Day 1: Hoop Exchange Southern Shootout
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nick Backer had 26 points and Damari Monsanto had 19 points to lead American Heritage (4-0) to a 94-67 win over Ft. Lauderdale (2-5), Friday night, at the Southern Shootout hosted by the Hoop Exchange.
Leading 21-16 at the end of the first quarter and 41-33 at halftime, a competitive game turned into a blowout when American Heritage opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run, and never looked back. The Patriots outscored the Flying L’s 26-14 in the third quarter to end the quarter with a 20-point lead of 67-47.
At that point the only questions left were would this become a running clock game and what the final score would be.
“We got off to a slow start, but picked it up I the second half,” said American Heritage head coach Brent Maffett. “We picked up our defensive intensity and that was the difference in the game.”
Backer added six rebounds, three assists and two steals to go with his offensive output. Monsanto had 3 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
NORLAND RALLIES TO DEFEAT ELY
In a game between two perennial powerhouse teams, Blanche Ely (3-2) took control early then built a 13-point lead over Miami Norland (3-1) before the Vikings came back to get a 54-50 win in the penultimate game of the first night of the Southern Shootout hosted by the Hoop Exchange.
The two teams traded leads early but once Ely moved ahead 8-7, the Tigers gradually grew their lead to 14 points, and led 43-29 late in the end of the third quarter. That’s when Ely stopped making shots.
Trailing 44-31 the Vikings went on a 15-0 run that started in the third quarter and carried into the fourth to take a 46-44 lead. The Tigers made just one field goal after that run, a layup by senior guard Michael Forrest, with 2:09 left in the game.
“We defended better in the second half,” said Norland head coach Lawton Williams. “A lot of that had to do with three games in a row for them (Ely), they lost their legs a little bit and we just switched on them. We had to guard them, we just played man-to-man. I didn’t get cute, we just played them man-to-man. That’s what we do.”
Norland was led by 6-foot-9 big man Reece Wilkinson (Tennessee Tech) with 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Junior forward Chris Spenkuch added 12 points and six rebounds. When asked about Wilkinson’s performance, which included clutch free throws in the fourth quarter, Williams said “Outstanding. That’s what I want from him, that’s what I need.”
Forrest led Ely with 20 points and Anthony Bird, Jr. chipped in 13.
U-SCHOOL TAKES DOWN HOST WESTMINSTER ACADEMY
Davie University School (6-0) jumped out to a 17-4 lead over Westminster Academy (2-1) and coasted to an 87-70 win over the defending Class 4A champions in the final game of the first day of the Southern Shootout.
U-School, ranked No. 24 in the nation by MaxPreps in its XCellent 25 poll, led 48-34 at halftime and 67-47 at the end of the third period. The Lions began the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to cut the Sharks’ lead to nine points at 68-57 but they would get no closer.
“We got out to a great start,” said U-School head coach Adrian Sosa. “They were helping off of Logan Alters, he hit some threes, he’s been shooting the ball great in practice so for them to double off of him we shot it with confidence and then we just got out in transition. Once we get out in transition we’re a tough team to beat.”
In a game that featured a near sellout crowd, and some chippiness that led to several technical fouls called on players, the Sharks stayed focused and in control of the game.
“It’s a good atmosphere,” Sosa said. “We agreed with the calls honestly, they were good calls. We just told them to keep playing, don’t worry about it. We were fouling them, we deserved a couple of techs.”
Scott Barnes, the No. 7 ranked prospect in the 2020 class had a game high 24 points (four dunks), 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Vernon Carey, Jr., the No. 1 ranked prospect in the 2019 class finished with 22 points (five dunks), seven rebounds and four assists. Trey Doomes (West Virginia) had 15 points, Drue Drinnon (New Mexico) added 10 and Alters had nine points – all coming on three-pointers in the first half.
Junior point guard Sam Griffin led Westminster Academy with 21 points, Zach Scott (FGCU) had 20 and Chase Johnston added 12.