We hit up the final day of the Sun Bash – Tampa series this past Saturday. The three-day event features a host of quality teams from inside and outside of the Tampa Bay area and is a must-see event post-Christmas every year.
Game One: NC New Hanover vs. Windermere
The first game of the day at 10:00AM and the third game in three days for both teams. Surprisingly, neither team seemed out-of-sorts during the contest. Windermere got things going early, building a 7-6 lead with four minutes gone in the opening period to a 15-9 advantage at the start of the second quarter. Windermere kept their advantage until New Hanover tied the game at 19-19 with 1:30 left until halftime. At the break, New Hanover held a 23-22 lead.
Windermere was quick to re-take the lead back early in the third period but with four minutes remaining in the quarter, the game was knotted up at 32-32. The teams traded the lead back and forth for the remaining four minutes and entering the final period of play, New Hanover was up a bucket, 40-38. In the fourth, New Hanover’s lead was tenuous at best, just 46-43. At that point. New Hanover scored the next four points, extending its lead to three possessions. This was a bit too much for Windermere to overcome in a short amount of time. New Hanover headed back to the home of Michael Jordan, Wilmington, NC, with a 54-48 win.
New Hanover’s 6’2 junior, Jazir Wright-McGhee, was named Player of the Game for the Wildcats with 15 points. Kellum Brown, a 6’5 senior, led the team with 17 points while Ny’zion Ballard, a 6’7 senior added 15 points.
For Windermere, Ben Bunnell, a 6’4 senior, led all scorers with 19 points, earning Player of the Game honors for the Wolverines. Fourteen of those 19 points came in the third quarter alone.
Game Two: Orlando The First Academy vs. Miami Divine Savior
A pair of private school powers from two of the state’s larger populaces came next. The first quarter was back and forth and after the first eight minutes, the score was tied up at 16-16. Divine Savior was the first to grab some momentum in the second quarter, taking a 29-25 lead after four minutes and extending that to a 35-30 advantage at the break.
Divine Savior maintained that small advantage in the third quarter until TFA put together a run midway thru the period to go from a 44-41 deficit to a 45-44 advantage. The Royals were unable to sustain their momentum and heading into the final quarter, the game was again tied, this time at 49-49. Divine Savior once again grabbed a small lead in the fourth and led 59-56 with one minute remaining. At that point, Max Simmons, a 6’0 senior for The First Academy, drained a deep three to tie the game. It looked like Divine Savior would pull the game out as 6’5 senior David Watson put back a miss with fifteen seconds left to play. After a First Academy time out, the ball once again found itself in the hands of Simmons, but not for long. He drained another deep three, this time with just over a second left on the clock to give TFA a one-point lead. Divine Savior was unable to stop the clock and TFA pulled out a 62-61 win in a thriller.
Simmons was named the Player of the Game for TFA for not just his heroics but game-high 24 points. Juelz Nunez, a 6’3 senior, added 12 points.
For Divine Savior, Joost West, a 6’3 junior, was named Player of the Game, tossing in 11 points. Abdiel Torres, a 6’1 junior, led the Sharks with 16 points. Watson contributed 14 points while Sajoni Vargas, a 6’1 senior, put up 13 points.
Game Three: Orlando Olympia vs. SLAM Miami
This game featured a lot of young talent that is exciting now and will be even more so in the future. Olympia got off to a fast start, leading 11-4 midway through the opening quarter. SLAM composed itself and drew to within one, 14-13, going into the second period. As in the first quarter, Olympia jumped out on top, leading 27-21 with three minutes left until the halftime break. When the break came, Olympia’s margin was five, 32-27.
That five-point advantage held up for Olympia thru the first four minutes of the third period. At that point, SLAM was able to seize momentum, finishing the quarter with a 12-4 run to grab a 48-45 lead with one more period to play. Now it was SLAM’s turn to try to hold a lead. They were able to do so, keeping Olympia at arm’s length for the entire eight minutes to win a close one, 65-60.
SLAM’s backcourt of 6’1 senior Tony Guerrero and 6’3 freshman Jeremiah Brooks were sensational in leading the team to the win. Guerrero was named Player of the Game for his 21-point effort which included making several tough shots from all types of angles and distances. Brooks led all scorers with 27 points, 20 coming in the second half. He was effective in attacking the basket, getting to and converting from the foul line, and hitting timely shots behind the arc.
For Olympia, James Nowells, a 6’2 junior, was named Player of the Game as led the squad with 24 points. Bishop Winze, a 6’8 junior, more than did his part in adding 16 points.
Game Four: Bradenton IMG Academy vs. Coconut Creek North Broward Prep
NBP came in the contest with an unblemished record, but IMG’s national team is an entirely different opponent. In a bit of a surprise, NBP led 6-2 with three minutes left in the first quarter but it didn’t take long for IMG to awaken and tie the game at 11-11 heading into the second period. That momentum carried over and IMG built a double-digit lead in rapid fashion. At the break, the Ascenders of IMG were in complete control, up 31-19.
Out of the break, NBP didn’t back down. They played the Ascenders evenly for the most part in the third quarter, but that meant they were still down fifteen, 49-34, with one quarter remaining in the contest. For whatever reason, IMG took their foot of the gas and NBP took advantage. Over the first four minutes of the period, NBP outscored the Ascenders 15-5, making it just a five-point game at 54-49; plenty of time for NBP to complete a comeback and pull off a significant upset. IMG wasn’t having it, rebuilding its lead back to double digits in rapid fashion and winning by the score of 67-57.
IMG’s 6’2 junior Omer Ziyaettin was named Player of the Game for the team, dropping in 16 points, 12 of those from behind the arc. Jermal Jones, a 6’4 senior, along with 6’9 senior Chase Foster each scored 11 points while Ralph Scott, a 6’6 senior, added 10 points.
For North Broward Prep, 6’1 senior Felix Buroz scored 20 points, earning Player of the Game honors for the team. Francesco Borio, a 6’7 senior, scored 12 points while Gavin Gorman, a 6’4 sophomore, added 10 points.
Game Five: St. Petersburg HS vs. Orlando Oak Ridge
On paper, this gamed looked to be a comfortable “W” for the Pioneers of Oak Ridge. For the first two quarters, that thought held up. Oak Ridge led 17-11 after one quarter of play and then grew their margin to sixteen, 36-20, in the second period.
St. Pete stayed focused and come out inspired to shrink their deficit in the third period. Oak Ridge held a 43-33 lead with four minutes to play in the period but then St. Pete went on a 7-0 run. With one period left to play, the game was back to being competitive and St. Pete was within six, 47-41. A 7-2 run by St. Pete to start the final quarter brought them to within a point, 49-48, with 5:15 left to play, and then tied the game at 49-49 with 4:20 left to play. At that point, Oak Ridge went on a 5-0 run, part of a final 10-4 run to give Oak Ridge a tougher-than-expected win, 59-53.
Oak Ridge was paced by 6’3 senior and UCF commit Donovan Williams with 22 points being named the Pioneers’ Player of the Game for his efforts. Jahmar Smith, a 6’3 sophomore, added 15 points.
For St. Pete HS, Nijaun Harris, a 6’5 sophomore, led the way with 17 points. The Green Devils’ Player of the Game was 6’8 junior Zak Mellouki, who tallied 13 points.
Game Six: Tampa Prep vs. St. Pete Gibbs
This inter-bay matchup between long-time powers provided some great theater. Midway through the opening period, the teams were tied at 7-7. Gibbs was the first to grab some momentum, using its speed and quickness advantage in the backcourt to build a 13-9 lead heading into the second quarter. Tampa Prep grabbed the lead with a 5-0 run to start the period and at the midpoint held a 23-20 advantage. From that point on, Gibbs’ defensive pressure paid dividends and the Gladiators outscored the Terrapins 17-8 the rest of the quarter to lead by six, 37-31, at the break.
Just like the second quarter, Tampa Prep quickly cut the deficit and was within one, 41-40, midway thru the third. From there, Tampa Prep got on a roll, outscoring Gibbs 13-4 over the remaining four minutes to carry a 53-45 advantage in the final period. Gibbs was far from finished and by the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter, had tied the game at 58-58. With 1:30 remaining and up just one at 62-61, Tampa Prep knocked down a three to make it a two-possession game. Gibbs managed just one of two free throws to make the score 65-62 with just over one minute to play. Those would be the last points either team would score, giving Tampa Prep a tough win.
Myheir Session, a 6’3 junior, led Tampa Prep with 16 points. Jackson LaMarre, a 6’3 junior was named the Terrapins’ Player of the Game, scoring 11 points as did, 6’3 sophomore Adrian Pozo. Kaii Levy, a 6’6 senior, notched a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. He also added four blocked shots.
For Gibbs, Bradon Perkins, a 5’9 junior, dropped in 19 points and was named the team’s Player of the Game. Ronald Williams, a 6’5 junior, rang up 15 points.
Game Seven: Clearwater Calvary Christian vs. Tarpon Springs East Lake
This Public vs. Private Pinellas County showdown had become an exciting and intriguing annual event at the Tampa Sun Bash. The teams exchanged baskets and the lead often in the first quarter. East Lake led 9-7 after the first four minutes but at the end of the final four minutes of the first, it was Calvary on top 15-12. Calvary maintained control in the early part of the second quarter, leading 21-17. East Lake then got on a roll, grabbing a 26-25 lead with just under two minutes to play. At that point, momentum changed sides and Calvary closed out the half with a 7-0 run to lead 32-26.
East Lake methodically shaved down Calvary’s lead in the third quarter, finally tying the game at 38-38 with two minutes remaining. All of a sudden, Calvary sprang to life, finishing the period with an 11-0 run to grab a double-digit lead at 49-38. Once again, East Lake made the uphill climb to get back into the game and with four minutes left in regulation, was within four at 52-48. On Calvary’s next possession, they dropped in a three and that seemed to take the wind out East Lake’s sails. Calvary would hold on to win by five, 61-56.
Calvary’ s Madden Geiger, a 6’9 junior, was named the team’s Player of the Game, contributing 17 points. Ethan Sabec, a 6’9 senior and Princeton commit, scored 16 points while both Tyler Sabec, a 6’8 sophomore and Ethan Bergantino, a 6’3 senior, each scored 11 points.
For East Lake, 5’10 senior Jeremiah Cooper was seemingly unstoppable at times, scoring 26 points and earning Player of the Game honors. Jordan Bryant, a 6’8 senior, contributed 14 points while Andre Willis, a 6’3 senior, tallied 13 points.
Game Eight: St. Petersburg Northside Christian vs. Tampa Catholic
It was nearly impossible to find a seat when this one started. Both teams have fan bases that come out and support the team both home and away. Tampa Catholic is a recognized power in the Bay region while Northside Christian is working hard and rapidly to reach that status. Northside grabbed a 14-9 lead heading into the second quarter and maintained an advantage until Tampa Catholic tied the score at 18-18 with 3:30 left until the half. Northside was able to retake control to lead 26-23 at the break.
The teams played evenly through the first four minutes of the third quarter as Northside led 38-34. At that point, Northside went on a 7-1 spurt, gaining a double-digit lead of 45-35 with just under two minutes to go. Their run didn’t stop there and entering the final period, Northside had grown its lead to fourteen, 51-37. The fourth quarter was somewhat anticlimactic. Tampa Catholic was unable to get out from under that double-digit margin and threaten to take control of the game. At the end, Northside won 64-53.
Iean Allen, a 6’3 senior, led Northside with 14 points, earning Player of the Game honors. Both J.R. Myers, a 6’2 junior, and Tegra Makabu, a 6’8 senior, scored 10 points.
For Tampa Catholic, Neo Flores, a 5’11 junior, led all scorers with 28 points, easily earning his Player of the Game designation.