We made our way to the Coral Springs City Gymnasium to take in the Saturday portion of the Kreul Showcase. A companion event to the nationally renown Kreul Classic held prior to Christmas, the Showcase was a two-day event with four games on Friday and eight games on Saturday. All games were broadcast on the Culture+ Network (cultureplusnetwork.com). We watched a couple of the games online and the production quality was superb.
Friday’s featured game was a matchup between St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Riviera Prep. Two of the top teams in the state regardless of classification, each boasting numerous collegiate-level prospects, St. Thomas held a five-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but Riviera Prep rallied and came away with a 71-69 win.
We admittedly got down to the Showcase a bit later than we had hoped and caught the final quarter of the Miami Norland vs. Fort Lauderdale High contest. The game wasn’t decided until Fort Lauderdale hit a pair of free throws with 1.8 seconds left to win 63-60.
Fort Lauderdale was led by 5’10 senior Adler Olweean who canned five threes on his way to 24 points.
Norland was led by Omari Meda with 26 points.
Game Three: Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson vs. Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer
Both teams were evenly matched physically and early on it was evident this would be a close contest. The score was tied at 10-10 midway through the opening period and was knotted at 14-14 heading into the second quarter. Dwyer was the first to seize momentum in a game in which both teams struggled to score. At the four-minute mark, Dwyer was up by three, 23-20. Neither team was able to score the rest of the period.
Dwyer clung to a slim lead, 32-30, midway through the third quarter. At that point, the BA offense showed some life, ripping off a 9-2 run over the next three minutes. BA led 41-36 going into the final quarter, but that lead didn’t last long. Dwyer regained the lead and seized momentum, going on a 21-9 run to lead 57-50 with four minutes remaining. BA kept coming and with eight seconds left, drained a three to get to within one, 59-58. Dwyer was able to avoid BA’s attempts to foul to get the ball back and held on for a one-point win.
Dwyer was led by 6’5 sophomore Torre Washington with 21 points. Jordan Quince, a 6’3 senior, came up big in the third quarter Dwyer run to finish with 17 points.
For Boyd Anderson, 6’4 junior Hatem Chehade was brilliant from deep, going six of nine and finishing with 23 points.
Game Four: Coral Springs vs. Port St. Lucie Centennial
Coral Springs raced out to a 10-3 lead with three minutes left in the first, but Centennial was down just 14-10 going into the second quarter. Coral Springs stretched its lead to 21-12 quickly in the second quarter. By the time the period ended, Coral Springs was up double figures, 37-25.
To Centennial’s credit, they responded after the break to play Coral Springs evenly. However, they were never able to make much of a dent in the deficit. Coral Springs led by as many as 61-46 midway thru the final period. A late push by Centennial got the final score to a respectable 67-57.
Springs was led by 5’7 senior Craig Bryant, Jr., and 6’2 senior Matt Croissy, both finished with 21 points.
For Centennial, 5’7 senior Ramon Santos paced the team with 14 points.
Game Five: Pembroke Pines Charter vs. Boca Raton St. Andrew’s
This was one of the top matchups of the day in our eyes. In a bit of a surprise, Pines Charter got out of the game quickly, leading 12-5 after four minutes of play. An 8-0 run by St. Andrew’s over the next two minutes changed that and when the quarter came to a close, Pines Charter led by just one, 14-13.
The teams continued to play evenly in the second period and the score was tied at 22-22 midway thru the quarter. St. Andrew’s then started finding the range from deep. The Scots outscored the Jaguars of Pines Charter 14-5 over the final four minutes of the half to lead 36-27.
St. Andrew’s maintained a double-digit lead four minutes into the third quarter, but a late run by Pines Charter got them to within five, 47-42. The final period was nearly a repeat of that. St. Andrew’s grew its lead to double-digits but with three minutes left, Pines Charter was well within striking distance, down just five 57-52. However, that would be the last points the Jaguars would score. St. Andrew’s took advantage to score some runout baskets as well as knock down free throws. The Scots grew their lead back to double-digits to win by twelve, 64-52.
St. Andrew’s had a trio of players in double-figures. Lukas Buinevicius, a 6’6 senior, led the team with 19 points. Xander Gerard, a 6’3 senior added 16 points and 6’0 senior Brendan Gerard finished with 14 points.
For Pines Charter, 6’8 senior Robert Guishard led the way with 19 points.
Game Six: Miami Northwestern vs. Wellington
Both teams were coming in without their respective best player. For Miami Northwestern, Calvin Russell, a 6’6 senior, is leading the Bulls in the state football title game next week. For Wellington, 6’0 senior Rashard Reinhart was on a recruiting visit. From the outset, it was clear that both teams would struggle to score without their leaders.
The first half was tight throughout. Wellington held a slim 16-14 lead after the first period of play. The Wolverines maintained an advantage throughout the second quarter but could never get much separation. At the half, Wellington led by six at 28-22.
That lead didn’t last long in the third quarter. A 7-0 run by Northwestern over the first three minutes of the third period gave the Bulls the lead. Wellington had their chances to regain the lead but was still down one, 38-37, entering the final period. Wellington kept it close in the fourth quarter and after a drive and score found themselves down just two, 46-44. They fouled to put Northwestern on the line to get the ball back. The Bulls player calmly drained both free throws to make it a two-possession game at 48-44 with twelve seconds left. Wellington was unable to get a decent look and Northwestern held on for a tough four-point win.
Giovanny Desire, a 6’4 senior led Northwestern with 12 points.
Camden Wesley, a 6’3 junior led Wellington with 12 points.
We had to make our way back to the Source Hoops Hacienda with two games remaining on the day. Gibbons got its usual production from seniors Evan Wyche, A.J. Ambrose, and Justus Dylan-Herbert to get past Palm Beach Central 67-49. In the final game of the day, St. Thomas was able to break open a tight game in the second half against Westminster Academy to win 79-58. Clarence Westbrook, a 6’1 junior, led STA with 33 points while Westminster’s 5’10 junior D.J. Gaines dropped in 24 points.
We have nothing but praise and thanks to Dwyn Berg and the group of people that put on both the Kruel Showcase and Kreul Classic. First-rate events run by first-rate people.