake with 18 points and was named the Yellow Jackets’ Player of the Game. Jason Johnson, a 6’6 senior, and Philon each added 11 points while Ward contributed 10 points.
For Edgewater, Washington led the way with 13 points as was named the Eagles’ Player of the Game. Mayfield finished with 12 points.
Game Five: North Tampa Christian vs. Windermere Prep
The Lakers of Windermere Prep (3A) were down a starter with 6’6 senior and University of Tampa signee Malachi Martis out with an injury. Conversely, North Tampa Christian (1A) has one of the more talented starting fives in the state regardless of classification. The Titans of NTC opened up quickly and with 1:39 left in the period led 15-6. Windermere Prep ended that quarter on a run that got them to within four, 17-13, entering the second period. The Lakers were able to stay within striking distance throughout the quarter, down just five, 27-22, with 3:30 left until the break. NTC finished the second on an 8-1 run, leading by twelve, 35-23.
That run carried over to the first few minutes of the third quarter as a 6-0 run by the Titans widened the gap. With the score 57-35 at the end of the third period, the fourth quarter was just a matter of determining the final score. NTC ultimately posted a running clock and won comfortably 83-45.
A.J. Jones, a 6’5 senior, came off the bench to drain five threes without a miss to finish with 16 points and earn the designation as the Titans’ Player of the Game. Toni Byrant, a 6’10 top twenty junior in the country, led the team with 17 points which included a surprising 4-5 from behind the arc. Caleb Sanders, a 6’7 senior, added 16 points while 6’6 junior Brodey Cuffle tossed in four threes on his way to 14 points.
Sam Shoptaw, a 6’3 senior and South Alabama commit, led the Lakers with 17 points and was named the team’s Player of the Game. Brandon Bass, Jr., a 6’4 top thirty junior nationally, finished with 12 points.