The Sunshine Independent Athletic Association held its Crossover event this weekend at DME Academy in Daytona Beach. Hurricane Nicole screwed up the schedule to the point where we could only catch two full games on Saturday.
GAME ONE: Orlando West Oaks Academy vs. Orlando Downey Christian
Both teams were dealing with key players being out due to injury. The first quarter was competitive thru the first four minutes as Downey grabbed an early lead at 9-7. At that point, West Oaks took over and by the end of the nine-minute quarter, the Flame led by eight, 25-17.
The second quarter would get no better for Downey. The overall size and talent were just too much and at the half, West Oaks had doubled-up the score, 48-24.
To Downey’s credit, the team never stopped competing. Even with West Oaks threatening the century mark in the final quarter, Downey still challenged every Flame shot attempt. West Oaks hit 100 points on a free throw with thirty-five seconds left and won by the score of 100-61.
As one might imagine, West Oaks had multiple players notch double figures. Paul Djoubte, a 6’7 senior, led the way with 26 points. Greg Spate, a 6’6 senior, tallied 22 points. Jaylen Smith, a 5’11 senior, scored 13 points while 6’4 senior Prophete Fields had 11, and both Moussa Samake, a 6’8 senior, and 6’4 junior Gavin Dunn each had 10 points.
For Downey, 6’6 junior Aiden Agnew was their leading scorer with 22 points while 6’2 junior Gabe Morales added 16 points.
GAME TWO: Gainesville The Rock School vs. Bradenton Victory Rock Prep
This game started a half-hour after Game One in an adjacent gym, so when we finally got to check out the action, The Rock had the game well in-hand. The Lions ultimately won by the score of 102-76.
The Rock was led by 6’8 junior Sammy Yeanay with 30 points followed by fellow 6’8 junior R.J. Jones with 26 points. Austin Leslie, a 6’5 sophomore added 19 points while Kameren Wright, a 6’5 junior tossed in 18 points.
Victory Rock’s 5’11 junior Antoine Glasper led the Blue Devils with 26 points while 6’6 senior Ryan Leonard went for 20 points.
GAME THREE: Kissimmee Central Pointe Christian vs. Miami Schoolhouse Prep
It didn’t take long for us to realize this game would not have the scoring level of the previous two. Both teams struggled from the outset and midway thru the first quarter the score was only 4-2 in favor of Schoolhouse. Neither team could get an advantage on the other and the game headed into the second quarter tied at 12-12.
Finally, one team got some offensive flow going, and it was Central Pointe. A few threes dropped in and some Schoolhouse turnovers against extended pressure became points for Central Pointe. Still, the score was only 29-18 at the half and with the shot clock in play, that wasn’t a comfortable lead.
It sure looked like Schoolhouse would make a run after scoring the first five points of the third quarter. That thought was doused after Central Point went on a 14-3 run to lead 43-26 with five minutes left to play in the third quarter. Schoolhouse regrouped and went on a run of their own as they outscored Central Pointe 19-9 to close the gap to under double-digits, 54-45, heading into the final quarter.
Schoolhouse started the fourth with a 9-4 run in the first three minutes, forcing a Central Pointe timeout. Schoolhouse got to within three, 62-59, with 4:24 to play. Then all hell broke loose!
As a result, the game was called by SIAA officials.
At the time of the melee’, Vuk Vukcevic, a 6’7 senior, had scored 13 points for Central Pointe. Fernando Osario, a 6’5 senior at Schoolhouse Prep, had scored 22 points.
GAME FOUR: Oldsmar Christian vs. Jacksonville Potter’s House Christian
Because of the “extra-curricular activities” of the Central Pointe-Schoolhouse game, we were able to make it over to this contest at the half, which found Oldsmar up by just four at 34-30.
Potter’s House tied the game at 36-36 by the 6:45 mark of the third quarter. By the time their 13-4 run had ended, they were up 43-38 with four minutes to go. Oldsmar got things calmed down at both ends of the floor and tied the game at 43-43 just one minute later. The score would continue to flip-flop for the rest of the quarter but when the horn finally sounded, Potter’s House had a one point 49-48 lead.
Oldsmar hit a three on the opening possession and after a Potter’s House miss, scored another bucket to go up four and Potter’s House called a timeout. It didn’t help the way they had hoped and Oldsmar led by five, 56-51, midway thru this final quarter. With two minutes left, Oldsmar led 60-54. With a shot clock, this lead isn’t insurmountable, but squandering two possessions with turnovers that led to Oldsmar points is. Oldsmar would pull away to win by ten, 68-58.
Braylon Jackson, a 6’4 senior, led the Eagles with 23 points. Harvey Wilson, a 6’7 senior, contributed 16 points while 5’8 junior Willie Sheppard added 10 points.
Potter’s House got 15 points each from 6’7 junior Fredy Sylla and 6’8 senior Bol Agu.