SUNDAY
Game One: Pompano Beach Highlands Christian vs Tampa Sickles
Nine am games are tough so maybe that is why it was just 4-4 after the first four minutes. Sickles was the first to wake up, leading 15-7 after the first quarter and 33-24 at the break.
Sickles grew its lead to 39-26 with three minutes left in the third period. At that point, Highlands got untracked, going on a 13-2 run to end the third period down just two at 41-39. Highlands grabbed its first lead of the game with a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter. With 3:30 to play, Highlands still maintained a lead at 51-48. With 22 seconds left, Sickles got a steal and score to cut the lead to one, 55-54. Highlands missed the free throws that would ice the game and Sickles scored on a drive with five seconds left to win by a single point, 56-55.
Sickles was led by 6’4 senior Chase Weismiller with 18 points.
Highlands Christian was paced by 6’0 junior Bivendy Jean with 15 points.
Heading to our next game, we found that Jupiter and Cardinal Gibbons were locked in a tight tussle. The game went into sudden death overtime. Jupiter ended up pulling out the game with a free throw 5’10 senior Brandon Collum.
Game Two: Miramar vs Palm Beach Central
A pair of South Florida powers locked horns in this one. Both teams have the talent to make plenty of noise and a legit run to Jacksonville this coming season. Miramar used its size and some hot shooting from deep early to take a 16-11 lead after one quarter of play. The teams played evenly in the second quarter, meaning Central was unable to make a dent in the deficit as Miramar led 25-19.
Things changed for Central after the break. They were finally able to get some transition baskets and limit Miramar’s second chance points. This in turn allowed Central to take a 33-30 lead into the final period of play. The fourth quarter found the pace up-tempo and both teams took advantage. When the horn sounded, the game was tied at 53-53.
In the OT, Central hit a three-pointer on the first possession. Miramar was unable to match it and then forced to foul when Central grabbed possession of the rebound. Central hit its free throws to win by five, 58-53.
Camden Wesley-Kam, a 6’6 senior for Palm Beach Central, led the team with 13 points.
Jayson Negron, a 6’3 senior, paced Miramar with 26 points.
With the lateness of this game, we were unable to get to the North Broward Prep/Providence contest until the end of the third quarter. It was just a five-point game, 48-43 in favor of Providence at that point. Then Nolan Nelson, a 6’9 senior and Furman commit, started a three-point parade for Providence. Their lead quickly got into double-figures, winning a much closer game than the final 72-59 score would indicate.
Game Three: Windermere Prep vs. Riverview Bell Creek Academy
Windermere Prep is looking to continue the success it has enjoyed the past few years but without the presence of Florida State recruit Brandon Bass, Jr. Bell Creek welcomes back 6’8 senior Jadius Sorhaindo, who played there as an 8th grader and freshman.
While Sorhaindo certainly looked like the best player on the floor, he needed more help. Windermere Prep hit back-to-back early three-pointers on its way to leading 21-15 after the first quarter. The second period saw Windermere Prep build on their lead, taking a 34-19 lead at the break.
The expected run from Bell Creek in the second half never materialized. At the end of the third quarter, Windermere Prep was up 52-29. At that point, we made the executive decision to exit this game to make sure we caught the Providence/Coral Glades game in its entirety.
Thru three quarters, Windermere Prep was paced by 6’1 junior Tristan Tucker with 15 points while Sorhaindo had ten points for Bell Creek.
Game Four: Jacksonville Providence vs. Coral Springs Coral Glades
It won’t surprise if both teams end up in the Open Division at the end of this coming season. At the very least, they will be favorites to win the state title in their respective classifications.
After a sluggish first four minutes that found Providence up 8-5, things got going. Both teams started finding success on the offensive end, but Providence more so as they led 20-15 going into the second quarter. Providence gradually stretched its advantage in the period, building a double-digit lead. At the break, they were up 44-30.
In the third, the teams played evenly but that only meant that Coral Glades was still down by double-digits, now by the score of 57-44. Coral Glades made some dents in the margin over the course of the fourth but could never get over the hump. Providence won by the score of 68-58.
Providence was led by 6’4 junior William Stewart with 20 points. The inside tandem of 6’9 senior Nolan Nelson and 6’8 junior Colton Nuaaliitia produced 20 points with each scoring ten apiece.
For Coral Glades, 6’5 senior Nate Accius paced the team with 14 points.
Game Five: Orlando Edgewater vs. Haines City Jordan Christian Prep
It was backcourt vs frontcourt as Edgewater took on a much taller Jordan Christian Prep squad out of the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA). Jordan Christian used that size to great effect to open the game, leading 13-9 with three minutes to go and 20-13 at the end of the first period. Jordan Christian built a double-digit lead, 27-15, midway through the second but Edgewater responded. An 8-2 run to close out the period brought them to within six, 29-23, at the break.
Jordan Christian re-established control in the third, leading 43-38 with one more quarter to play. Edgewater used some hot shooting and pressure defense to force turnovers at that point. This resulted in a 12-7 run over the first three minutes of the fourth to tie the game at 50-50. From there it was all Edgewater as their press sapped the energy from Jordan Christian. Edgewater’s 61-50 win belies that fact that this was tough game.
Edgewater was led by 6’3 senior Julian Fox with 15 points. Amir El Mohmaud, a 6’2 junior, added 13 points as did 6’5 sophomore Bryce Benton.
For Jordan Christian, Herbert Agamba, a 6’9 sophomore, led all scorers with 21 points. Josh Coleman, a 5’10 senior, and Marcus Oswald, a 6’5 senior, each scored 11 points.