Dillard, Blanche Ely advance to semifinals

FORT LAUDERDALE — Defending state champions Dillard and Blanche Ely romped to quarterfinal victories Wednesday night in the boys BCAA Big 8 Championships at Fort Lauderdale High School.

Dilllard, ranked No. 1 in Class 7A, rolled past Nova, 95-77. The Panthers’ last loss came more than a month ago in the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina in December. Dillard (20-4) will face the winner of Thursday’s Deerfield Beach-Hallandale game in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

Blanche Ely, ranked No. 3 in 8A, made quick work of Pines Charter, 76-38. The game was played with a running clock in the fourth quarter after junior Yanez Rogers gave Ely a 35-point lead, 64-29, to end the third quarter. The Tigers (21-5) will play the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal between Cardinal Gibbons and Piper in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday.

Dillard built a 21-11 lead after one quarter, led 37-24 at the half and 67-45 going to the final period. Twosport star Jordan Wright, who signed with Kentucky on Wednesday, led the way with 19 points and junior Bryce Oliver had 14. Nova fell to 15-7.

Pines Charter stayed within 19-14 after one quarter against. Ely. But the Tigers outscored the Jaguars 20-3 in the second quarter to take a commanding 39-17 lead at halftime. Ely led by more than 40 points in the fourth period.

“We played well,” veteran Ely coach Melvin Randall said. “We played a great defensive ballgame. Pines Charter is not a pushover team.”

Sophomore Joshua Scott led Ely with 17 points. Nick Stampley added 14 points and Geremy Taylor and Michael Forrest each had 13. Ely will have to do without William Maloney (academics) for the rest of the season.

Eddani Brathwaite led Pines Charter (17-8) with 13 points and Malik Hardy hit double figures with 10.

“Bottom line, they disrupted us,” Pines Charter coach Dave Roca said. “I think they played the passing lanes. They dictated the tempo right from the jump ball.

“Just a bad night. There is nothing good that came from this game.”

Dillard defeated Ely 68-62 in the Big 8 championship game last year. The Panthers have won six Big 8 titles and the Tigers have claimed four. Dillard also has a 69-64 road victory over Ely earlier in the regular season.

The championship is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.