The basketball playoffs ended this past week as the “big schools” held their championships in Lakeland. Source Hoops’ Socia Media Director and the genius that is Al Arnold was there and provides the All-Tournament Teams for the week.
CLASS 5A
In the first semi-final between Miami Norland and Cape Coral Mariner, the Vikings of Norland established their superiority early. They were up double-digits at the break and never really allowed Mariner to get in the game, holding them to just 37 points and 35% shooting from the field.
The second semi-final between Daytona Beach Mainland and Tampa Blake was more competitive. Blake held a two-point lead at the break, extended that margin to ten by the end of the third period, and then held off a late Mainland rally. Blake’s defense limited Mainland to just 40 points total and 31% shooting from the floor. A 13-4 advantage in made free throws also helped.
In the final, Blake was up three at half-time but Norland seized control with a 17-5 third quarter and never looked back. Norland’s defense held Blake to just 30% shooting from the floor and outrebounded them by ten, 35-25.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Tristan Wilson, Norland (MOP): The 6’5 senior and Presbyterian signee was a consistent offensive weapon for the Vikings, tallying 23 points in the semis and 21 points in the final, both game highs. He also grabbed seven rebounds in each contest.
Marcus Allen, Norland: The 6’6 senior and Missouri signee drew a lot of defensive attention, so his scoring numbers of 11 points in the semis and 9 points in the finals, don’t tell the story. He grabbed seven rebounds in the semis and eight in the title game and no doubt his defense made an impact even it didn’t show on the state sheet.
Josh Lewis, Blake: A 6’7 junior, Lewis was on fire in the semis with a 24 point/12 rebound double-double. His 12 points and 7 rebounds is more of a testament to the stringent Viking defense than anything else.
Kentrell Martin, Blake: A 6’7 junior, Martin was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points in the final game.
Marcus Kelley, Jr., Mariner: The 6’1 senior led his team with 15 points in the semi-finals.
Second Team
Kelvin Jimenez, Mariner
Joe Philon, Blake
Nathan Kirk, Mainland
Narayan Thomas, Mainland
Lorenzo Major, Norland
CLASS 6A
Judging from the stat sheet, Orlando Edgewater’s semi-final win over Punta Gorda Charlotte was not a thing of offensive beauty. Charlotte never had a lead as Edgewater held them to just 20% shooting from the floor for the game. Edgewater didn’t set any accuracy records either, knocking down shots at just a 40% clip.
In semi-final number two, Pines Charter led wire-to-wire against Ponte Vedra. The Jaguars held the Sharks to just 34 points overall and 31% from the field overall. Maybe the most telling stat is that Ponte Vedra shot NO free throws the entire game. Pines Charter dominated inside with 50 points in the paint and 23 second chance points.
The title game was a much more competitive affair. Pines Charter led by twelve at the break but Edgewater cut that deficit to just three points heading into the final period. Pines Charter was able to hold off the Eagles in the final period to win by four, 59-55. A big help was Pines Charter made 16 free throws to just four for Edgewater.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jeremy Elyzee, Pines Charter (Co-MOP): The 6’6 senior tallied 19 points and 6 rebounds in the semis. He raised his game in the final, leading the way with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocked shots.
Josh Harris, Pines Charter (Co-MVP): The 6’7 senior produced a pair of double-doubles in Lakeland. In the semis, he topped the charts with 20 points and 12 rebounds. He had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the championship.
Myles Mayfield, Edgewater: A 6’7 junior, Mayfield tallied 16 points and 4 blocked shots in the semi-final. He almost had a double-double in the final with 10 points, 9 rebounds and added 3 blocks.
Donovan Williams, Edgewater: A 6’4 sophomore, Williams was all over the state sheet with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in the semis and 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in the final.
Solomon Hughes, Pines Charter: His 12 points in the final was an unexpected but big contribution in winning the championship.
Second Team
Jordan Attia, Charlotte
Tyler Cowan, Ponte Vedra
Ramez Zayed, Pines Charter
Jordan Taylor, Charlotte
Ethan Simon, Edgewater
CLASS 7A
The story of the first semi-final has nothing to do with Columbus’ 76-56 win over Orlando Evans and everything to do with the performance of 6’1 junior Arosco Dubois of Evans. He went an unheard-of 9-16 from behind the arc in the Lakeland Center, a place notorious for poor shooting performances.
The second semi-final featured a pair of nationally-ranked teams in Orlando Oak Ridge and Winter Haven. The Blue Devils of Winter Haven won this contest last year on a tip-in at the buzzer. That wasn’t to be the case this time. The Pioneers of Oak Ridge jumped out to a 25-12 first quarter lead and Winter Haven was never able to climb out of that hole. Winter Haven had a 25-7 made free throw advantage, but Oak Ridge offset that with 11 more field goals overall from the field, seven of those coming from beyond the arc.
By all accounts, the Columbus/Oak Ridge final will go down as one of the best championship games in FHSAA history. Oak Ridge stormed back from a sixteen point third quarter deficit and held a lead in the final seconds of the game. However, Cameron Boozer of Columbus got loose inside and scored with about five seconds left to tie the game. Oak Ridge had a good look before the buzzer from behind the arc but the ball did everything but go through the net. In overtime, Columbus knocked down a three on their first possession, then held off Oak Ridge from the foul line to win 72-67. The free throw stats tell the story: Columbus was 19-22 (86%) while Oak Ridge was 14-24 (58%).
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Cameron Boozer, Columbus (MOP): The 6’9 junior did what he usually does: produce high level doubles. His 29 points and 15 rebounds in the semis was just a warmup to 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks in the title game tilt.
Cayden Boozer, Columbus: The 6’4 junior nearly had a double-double of his own in the semis with 9 points and 10 assists. In the final, he came up big, going for 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Jamier Jones, Oak Ridge: The 6’6 junior was dynamic in the semifinals with 29 points. He cooled off a bit in the finals with 16 points.
Isaac Celiscar, Winter Haven: He did everything he could to get to the final game with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Arosco Dubois, Evans: It bears repeating: 33 point on 9-16 shooting from the field in the Lakeland Center is unheard of.
Second Team
Cameron Simpson, Oak Ridge
Jase Richardson, Columbus
Randy Smith, Columbus
Tyler Johnson, Oak Ridge
Jordan Tillery, Oak Ridge