Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Panthers dominate court at Kreul Classic
CORAL SPRINGS — Dillard senior Fab 5 standouts Jordan Wright and RaiQuan Gray combined for 48 points to lead the Panthers past St. Raymond, out of the Bronx, N.Y., 75-71 Monday night in the Kreul Classic Elite Challenge.
Wright tossed in 27 points for the Panthers and Gray added 21. Dillard ran its record to 10-3 and finished the tournament with victories over St. Ray’s and Westminster Academy after dropping its opener Friday to Brooklyn (N.Y.) Bishop Loughlin.
Wright, who is also a talented football prospect, and Gray, who has signed to attend Florida State, were both named to the all-tournament squad. St. Raymond guard Isaiah Washington, who is headed to Minnesota, tossed in 34 points and was also named to the all-tournament team.
“It felt good getting the W before we go to the City of Palms [tournament in Fort Myers on Wednesday] and South Carolina,” said the 6-foot-5 Wright. “It felt good. My shots were going down.”
“It spreads our school name [across the nation],” Gray added. “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”
Dillard led from the start. The Panthers took a 26-12 first-quarter advantage, led 41-31 at the half and 58-51 heading to the final quarter.
St. Ray’s got within three late, 74-71, but Wright made one of two free throws with 4.6 seconds left to make it a twopossession game.
Tuesday is the fourth and final day of the 27th annual Kreul Classic.
WESTMINSTER DROPS 2ND STRAIGHT BROOKLYN (N.Y.) BISHOP LOUGHLIN 71, WESTMINSTER ACADEMY 70:
Cincinnati signee Keith Williams’ driving basket with 13.7 seconds remaining proved to be the difference for Bishop Loughlin (5-2).
Westminster had two final attempts in the waning seconds but Zach Scott and Chris MacCluagge could not get them to go.
Williams scored 18 of his 20 points in the decisive second half. He was named the MVP of the Kreul Elite Challenge. Junior guard Markquis Nowell led Loughlin with 23 points and was also named to the all-tournament team.
Scott, a highly-touted junior guard, led Westminster with 22 points. Yale big-man signee Paul Atkinson added 21 and Northeastern signee Jason Strong had 16. The 6-9 Atkinson was named to the all-tournament squad.
PROPHETE POURS IN RECORD 57
Fort Lauderdale High senior guard Jeffrey Prophete poured in a Kreul Classic single-game all-time record 57 points Monday in a loss to J.P. Taravella.
The 6-2 Prophete connected on 20 of 30 field goal attempts — including 5 of 8 3-pointers — and made 12 of 16 free throws.
“In the first half I had 24,” said Prophete, who signed to play at Towson next year. “I came out of the gate shooting. I was on.”
Prophete has been one of the few brights spots for Fort Lauderdale High (1-9).
Elsewhere Monday it was:
MIAMI PALMETTO 71, CORAL SPRINGS 68:
Wilvens Fleurizard had 18 points and Kenny Lucien 15, but the Colts (11-3) fell in the Coral Springs Challenge bracket championship game. Palmetto is now 9-2.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL 80, HOUSTON ATASCOCITA 70:
Sharks 2019 standout Vernon Carey Jr. tossed in 29 points and had nine rebounds in the consolation bracket of the Publix Challenge bracket.
University of Miami coach Jim Larranaga, a UM assistant and a coach from FIU were on hand to watch U-School (5-4).
Atascocita 6-8 senior Fabian White, who is headed to Houston next year, had 49 points in the loss. Atascocita went to the state championship game a season ago and is 7-6.
CYPRESS BAY 50, CORAL SPRINGS CHARTER 42:
Brandon Garcia scored 16 points to lead the Lightning (9-2) into the BCAA Challenge bracket championship game. Charter falls to 1-4.
PINE CREST 59, DEERFIELD BEACH 54:
Pine Crest (6-3) took seventh place in the Publix Challenge bracket as Brett Haeffner and Alex Vertus each scored 14. Deerfield is 7-5.