We headed to Ocala’s Vanguard High School to take in the final day of the venerable Kingdom of the Sun tournament. The oldest 16-team national tournament in Florida started by the great Jim Haley, the event is always filled with quality teams and players. This year was no different.
Consolation Championship: TN Ensworth vs. Eustis
Ensworth out of Tennessee lost to St. Pete Gibbs in the first round 66-39, but recovered to defeat Winter Haven 63-24 and Miami Northwestern 65-62 in the consolation bracket. Eustis fell to Williston 53-50 in the “local” bracket but defeated host school Vanguard 53-49 then St. John’s Creekside 55-48.
The first quarter as well-paced and midway thru Eustis had a 9-8 lead. It didn’t last long and the lead changed hands several times in the first quarter until ending in a 15-15 tie. In the second quarter, Ensworth was able to gain some separation early on and led 25-20 at the half.
Ensworth came out hot in the third quarter. With just over a minute to play, they had outscored Eustis 14-5 in the period, making the score 39-25, forcing a Panther timeout. It didn’t help as Ensworth finished the period with a 5-0 run to lead by nineteen, 44-25 with one quarter remaining. Eustis simply didn’t have the fire power to make a run in the fourth and Ensworth finished 3-1 in Ocala with a 61-41 win.
Ensworth was led by 18 points from 6’3 junior Jonathan Sanderson. Rodger Grant, a 6’5 senior, finished with 13 points while 7’0 junior Ghana Solongo added 10 points.
For Eustis, 6’3 senior Timothy Key had 12 points.
Fifth-Place Game: CT Notre Dame vs. Orlando Edgewater
Notre Dame out of West Haven, CT got by Winter Haven in the first round, fell to Gibbs 52-50 in the second round, then dispatched NY Green Tech 58-52 to reach this point. The Eagles of Edgewater dispatched Milton 58-52 on opening day, lost to St. Thomas Aquinas 64-47 in the next round and defeated local school North Marion 71-49.
Notre Dame got out of the gate quickly and had an 11-4 lead midway thru the opening quarter. Edgewater recovered but was still on the wrong side of a 14-8 score going into the second quarter. Notre Dame opened up a double-digit lead, 20-10, midway thru the second but at that point Edgewater got their legs under them. The Eagles finished the quarter on a 9-3 run to make it a four-point game, 23-19, heading into the break.
Edgewater still had momentum in the third quarter and found themselves within one point, 25-24. At that point, Notre Dame was able to right its ship, going on a 9-3 run to extend its lead to seven, 34-27, with three minutes left in the third. Heading into the fourth quarter leading by ten, 42-32, Notre Dame increased its lead with a 7-3 spurt over the first four minutes. Edgewater was unable to regroup and Notre Dame won big, 66-43.
Notre Dame got 20 points each from 6’5 junior Landon Krygier and 6’6 junior Abdou Toure.
Edgewater received 11 points each from 6’7 senior Myles Mayfield and 6’4 senior Darius Washington III.
Third-Place Game: Orlando Evans vs. Williston
Evans reached the semi-finals with a 66-61 win over Miami Northwestern in the first round and a 69-53 win over Green Tech out of New York. The lost a tough one to Gibbs out of St. Pete 82-72. Williston defeated Eustis and North Marion in the local bracket. They faced Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in the semis, losing 79-42.
Both teams played at a fast pace to open the game. The lead changed hands several times in the first quarter which ended with Evans on top by one 17-16. Williston regrouped and had a 21-19 advantage midway thru the second quarter. At that point, Evans extended its defense and Williston turnovers became Evans points. At the break, Evans led 30-26
Evans roll continued in the third quarter as 9-3 run over the first three-plus minutes extended the Trojans’ lead to ten 39-29. Things would get no better for Williston as Evans’ pressure continued to cause problems. Heading into the final period, Evans as up big 47-33. Evans’ lead eventually reached twenty points, 63-43, with three minutes left to play. Shortly thereafter, both teams put in their benches. Evans won handily by the score of 67-53.
Evans placed four players in double-figures. David Rushing, a 6’3 senior, led the way with 20 points. Arosco Dubois, a 6’2 senior, added 16 points. Rahean Edmonds, a 6’0 senior added 13 points while 6’7 junior Dewayne Dixon finished with 11 points.
For Williston, 6’4 junior, De’Andre Harvey led the way with 17 points.
Championship: Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs
Both teams are among the best in the state regardless of class. STA’s closest win in its first three games was a 74-65 victory over Creekside in the opening round. The Raiders defeated Edgewater 64-47 in round two and Williston 79-42 in the semis. Gibbs defeated Ensworth opening night 66-39, then had tough games against Notre Dame, 52-50, and Evans 82-72.
Both teams came out strong in the first quarter. St. Thomas led by just 11-9 at the four-minute mark. As the quarter progressed it was evident that the length and athleticism of Gibbs was making an impact at both ends of the floor. After one period of play, Gibbs led by one, 15-14. A 9-3 run by St. Thomas to open the second quarter got the Raiders back in control, forcing a Gibbs timeout with 5:43 left in the half. Gibbs worked hard to close the gap and a three-pointer just before the buzzer by Gibbs made it a three-point game, 35-32.
St. Thomas stayed in front in the early moments of the third quarter, leading 48-43 with 4:25 left. At that point, the Raiders extended their defense and Gibbs turnovers become St. Thomas points. The end of the third period found St. Thomas up double-digits, 60-49. A 9-3 run by St. Thomas to start the final quarter pushed their advantage to 69-52 with 5:42 left to play, forcing a Gibbs timeout. Gibbs got the margin down to ten, 70-60, with four minutes to play, but couldn’t maintain that momentum. St. Thomas Aquinas goes on to win the Kingdom of the Sun Championship by the score of 80-64.
Six players finished in double-figures for St. Thomas. Clarence Westbrook, a 6’1 sophomore was the scoring leader with 15 points. Both Dwayne Wimbley, Jr., a 6’7 senior and Florida State signee, and 6’2 junior Drake Sandi each had 13 points. Nate Accius, a 6’4 sophomore came of the bench for 12 points and 6’1 sophomore Kellison Sandi added 10 points.
For Gibbs, 6’4 sophomore Oneal Delancey led the way with 20 points. Jacob Daniels, a 6’1 senior, put up 13 points while 7’0 senior and DePaul commit Isaiah Medina added 11 points and 6’9 junior Michael Broxton finished with 10 points.
KINGDOM OF THE SUN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP: Dwayne Wimbley, Jr., 6’7 senior, St. Thomas Aquinas
D.J. Sandi, 6’2 junior, St. Thomas Aquinas
Clarence Westbrook, 6’1 sophomore, St. Thomas Aquinas
Oneal Delancey, 6’4 sophomore, Gibbs
Jacob Daniels, 6’1 senior, Gibbs
Arturo Dubois, 6’2 senior, Evans
De’Andre Harvey, 6’4 junior, Williston
Abdou Toure, 6’6 junior, Notre Dame
Myles Mayfield, 6’7 senior, Edgewater
Jonathan Sanderson, 6’3 junior, Emsworth
Cornelius Hines, 6’7 senior, Eustis
MR. HUSTLE: Landon Krygier, 6’5 junior, Notre Dame