Miami Christian buzzer-beater stuns Dillard

MIAMI — Senior guard Eduardo Camacho nailed a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds remaining as Class 2A Miami Christian stunned reigning 6A state champion Dillard 69-67 in Thursday’s Hoophall Miami Invitational.

The highly entertaining contest was one of five matchups of South Florida high school basketball teams in a showcase held at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Dillard, fresh off of a state championship season and with every player back, had just taken the lead back 67-66 on a 3-pointer from senior Jordan Wright. But the Victors ran the ball down, worked it inside to 6-foot-10 South Carolina signee Felipe Haase, who then tossed it back out to Camacho for the game-winner.

“We turned the ball over too much at crucial times,” veteran Dilllard coach Darryl Burrows said. The loss is the Panthers’ first in six games.

“We wanted to get it to Felipe on the post,” Miami Christian coach Juan Cardona said. “They went back to cover the post. Camacho was open on the 3 so we took it.”

Camacho is headed to Central Connecticut to play college basketball. Haase led Miami Christian (5-0) with 18 points. Wright led Dillard with 13.

WESTMINSTER ACADEMY 64, NORLAND 63:

Sophomore guard Chase Johnston knocked down four free throws in the final 23.6 seconds as the unbeaten Lions escaped Norland.

Westminster upped its record to 7-0, while Norland fell to 3-2. The Vikings’ only other loss is to defending state champion Blanche Ely.

Westminster led by as many as 17 points late in the second half, but barely got out of the AAA with the victory after seven turnovers in the fourth quarter. For the game, the Lions had 22 turnovers.

“They started to get into sync and started to do some things,” Westminster coach Ehren Wallhoff said of the closing period. “I don’t know if it is playing in the [Miami Heat’s] arena, or if it’s just that we played backto-back games. We got kind of lackadaisical with it.

“We took bad shots. We played into their hands over and over and over again. It seemed like every play that could go their way down the stretch went their way. We’ve got to do a better job of making the plays at the end of the game.”

Down 55-41 entering the fourth quarter, Norland drew even, 60-60, with 25 seconds remaining on a driving basket by senior guard Kennith Rolle. Johnston would put Westminster back up 62-60 with a pair of free throws with 23.6 seconds left.

Rolle had a chance to tie it back up when he was fouled with 18.6 ticks left, but missed both free throws. Johnston then drilled two more free throws to give the Lions a four-point cushion.

“I’m used to it,” Johnston said of going 4-for-4 with the game on the line. “I like the pressure. I told the team to give me the ball at the end.”

Caron Raye hit a 3-pointer for Norland with 0.3 seconds remaining, but the Vikings ran out of time.

“We kept fighting,” said Norland coach Lawton Williams, who has just four seniors on the squad. Williams has won six state championships with the Vikings.

Yale signee Paul Atkinson — a 6-foot-9 center — led Westminster with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Northeastern signee Jason Strong added 17 points and 10 boards.

Junior guard Zach Scott had 17 points and Johnston added 12 points and five assists for Westminster. Both are also Division I prospects. Rolle led Norland with 24 points.

In other games at the Hoophall Invite:

SAGEMONT 63, MIAMI PALMETTO 49:

Up 25-21 at the half, Sagemont took control by winning the third quarter 26-8 to improve to 6-2 on the young season.

Forward Tyler Polley, a 6-8 UConn signee, and guard Luis Hurtado, who’s signed with Alabama-Birmingham, had 14 points apiece for Sagemont, which plays Calvary Christian on Saturday. Palmetto is 4-2.

MIAMI COUNTRY DAY 59, ROYAL PALM BEACH 56:

Senior guard Leonard Thorpe Jr.’s 3-pointer for the tie at the gun was off the mark as Royal Palm fell to 4-3 this season.

Mick Lynott led Country Day (4-2) with 18 points and South Carolina signee Ibrahim Doumbia added 17. Jules Jasmin had 17 points for RPB and Thorpe added 15.

Thursday night’s finale featuring South Miami versus University School was not complete at press time.