Coral Springs knocks off Nova in showcase

COCONUT CREEK — Senior Sean Lowry’s layup with 37 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as Coral Springs handed Nova its first loss of the young season 61-59 Friday on Day 1 of the 2016 Kreul Showcase.

The two-day showcase at Monarch High School is an appetizer for the Kreul Classic national tournament, which will be held Dec. 16-20 in Coral Springs. The showcase continues tonight with six more games, highlighted by University School vs. Westminster Academy at 6 p.m. and Dillard vs. Sagemont at 9.

Coral Springs won the Class 8A state championship a season ago under coach Devin Barta. However, the Colts lost their entire starting lineup to graduation.

Friday, Barta and the Colts ran their record to 4-1 behind junior guards Kenny Lucien and Wilvens Fleurizard. Lucien had 19 points and Fleurizard added 14. Nova had come into the game a perfect 3-0.

“We graduated 11 of 14 players from that state championship team,” Barta said. “We’re a new group. I’ve been telling people, ‘We’re young but talented.’

“I think if we continue to jell — and with the three kids that are back from that team along with the newcomers — I think we can make some noise if we trust the process.”

The game was a backand-forth affair. Coral Springs led 17-16 after one quarter, before Nova fought back to go up 28-26 at the half.

The Colts grabbed a twopoint advantage, 41-39, after three quarters, leading to a fight to the finish. Nova tied the game 59-59 with 58 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer by junior Anthony Byrd.

After Lowry gave Coral Springs the lead back, Nova had two good looks at the basket in the waning seconds. But Nathan Griffin’s 3-pointer was long and Tyler Nixon’s shot rolled off the rim at the buzzer.

“We like to keep it interesting,” Barta said. “We didn’t play very well in the first half. We were fortunate to only be down two . ... But in the second half, I was really proud of the way we fought and battled literally to the final horn.”

“A lot of mistakes -- we missed a lot of layups inside,” said Nova coach Boris McWashington. “It might have been a different game if we can finish around the basket.”

Shemar Bennett led Nova with 14 points.

In other action at the showcase:

Miami Carroll 72, Deerfield Beach 56: Archbishop Carroll (5-0) rallied from a 31-30 deficit at the half to hand the Bucks (3-1) their first loss.

Edwin Louis led Deerfield with 18 points.

Coral Springs Christian 54, Monarch 45: The Crusaders held off the host Knights in the opening game of the tournament to improve to 2-2.

Junior Steven Quintero led Coral Springs Christian with 20 points and sophomore Thomas Quintero added 18.

Senior Fitz Marrugo led Monarch (3-3) with 15 points.

The day’s final contest, between Blanche Ely (4-0) and Miami Norland (2-0) did not start until 9:30 p.m. and was not complete for this edition.