We took the very short drive from the Source Hoops Chalet to West Oaks Academy Tuesday night to check out the latest edition of the best rivalry in the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA). The Rock School and West Oaks are charter members of the league and we view their rivalry as the equivalent of Duke/North Carolina. The game is always competitive and entertaining.
The Flame of West Oaks got up 6-2 early in the opening period but by the 4:30 mark of the first nine-minute quarter, the Lions were within 11-9. At that point, The Rock got on a bit of a run, whether it was 6’9 junior Tyler Bright getting loose inside or 6’5 junior Joseph Hartman connecting from the perimeter. By the time the horn sounded to end the first quarter, The Rock was ahead by the score of 18-16.
The second quarter started out much like the first. West Oaks quickly tied the score and from there the teams would swap the lead often. With the media timeout coming in at 4:44 left in the period, West Oaks had a 26-23 lead. Coming out of the timeout, West Oaks got on a roll. Well, actually 6’5 junior Willie Burnett III got on a roll. He snapped off some long jumpers in succession while the length and size of his teammates made shots difficult for The Rock. West Oaks closed out the quarter with a 13-8 run to open up a 39-31 advantage.
The Rock was unable to get rolling in the third quarter. West Oaks got out in transition after several misses by the Lions and scored some easy baskets. Midway thru the period, West Oaks had a double-digit lead of 48-36. From that point, The Rock was able to right the ship but could only keep pace with West Oaks. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it was a ten-point game at 52-42 in favor of West Oaks.
The Flame had the lead at twelve, 61-49, with five minutes left to play when The Rock went into scramble-mode at the defensive end. West Oaks’ turnovers became Lions’ points and the lead began to melt away. West Oaks was able to score just enough to stay ahead and make time become the enemy of The Rock. With twenty-five seconds left in the game, The Rock was within two possessions at 71-65. Forced to put West Oaks on the line, the Flame was able to convert the needed free throws to win by the score of 75-68.
West Oaks was led by Burnett’s 27 points. Kiffen Texiera, a 6’5 senior, added 14 points while 7’0 senior Paulo Bola finished with 12 points and 6’11 junior Marcis Ponder tallied 10 points.
For The Rock, Hartman paced the team with 27 points while Bright tossed in 12 points.
Not sure if there is a player that is as explosive offensively as Burnett of West Oaks. He tallied 19 of his 27 points in the first half with 14 of those coming in the second quarter alone. A three-level scorer, Burnett hits shots well behind the three-point line, has a solid mid-range game and has crafty finishing moves around the basket.
Hartman’s improvement over the course of this season for The Rock has been impressive. Tuesday night was the best we have seen him play. His jumper was falling on both sides of the arc, he had some success scoring at the basket off the bounce, displayed high-level court vision and passing skills as well as aggressiveness on the glass at both ends. In short, he is playing with great confidence and it shows in his on-court performance.
Bola of West Oaks is such an interesting prospect. The senior at 7’0 (maybe taller) has excellent coordination and athleticism for someone his size and age. Bola also has some skills when it comes to handling, passing, and shooting the basketball. He runs the floor and is always a lob threat. There have been times where his play becomes a bit passive and as a result the production isn’t always there. That being said, many high-level D-I programs are hoping to land him for next season.
This was our first time seeing Bright of The Rock. A native of Las Vegas, the 6’9 junior showed good footwork and a soft touch in the post. He understands how to get and hold position, read the defender by feeling him with his back, and then using basic but effective post moves to score. Bright hit a long-range jumper late in the game to suggest he has some inside/outside qualities to his game. He is also a solid screen-setter and rugged rebounder.
Marcis Ponder of West Oaks is not only hard to guard, but hard to referee. The 6’11 junior is solid, strong, and wide, runs and jumps well for his size, and plays hard. Because of those traits, the referees seem to let defenders get by with a bit more physicality, holding, and contact on the offensive end than “normal size” players. If Ponder gets unchallenged after getting the ball inside, either after a pass or grabbing a teammate’s miss, the backboard and/or rim is in serious danger of damage. He is also an intimidating shot blocker. There is still room to grow when it comes to scoring without slamming but Ponder’s overall forcefulness on the court is rare nowadays.
We must admit it has been a joy to watch Evan Sterck of The Rock these past four years. The 6’1 senior finished 9 points and 6 assists against West Oaks but his ability to orchestrate his teammates on both sides of the floor cannot be overlooked. Sterck does a good job of handling ball-pressure, makes good pass vs. shot decisions when driving to the basket, and is both physically and mentally tough. He should be successful at Jacksonville University.