The Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) tipped off its season Tuesday night a various locations across the state. We headed just down the road from the Source Hoops Chalet to take in Process Academy of Tallahassee vs. West Oaks Academy.
During warmups, it looked like this might be a mismatch and a bloodbath on the scoreboard. Process only had five players available and West Oaks had more than a few guys a head or more taller than anyone on Process. However, games aren’t won during layup lines.
Process opened the scoring with a pair of free throws from 6’3 senior M.J. Harper. West Oaks answered with a pair of free throws from Marcos Paulo and after a putback dunk by 7’0 junior Marcis Ponder took an early 4-2 lead. Process was able to stay in the contest thanks to some timely three-point shooting by 5’9 junior Marcus Williams and 5’10 junior Gabe Escalera to go along with the scoring heroics of Harper. By scoring nine points in the first few minutes of the opening quarter, Process was within four points, 19-15, with under two minutes left. That is when the bottom fell out. West Oaks finishes the first quarter with a 13-0 run, highlighted by ten points in the period from 6’4 junior Willie Burnett. A four-point deficit ballooned to seventeen points to make the score 32-15 after one period.
West Oaks slowly built its lead and when the under five-minute media timeout came in the second quarter, the score stood at 42-18. After the break, Process stepped on the gas and West Oaks took its foot off the gas. Process finishes the period with a 13-6 run to make the score a bit more respectable at the break, 48-31.
In the third quarter, Process continued to whittle away at the West Oaks lead. However, it seemed like every time Process was going to get the margin under double-digits, West Oaks would score a couple of consecutive baskets to pad its lead. A late run in the third by Process made the score 61-50 heading into the final period. With a shot clock and momentum on the side of Process Academy, anything could happen.
And it did.
With just under three minutes left in the game, Process Academy had crawled back to within seven at 74-67. After another bucket by Process, West Oaks called a timeout. They got a score to make it a two-possession game, but a free throw by Process, a West Oaks turnover, and a mid-range jumper by Harper got Process to within three points, 76-73, with fifty-five seconds remaining. Process fouled to get the ball back and Burnett knocked in a pair of freebies. With several fouls to give before Process would get into the bonus, West Oaks fouled to force Process to take the ball out of bounds and spend precious seconds getting organized. This strategy worked and Process was unable to get off a good shot with time to get the ball back. West Oaks hung on to beat a tough Process squad, 78-73.
Burnett led West Oaks with 26 points while Paulo finished with 16 points. Justin Smith, a 5’9 senior, added 12 points for West Oaks.
Williams led Process Academy with 26 points, 24 of those on eight made threes. Harper added 24 points but managed only eight in the second half. Escalara finished with 12 points.