With the FHSAA season reduced to Saturday playoff games, we were able to head over to Maitland just outside of Orlando to catch Southeastern Prep Academy host Central Pointe Christian in a Sunshine Independent Athletic Association contest.  The Falcons of SEPA came in “a bit shorthanded” as:

C.J. Rosser, a 6’9 junior and currently considered the top player in the Class of 2027, had his left foot in a boot.  He is slated to be back in time for the Orlando Grind Session, hosted by SEPA in roughly ten days;

Toni Bryant, a 6’9 senior and McDonald’s AA Game selection, is ineligible to play in SIAA games after coming over from Zephyrhills Christian after the transfer deadline; and

Obinna Ekezie, a 6’11 top five junior is out with the flu.

All that being said, no tears are needed for the Falcons as they have plenty of talent.

That was quickly made clear as within fifteen seconds, SEPA had a 5-0 lead and CPC called a timeout.  A three-pointer from 6’2 junior Aiden Grace followed by a steal and slam from 6’7 senior Jaxson Richardson was just the beginning of a long night for Central Point.  SEPA’s full-court pressure got CPC out of sync, and it took them awhile to find their game legs.  By the time that happened, the Falcons were up a dozen, 29-17, heading into the second quarter.

Central Pointe took better care of the basketball in the second quarter, so SEPA didn’t have the easy or open shots they got in the first period.  CPC’s problem was that they had difficulty getting the ball through the net.  SEPA’s quick rotations and length challenged nearly every CPC shot.  By the midway point of the quarter, SEPA’s lead had increased to seventeen, 41-24.  At the half, CPC was down 46-28.

It didn’t take long for SEPA to push its advantage past twenty in the third quarter.  At one point in the period, SEPA had back-to-back-to-back full court forays for dunks off of defensive rebounds, Richardson sandwiched around one from 6’3 junior Beckham Black.  CPC pulled themselves out of that defensive funk and got the margin under twenty (just barely) going into the final quarter, 58-39.

SEPA once again grew the gap early in the fourth and midway thru the period, CPC called timeout down 67-44.  At that point, both teams put in their reserves.  SEPA won going away, 84-62.

Richardson led SEPA in scoring with 22 points, every one of those eleven baskets coming at the rim.  Groce finished with 15 points on five made shots from behind the arc.  Kellan Cantrell, a 6’2 junior, dropped in 12 points.  Black finished with seven points, but he was focused on facilitating the vast majority of the contest.

For Central Pointe, 6’1 junior Sam Pino paced the team with 19 points.  Felix Jorga, a 6’1 senior tallied 14 points while 5’8 junior Derek Paga added 13 points.