Westminster rallies to edge Norland
BOCA RATON — Down 41-27 in the third quarter, Westminster Academy stormed from behind to defeat Miami Norland, 56-54, Monday night at the 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at Grandview Preparatory School.
Senior Zach Scott gave Westminster the lead for good, 55-53, with a pair of free throws with 1:55 to play. Norland’s Chris Spenkuch hit 1 of 2 free throws with 38.8 left to pull the Vikings within 55-54. But the Lions were able to play keep-away and junior Anthony Atkinson added another free throw with 15 seconds to play.
Norland was unable to get a possible game-winning or game-tying shot off in the waning seconds.
“We were down at half, but coach [Ehren Wallhoff ] said, ‘We’re good. We’re good. Just keep chipping away at the lead,’ ” said Scott, who is signed to attend Florida Gulf Coast. “And that’s what we did and we came out with the win.”
Westminster, the defending Class 4A state champions, improved to 12-4, having won its straight. The Lions the season 2-3.
Scott finished with 20 points and 3 rebounds, while junior Chase Johnston had 12 points — on four 3-pointers — six assists, six rebounds and six steals. Sophomore Dudley Blackwell had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists and Atkinson contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Sam Griffin, who transferred to Westminster eighth began from Norland, three points.
Johnston connected on two huge 3-pointers early in the fourth to turn the tide. The first tied the game 46-all with 6:06 to play, before another long-range bomb gave the Lions a 49-46 advantage after trailing Norland for the better part of two quarters.
“Pressure is not in my vocabulary, man,” said Scott of trailing by 14 in the second half. “We just take it was held to slow and we know what we’re doing. We’ve been through this thing so many times. That’s why I think we’re so good, because we never bring our heads down. We just keep fighting til the end.”
Senior Omar Rolle led Norland (12-4) with 12 points and Tennessee Tech recruit Reece Wilkinson added 11. Norland’s other three losses are to Miami Palmetto, Carol City and West Orange.
BLANCHE ELY - MIAMI CHRISTIAN: The Tigers and Victors played in the late game Monday night.
MIAMI PALMETTO 59, ATLANTIC 51: Palmetto junior guard Jovan Debrito canned nine 3-pointers for 27 points as the Panthers ran their record to 12-4.
Junior R.J. Duhart led Delray Atlantic (8-7) with 20 points in his return after a six-week suspension. The 6-foot-8 Duhart has been offered by FGCU.
Atlantic handed Lake Worth its first loss of the season Friday, 41-40, on a free throw from junior Kadeem Wilks with 6.8 seconds left.
Atlantic led 18-12 after one quarter, but Palmetto stormed back to outscore the Eagles 23-8 in the second quarter for a 35-26 halftime advantage. Palmetto led 51-44 going to the fourth quarter.
MCARTHUR 74, PARK VISTA 65: Nicholas Choi had 15 points for McArthur (7-6). Park Vista falls to 4-9.
MATER ACADEMY 88, BENJAMIN 49: The Bucs started 8-0 but have struggled since losing 6-5 junior Ben Lubarsky to a left ankle sprain and are 8-6 after the defeat.
Lubarsky, whose foot is in a boot, missed his seventh consecutive game Monday. He said he is hoping to be back for districts. Lubarsky has an offer from Barry University and interest from Ivy League schools, North Florida and Davidson.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN 73, FORT LAUDERDALE 63: Junior Antonio Daye had 23 points for the Flying L’s in the loss. Purdue signee Emmanuel Dowuona led Westwood with 26.
CORAL SPRINGS CHARTER 43, VICTORY CHRISTIAN 38: Ivan Reynolds led Charter with 15 points.