In just its third year, The National Hoopfeast has become a must-attend event for scouts and college coaches. Put on by Issa Bucket Productions and held at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel, the organizers do a great job of creating both team and individual matchups that bring in fans and make for exciting contests throughout the day. With eight courts going non-stop, there is always a good game (and usually more) that can be found. This is how we spent Day One.
Game One: Tampa Carrollwod Day vs. North Tampa Christian
This contest was close throughout and featured multiple lead changes. North Tampa Chrisitan held a 9-6 lead four minutes in but by the time the first quarter finished it was Carrollwood Day up on top by one, 15-14. The scenario flip-flopped in the second quarter as that one-point Carrollwood Day advantage held up midway thru the period but at the break it was North Tampa Christian on top by five, 33-28.
North Tampa Christian held the lead for much of the third quarter until Carrollwood Day grabbed it back with 2:30 left in the period. Entering the fourth quarter, Carrollwood Day led by two, 48-46. CD extended its lead to six, 59-53, with four minutes left in the contest. North Tampa Christian wasn’t done. It had a chance to tie the game with a three-point shot but Mason Allen of Carrollwood Day came out of nowhere to block the shot. CD would win a close one, 66-63.
Ayaan Bhadouria, a 6’5 junior, led Carrollwood Day with 27 points. Allen, a 6’5 senior, added 20 points.
For North Tampa Christian, Tysen Jefferson, a 6’1 junior, dropped in 22 points while 6’2 sophomore Dallas Oliver contributed 20 points.
Game Two: Seffner Christian vs. Deltona Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge had a busy Thanksgiving week with two games in Orlando and now two games here, each one against strong competition. Pine Ridge got out of the gate fast, leading 10-4 four minutes into the contest. That strong play continued for the rest of the quarter, finding Pine Ridge up 23-15. Seffner Christian fell behind by double-digits, 30-19, with 5:16 left in the second quarter and called a timeout. It helped to a certain extent but at the half, Pine Ridge led by ten, 41-31.
The teams pretty much played evenly the entire third quarter but that only meant Seffner Christian was still down double-digits, 61-50, heading into the final period. With 4:30 left to play, Seffner Christian took a timeout, down 70-60.
Then Vernon Lee happened.
The 6’3 senior for Seffner Christian put the team on his back and proceeded to wreak havoc. Within three minutes, he had dropped in eleven points and with 1:40 left to play Seffner Christian was within six, 79-73. Seffner Christian dropped in another three to get within three. After a Pine Ridge free throw, a three off the dribble by Lee got Seffner Christian to within one, 80-79, with twenty-three seconds left. Pine Ridge got through Seffner Christian’s press and scored to make it a three-point game. Seffner Christian missed its three-point attempt and was forced to foul. Pine Ridge made one of two free throws with three seconds left to win a nailbiter, 83-79.
The dynamic duo of 6’6 senior Wilmer Delarosa and 6’8 junior Henry Robinson paved the way for Pine Ridge. Delarosa finished with 30 points and Robinson added 26 points.
For Seffner Christian, Lee was electric with 29 points, 21 in the second half and 15 in the final period. Acadian Davis, a 6’7 senior, tallied 19 points.
Game Three: Miami Country Day vs. Riverview Bell Creek Academy
In the first quarter, it looked like Miami Country Day was going to make quick work of Bell Creek. Miguel Orbe, a 6’3 junior for MCD, was dropping shots in from all angles and MCD was up 22-10 after one period of play. Bell Creek was able to find its footing in the second quarter. The two teams played evenly and at the half, Miami Country Day led by ten 36-26.
Magic words must have been spoken in the Bell Creek locker room at the break because they came out on fire. They outscored MCD 12-4 over the first four minutes of the third to trail by just two, 40-38. At that point, MCD ripped off seven straight points and looked to have regained control. That wasn’t the case and by the end of the period, MCD led by just one, 46-45.
Bell Creek hit a three on the first possession of the fourth period to grab its first lead of the game. That was the start of an 11-0 run by Bell Creek and they lead 59-50 with 3:40 left in the contest. MCD was unfazed, putting together an 11-3 run to get to within 62-61 with 2:15 left on the clock. A Jordan Corbitt steal and slam returned the lead to MCD, 65-64, with 1:30 left. That was followed up by four free throws by 6’0 junior Malik Charles to make the score 69-64. Baran Barnes of Bell Creek knocked down a three to make the score 69-67 with twenty-six seconds left to play. Charles made the margin four with another pair of free throws for Miami Country Day with just a few ticks left. MCD would hold on to win by the score of 71-67.
Orbe of MCD was simply astonishing with 35 points. Corbitt, a 6’5 junior, put up 11 points while Charles tallied 10 points.
For Bell Creek Academy, 6’5 junior Derrick Muse had 17 points while both Barnes, a 6’4 sophomore, and 6’1 senior Jarvis Pope each had 15 points.
Game Four: Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy vs. Parrish Community
It was Westminster that found its offensive footing first, leading 9-6 midway thru the first before opening up its lead to 21-13 heading into the second quarter. In the second period, Parrish got creatively defensively on Westminster’s 5’10 junior D.J. Gaines. Parrish slowly worked its way back and by the three-minute mark had tied the score at 24-24. Parrish outscored Westminster 10-5 from that point on to lead at the break 34-29.
Parrish had a 41-37 lead midway thru the third period, but that was wiped away in the span of a minute with a 6-2 Westminster run. Parrish kept its composure and led by two, 48-46, at the beginning of the final period of play. Once again, the Parrish defense stiffened and used it to fuel their offense. Westminster wasn’t done and a steal and score by Gaines had Westminster within 62-60 with one minute remaining. That was as close as the Lions would get as 6’2 senior Evan Roberts scored the final five points in regulation to give Parrish a 67-60 victory.
Tristan Pasch, a 6’8 junior, led Parrish with 22 points. Dante Rivers, a 6’4 sophomore, added 14 points while Roberts finished with 10 points.
Gaines of Westminster was electrifying with 34 points. Desean Clayton, a 6’4 freshman, added 11 points.
Game Five: Miami Riviera Prep vs. Kissimmee Central Pointe Christian
If you will recall, Central Pointe defeated Montverde in OT two weeks ago in the season opener. Playing against a talented Riviera Prep squad would be another test for the White Tigers.
Riviera Prep got out of the gate fast, opening the game with an 8-0 run on its way to leading 20-6 heading into the second quarter. Momentum changes fast in the glorious game of basketball and Central Pointe tied the game at 22-22 with just under three minutes to play in the period. That run continued and Central Pointe had come all the way back from a big deficit to lead by two at the break, 26-24.
The halftime break helped Riviera Prep regroup. They retook the lead early in the third period and held a five-point 46-41 advantage heading into the final period of play. This time, Central Pointe was unable to claw its way back. Riviera Prep extended its lead to ten, 61-51, with just under two minutes to play. The Bulldogs would ultimately win by the score of 67-53.
Riviera Prep got its expected stellar performance from its four-headed backcourt monster. Quincy Douby, a 6’4 junior, led the way with 18 points. Mason Fuentes, a 6’0 senior, along with brother Myles Fuentes, a 6’0 junior, each put up 14 points while 6’1 senior R.J. Livingston tallied 11 points. J.J. Watt, a 6’8 junior, added 10 points.
For Central Pointe Christian, Sam Pino, a 6’0 junior led the way with 17 points.
Game Six: Weston Sagemont Prep vs. Wesley Chapel HS
We got to this game a bit after it started and the score was 7-7 when we arrived. Sagemont finished the first quarter with a 6-0 run to lead 13-7. That was the beginning of the end for Wesley Chapel. Sagemont owned the second quarter, outscoring WC 22-15, opening up a 35-22 halftime lead.
Sagemont grew its lead in both the third and fourth quarters. While a running clock never came into play, it was certainly a possibility for much of the final few minutes. Sagemont ultimately won big, 76-45.
Sagemont was paced by 6’3 senior David Nealy with 24 points. Ezra Gelin, a 6’3 sophomore added 12 points while Obinna Ekufu, a 6’6 senior, put up 11 points.
BONUS COVERAGE
We were able to catch snippets of some other games, many of them quite interesting.
Ocoee West Oaks Academy and Miami SLAM were in a dogfight the entire second half. Tied at 52-52 with ten seconds to play, West Oaks’ 6’7 senior Ibrahim Basima drained a mid-range shot to give West Oaks the win, 54-52.
Mater Lakes Academy out of Hialeah took on St. Petersburg HS in a contest featuring super sophs Tai Bell of Mater Lakes and Nijuan Harris of St. Peterburg. Bell was sensational with a game-high 34 points as Mater Lake won big 83-62. He had a lot of help from 6’0 junior Khanye Moss with 26 points. Harris finished with 16 points.
In the spotlight 8PM game, Gillion Academy of Virginia took on Tampa Catholic. A large crowd was packed around the court the entire game. Tampa Catholic had a lead for much of it but Gillion Academy tied the contest at 78-78 in regulation. Gillion Academy scored the first six points of the OT and Tampa Catholic was never able to get close than four points the rest of the way. Gillion Academy won an exciting game by the score of 92-87.