We took in the first day of the 49th(!) Annual Kingdom of the Sun Tournament at Ocala Vanguard, arguably the most heritage-rich high school Christmas tournament in the country. Normally a 16-team field, this year it was down to fifteen as P’Cola Washington needed to drop out at the last minute due to health issues with the head coach. We wish him the speediest of recoveries. However, this meant that we got to see only seven games instead of the usual eight. Winter Haven was given a bye into the quarter-finals due to the schedule change.
Game One: Ponte Vedra vs. Miami Southridge
After a bit of a slow start, Ponte Vedra led just 6-5 after the first four minutes. O’cien Valdes, a 6’0 junior, then caught fire for Southridge. He connected on four threes in the quarter and after one Southridge led by a basket at 16-14. In the second quarter, Southridge was able to maintain its lead but could never pull away. Ponte Vedra did just enough to stay within striking distance and at the break, it was just a four-point game with Southridge up 30-26.
Southridge got that run they were looking for in the first three minutes of the third period. They squeezed off a 10-3 run to put Ponte Vedra on its heels. The Sharks got things somewhat back together and called timeout down eight, 40-32, at the 4:13 mark of the quarter. Southridge was able to maintain that type of lead and they were up 49-40 with one period remaining. Ponte Vedra made a run midway thru the final period and was within five points of Southridge. At that point, Southridge turned up the pressure on the defensive end. This forced momentum back their way and Southridge wins the first game of the day 70-57.
The Spartans were led by 6’0 senior Rey Daniels with 24 points. Valdez contributed 17 points.
For Ponte Vedra, 6’1 senior Sam Ritchie finished with 15 points and 6’6 senior Tyler Cowan added 10 points.
Game Two: Cape Coral Mariner vs. Albany (NY) Green Tech Charter
Our friends from the Empire State got out to a quick 9-3 lead but the Tritons of Mariner then hit a three to get within three with just under four minutes left in the opening period. Green Tech was unfazed and led 14-8 going into the second quarter. Green Tech used their size advantage and grew their lead throughout the second period. By the time the halftime horn sounded, they were up by double-digits, 38-27.
Green Tech scored the first six points of the third quarter, forcing a Mariner timeout with 6:26 left in the period. It didn’t help and by the midway point of the third, Green Tech led big, 48-32. The Tritons regained composure on both ends of the court and were able to get the deficit down to twelve, 53-41, heading into the final period. Green Tech reasserted itself through the first four minutes of the fourth outscoring Mariner 10-5 to lead 63-46. Mariner was unable to make another run and Green Tech went on to win by the score of 71-51.
Haisai Mayben, a 6’1 junior, was dynamic in scoring 24 points to lead Green Tech. He got help from Ramere Brown, a 6’2 junior with 12 points and 6’6 junior U’Mier Graham with 10 points.
Mariner was led by 6’0 senior Justin Lewis with 17 points while 6’1 senior Marcus Kelley knocked down 12 points.
Game Three: Ocala Trinity Catholic vs. Tampa Leto
Trinity got rolling early and led 9-6 midway thru the opening period. At that point, Leto picked up the pace, made some threes, and finished the quarter up 17-14. Leto opened up the second quarter with a 6-0 run, going up nine 23-14. Trinity Catholic made a run of its own and got to within five at 25-20. The Celtics couldn’t sustain that momentum. Leto regained control and upped its lead to ten, 32-22, at the break.
Things got no better for Trinity Catholic in the second half. Leto used its speed and quickness to great effect at both ends of the floor, growing its lead to 46-26 just four minutes into the third quarter. Trinity Catholic could never recover and make a serious run at getting back into the contest. Leto advances to the quarter-finals with a 64-38 win.
Leto was led by Daniel Delgardo, a 6’1 senior, with 23 points while cousin Derek Delgardo, a 6’2 senior, added 21 points.
For Trinity Catholic, 5’9 sophomore Brandon Haughton, led the way with 16 points.
Game Four: Rockledge vs. Lakeland Victory Christian
For the first four minutes, this game was a back-and-forth affair with Rockledge leading 8-6. At that point the Raiders of Rockledge exploded, finishing the quarter with a 13-0 run to lead 21-6. Victory Christian responded by opening the second quarter with a 9-0 run to make the score 26-15 with four minutes remaining in the quarter. Rockledge regrouped and they surged ahead. At the break, the Raiders were up 39-23.
Victory Christian put together an 11-0 run to get back in the contest in the early moments of the third period. The score was 39-34 by the time Rockledge finally scored with 5:30 left in the quarter. That would be as close as Victory Christian would get in the period as Rockledge went on a late run to head into the final period up 59-50. The Raiders had a six-point advantage, 64-58 midway thru the fourth quarter. Things started to get interesting at that point. Victory Christian got to within three, 64-61, with 3:20 to play. Rockledge slowed things down and let the clock run. With 1:30 left to play, the margin was still three, 66-63. Ryan Blount, a 6’6 senior, scored on a cut to the rim to up Rockledge’s lead to five with one minute remaining. Lorenzo Cason, a 6’2 senior, hit a three for Victory Christian, to get to within 68-66 with twenty-five seconds remaining. Mark Christian of Rockledge got loose with a transition basket to make the score 70-66 with only ten seconds left. Cason wasn’t done as he came down and drilled another three with three seconds left to make it a one-point game, 70-69. A quick foul put Rockledge’s Kiori Jordan-Thomas at the foul line. The senior made both to make the score 72-69 with 1.5 seconds left. After a Victory timeout to set up the last second play, Victory executed “Valparaiso” to perfection, getting Cason a good look just behind the arc to tie the game. The shot was on target but just short, clanging off the front of the rim. Rockledge survived to win 72-69.
Blount led Rockledge with 21 points. Terrance Shannon, a 6’0 junior, finished with 14 points while sophomore Conlon Oakley added 11 points.
For Victory Christian, Cason led all scorers with 32 points. Mike Andino, a 6’0 sophomore, finished with 18 points.
Game Five: Williston vs. Hawthorne
This is a battle of Class 1A powers and two teams and fan bases that have grown to dislike each other. Hawthorne recently repeated as Class 1A state champs in football, beating Williston in the process. The Vanguard gym was nearly beyond standing room only capacity. Hawthorne was coming into the contest having played only three games in a season that was a month old. It is hard to field a basketball team when nearly all of your players are on the gridiron. Williston meanwhile had nearly a dozen games under its belt.
That proved to be a factor as Williston raced out to a 7-0 lead in a minute and a half, forcing a Hawthorne timeout. It didn’t help as Williston continued to race past Hawthorne defenders not yet in basketball shape. After one period of play, the Red Devils of Williston were up big, 23-9. To Hawthorne’s credit, they didn’t quit. Behind the play of 6’5 junior C.J. Ingram, the Yellow Jackets were able to at least keep pace with Williston in the second quarter. At the break, the score with 32-21 in favor of Williston.
Hawthorne continued to keep pace with Williston in the third period, down nine, 36-27, after four minutes. At that point, the Red Devils put together a 9-2 run to push the lead back into double-digits. With one quarter remaining, Williston’s lead was fifteen at 49-34. Hawthorne kept coming and at one point in the fourth quarter was down just six. However, dunks by 6’6 senior Kyler Lamb and later by 6’6 senior Javon Brown, gave the momentum back to Williston. Things started to get chippy between players as the Red Devils increased their lead. The referees ultimately decided to call the game with twenty seconds left and Williston up 61-49.
Lamb led Williston with 20 points. Deandre Harvey, a 6’4 sophomore, came up big with 12 points while 6’2 senior Reggie White added 11 points.
For Hawthorne, Ingram finished with 24 points. Decarion Debose, a 6’1 junior, added 11 points.
Game Six: Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Philadelphia (PA) Math, Civics, and Sciences Charter
The Raiders of STA came out hot, leading 8-0 after just over two minutes of play in the first quarter and 13-4 at the midway point. The score reached 17-6 before MCS called a timeout. STA led big after one period, 22-9. Whatever magic STA had in the first quarter did not carry over into the second period. The Raiders struggled to score, but the Mighty Elephants of MCS weren’t able to take real advantage of this opportunity until late in the period. However, by the time the break came around, it was only a five-point Raiders lead, 26-21.
STA would reassert itself in the third quarter. They never let MCS get any closer and led by seven, 48-41, going into the final period. That’s when things got interesting. MCS was able to whittle down the deficit and was down only three, 55-52, with four minutes remaining. Things slowed down at that point. MCS got a putback to draw within one with 1:30 left to play. The Mighty Elephants weren’t able to get the steal with extended pressure and had to foul. STA made just one of two free throws to lead 56-54 with 1:15 remaining. MCS worked the ball around on its next possession and was fouled driving to the basket with thirty-five seconds left. With a chance to tie, MCS only made one of two to remain down one, 56-55. MCS chose to play tough defense instead of fouling and it worked as STA turned the ball over with thirty-three seconds left. After a timeout, MCS went for the tie on a mid-range jumper with six seconds left. It was off and STA secured the rebound. MCS quickly fouled. STA again hit just one of two free throws. After another MCS timeout, the Mighty Elephants had a good look at a three-pointer to win but it was off target. The Raiders of St. Thomas Aquinas survive and advance by the score of 57-55.
K.J. Sandi, a 6’0 freshman, led STA with 16 points. Older brother D.J. Sandi, a 6’1 sophomore, scored 14 points while 6’0 freshman Clarance Westbrook added 13 points.
For MCS, 6’6 senior Sair Alsbrooks led the way with 17 points. Milak Myatt, a 6’3 sophomore, pumped in 12 points.
Game Seven: Ocala Vanguard vs. Citra North Marion
County rivals, the gym was once again full for the nightcap. As much energy as the crowd brought, the players on the floor couldn’t match it. North Marion was significantly out of its element. They only scored two points in the first quarter and had just nine at the half. While Vanguard wasn’t scoring at will, they led by twenty, 29-9, at the break.
In the second half, Vanguard grew its lead to 47-24 when the third period was over. In the fourth quarter, Vanguard stepped off the gas and North Marion was able to make it a more respectable final score of 61-47.
D’Mareon Manning led Vanguard with 13 points.
Coy Sizmore led North Marion with 16 points.