We traveled down to Northside Christian in St. Pete to take in Day Two of the Sun Bash – Tampa event. This has become THE premiere event in the Bay Area as it attracts not only the best teams from that part of the state but many other quality teams from outside the area.
We missed Game One of the day featuring host school Northside Christian vs. neighboring Osceola. Northside Christian won 61-55 but the big news was Northside Christian sophomore Eli Ahlers coming within two points of the Sun Bash scoring record. He dropped in 45 points from a wide variety of styles and distances according to tournament officials.
GAME TWO: Jacksonville University Christian vs. St. Petersburg HS
The Christians of University Christians set the tone early, getting out to an 11-2 run in the first three minutes to force a time out. The Green Devils of St. Pete played evenly with UC from that point on in the quarter but still found themselves down 24-12 going into the second period. That double-digit lead would stay the rest of the half as St. Pete shots from the outside wouldn’t fall and the size of UC made scoring at the basket very difficult. At least, St. Pete as able to trim the margin to eleven, 41-30, at the break.
A 10-5 run over the first four minutes of the third pushed the UC lead to 51-36. Things never got better for St. Pete until they finished the final 3:30 of the game with a 7-2 run with the UC starters on the bench to make the final score more respectable at 70-58.
UC as led by 6’2 sophomore Ty Duncan with 18 points. Augustine Ayelyine, a 6’9 senior and Presbyterian commit, added 14 points while 6’2 sophomore Markel Homes finished with 10 points.
Nijaun Harris, a 6’5 freshman, led St. Pete with 17 points.
GAME THREE: Winter Haven vs. Zephyrhills Christian
Zephyrhills Christian was a VERY late addition to the field after North Tampa Christian dropped out. Various Libel and Slander laws prevent us from commenting any further.
After two years of runs to the Final Four in Lakeland, Winter Haven suffered some graduation losses but still looked like a formidable opponent in their Class 7A region when observed during the summer and fall. Evidently, the high school transfer portal opened up on the Blue Devils’ campus, as many of the expected contributors we had seen earlier were not on the roster.
However it was still a bit surprising to see ZC jump out to a 25-6 lead after one quarter of play. They were taller, stronger, and more skilled. The second quarter was just as difficult as the first for Winter Haven and at the half, ZC led 49-16.
It only took thirty seconds for ZC to score first in the third period. This set the margin at thirty-five points which mandated a running clock. Both benches got to see extended amounts of time but it didn’t help Winter Haven close the gap. ZC won big, 65-23.
ZC was led by 6’0 senior Caleb Gilmore with 17 points. Jordani Blanc, a 6’2 senior, added 14 points and 6’8 junior Sansao Wika added 10 points.
Troy Boswell, Jr., a 6’5 senior, paced Winter Haven with 12 points.
GAME FOUR: Tarpon Springs East Lake vs. Fort Myers Gateway Charter
This game brought out a good size crowd as East Lake fans always seem to travel well to the Sun Bash. Gateway was the first to establish a lead with an 11-7 advantage midway through the first. Despite East Lake’s tallest (and maybe best) player, 6’7 junior Jordan Bryant, picking up two quick fouls in the period and sitting on the bench, East Lake was down just 20-16 going into the second period. Thanks to the power of the three, East Lake as able to stay close but not able to grab a lead in the quarter. At the half, it as anybody’s ball game with Gateway Charter up just three, 43-40.
The first four minutes of the third period saw both teams get hot at the offensive end. While Gateway Charter was seemingly having its way around the rim, East Lake was dropping in shots with regularity from behind the arc. With four minutes gone by, East Lake had its first lead, 57-55. At that point, Gateway elevated its defense to another level. They outscored East Lake the rest of the quarter 17-4 to go from a two-point deficit to a 72-61 advantage. That roll continued into the first four minutes of the final quarter with Gateway going on a 10-4 run to make the margin insurmountable. Gateway Charter wins by the score of 94-75 in a game that was much tougher than the final score indicates.
Gateway Charter as led by 6’8 senior Patrick Johnson with 33 points. Myles Jones, a 6’3 senior, tossed in 18 points while 6’0 senior Gio Easley added 12 points.
For East Lake, Jeremiah Cooper, a 5’10 junior, scored 25 points. Andre Willis, a 6’2 junior, added 18 points and 5’10 junior Greg Samuals finished with 10 points.
GAME FIVE: Tampa Catholic vs. Windermere
Orlando big public school power took on one of Tampa Bay’s best private schools in this one. Tampa Catholic was without the services of Samford signee Isaiah Campbell-Finch. While one would have thought that would have left the Crusaders short-handed, it certainly didn’t seem that way. TC played even with the Wolverines in the first quarter as after the first eight minutes, Windermere was up just four at 17-13. The second quarter was a different story. Windermere built a 32-20 lead with four minutes to play. TC reeled off eight straight points to get to within four but the Wolverines closed out the half with a 12-2 run to lead by the score of 44-30.
The second half was no less kind to Tampa Catholic. Windermere used 6’8 senior and Liberty signee T.J. Drain to control the inside and the Wolverine guards were finding their range from deep. TC was down 65-47 with one quarter left to play. Windermere didn’t back off in the final period, winning big by the score of 86-61.
Drain led the Wolverines with 28 points. Sean Owens a 6’2 senior, added 18 points and A.J. Smith, a 6’4 senior finished with 14 points.
Tampa Catholic’s Willie Piggot, a 6’4 junior, scored 29 points. Both Colby Cannizzaro, a 6’1 senior and 6’1 sophomore Skoot Donald finished with 10 points.
GAME SIX: Clearwater Calvary Christian vs. Tampa Berkeley Prep
A pair of private school powers in the Bay area squared off in front of a packed house. Berkeley had the slightest of upper hands at the four-minute mark of the first period, leading 9-8. The next four minutes found the teams tied at 13-13 heading into the second period. Berkeley was able to create some separation early in the period and Calvary called timeout with just over four minutes to play down 22-18. Calvary was able to make a late run but was still down at the break 26-24.
In the third period, Berkeley seemed to have an answer every time it looked like Calvary might make a run and grab the lead. With one quarter left to play, Berkeley held a two-possession advantage at 38-34. Berkeley continued to fight off Calvary in the first four minutes of the final period, clinging to a one-point 43-42 lead. Calvary finally tied the game at 47-47 with 2:30 left to play. Calvary went on to grab a lead and now it was Berkeley’s turn to climb the hill. With fifteen seconds left, Berkeley dropped in a three with to tie the game at 52-52. Calvary rushed the ball up the court and called timeout with around five seconds remaining. Whatever in-bound play the coach drew up should be a session at the next FABC meeting. The team ran it perfectly, scored a layup with two seconds to play and never gave Berkeley an opportunity for another shot. Calvary claims this one 54-52.
Calvary was led with 19 points by 6’3 junior Ethan Bergantino. Ethan Sabec, a 6’8 junior, contributed 15 points.
Jadus Sorhaindo, a 6’8 sophomore, led all scorers with 20 points for Berkeley Prep. Gabe Grimsley, a 6’0 sophomore added 15 points and 6’3 sophomore Dylan Henderson finished with 13 points.
GAME SEVEN: The Villages Charter vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs
Both teams have legitimate championship aspirations this season and each has taken on as tough a schedule as possible to prime them for state tournament success. It was a bit surprising, however, to see The Villages come out and pretty much dominate the first half. They grabbed a quick 6-0 lead and led 13-8 heading into the second period. The Buffalo grew their advantage into double-digits, 28-17 at the break.
The Gladiators of Gibbs must have drank the magic potion at halftime. A 13-2 run tied the game at 30-30 and then Gibbs grabbed their first lead at 34-32 a little over a minute later. In all, Gibbs outscored The Villages 26-9 to lead 43-37 with one period left to play. A 5-1 run by Gibbs over the first few minutes of that final quarter gave the Gladiators a double-digit lead of 48-38. It looked like Gibbs had the game in hand, but missed free throws and a few turnovers gave The Villages realistic hope that they could make a comeback. Alas, there simply wasn’t enough time and Gibbs won by the score of 61-56.
Bobby Crawford, a 6’8 senior, led Gibbs with 23 points. Oneal Delancey, a 6’4 sophomore, added 15 points and 6’1 senior Jacob Daniels finished with 12 points.
The Villages’ 6’1 senior Adyn Corbin led the team with 21 points while 6’2 sophomore Aaron Britt tallied 17 points.
GAME EIGHT: Tampa Blake vs. Weston Sagemont Prep
The featured game of the day pitted teams with high major players in the senior and junior classes. Blake featured 6’8 South Florida commit Josh Lewis and 6’7 top hundred junior Joe Philon. Sagemont countered with 6’4 Miami signee Matt Able and 6’7 top hundred junior Kevin Thomas.
Sagemont built a 9-3 lead midway thru the first quarter with Able scoring most of those. From that point on, the quarter belonged to Blake. The Yellow Jackets closed out the period with a 12-4 run, highlighted by a three to beat the buzzer by Lewis, to give them a 15-13 lead going into the second period. Blake maintained that lead midway thru the quarter but Sagemont made a late run and scored a bucket just before the horn to take a 29-27 lead at the half.
Blake resumed control of the game in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets quickly retook the lead and while the margin was never more than one or two possessions, Blake was able to hold off Sagemont to 45-41 with one period left to play. That period belonged to Blake. A 7-3 run in the first minute and a half of the fourth forced a Sagemont timeout with the score 52-43. Blake led by nine, 54-45 with four minutes left to play and had a 64-58 lead with one minute remaining on the clock. Somehow, Sagemont cobbled together a run, hitting a three to bring them to within three, 67-64 with six seconds remaining. Blake hit its two free throws after Sagemont was forced to foul with under two seconds remaining. Sagemont was unable to score and Blake won a tough game 69-64.
Lewis led Blake with 17 points. Jason Johnson, a 6’6 senior, added 16 points, Mario Ward, a 6’1 senior, scored 14 points and Philon finished with 11 points.
For Sagemont, Able led all scorers with 35 points. Thomas added 13 points.