Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Short-handed Westminster Academy handles Miami Christian
CORAL SPRINGS — Westminster Academy has struggled out of the gate to develop the chemistry that resulted in a 29-4 campaign and Class 4A state championship in 2016-17.
After defeating North Miami and Yeshiva in their first two games, the Lions dropped three straight to University School, Northeast and Monsignor Bonner, of Drexel Hill, Pa.
Saturday, Westminster may well have played its best 32 minutes of the season in a 75-65 victory over Miami Christian in the Kreul Classic Elite Challenge at Coral Springs City Gym. The showdown was a matchup of defending state champions. The Victors won the 2A title back in March.
“That was a good challenge for our kids and they stepped up,” Westminster coach Ehren Wallhoff said.
“Our guards were looking to distribute the ball. With the caliber of players we have, if they are distributing the ball we are a hard team to beat because we can spread out the floor. We’re a lot like Miami Christian in that sense.”
Westminster (3-3) led from the start, grabbing a 6-2 advantage and going up 16-12 after one quarter. The Lions built on an eightpoint halftime lead, going up by double-digits much of the second half.
Senior guard Zach Scott, who is headed to FGCU next year, and junior big Dejuan Marjanac both had double-doubles for Westminster. Scott had 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Marjanac, seeing his most time this season, gave the Lions an inside presence with 10 points, 12 rebounds and a block.
Juniors Sam Griffin and Chase Johnston scored 20 and 17 points, respectively, and sophomore Dudley Blackwell posted 8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 blocks and 5 assists. Westminster center Anthony Atkinson did not play after suffering a blow to the head Friday.
“We got a little stagnant last night [in the loss to Bonner] and they were big tonight,” Wallhoff said. “We were able to get out and run and show some of our athleticism and guard play. Our guard play was stellar and our big men came through, too.”
Westminster will play the Patrick School, of Hillside, N.J., at 6:10 p.m. Monday on the third and final day of the Kreul. The Patrick School defeated Monsignor Bonner, 58-49, Saturday.
Jeffrey Hernandez led Miami Christian (6-2) with 21 points and Neftali Alvarez added 17.
BLANCHE ELY 61, PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER 55: After playing what he called almost a perfect game Friday against Monsignor Scanlan, Ely coach Melvin Randall was not pleased with the Tigers’ performance despite the victory.
“We just played flat and dummy basketball,” Randall said. “We weren’t playing defense, missing assignments.”
Senior guard Michael Forrest led Ely with 22 points.
Ely (6-3) will meet Leflore, of Mobile, Ala., at 7:45 p.m. Monday in the Under Armour Challenge bracket championship game.
AMERICAN HERITAGE-PLANTATION 72, HERITAGE SCHOOL (GA.) 59: The Patriots didn’t hit their season average of 94.5 points, but they stayed perfect at 6-0 in advancing to the championship game of the Publix Challenge bracket.
American Heritage will play the winner of Saturday night’s late game between Lee (Huntsville, Ala.) and Coral Springs at 9:15 p.m. Monday for the bracket championship.
Junior Damari Monsanto led the Patriots with 21 points and senior Samir Stewart added 16. Heritage School fell to 7-2.
MCARTHUR 51, CYPRESS BAY 48 (OT): Isaiah Quinteros 3-pointer at the horn of overtime was off the mark and the Mustangs prevailed. The game was tied 42-all after regulation.
Senior guard Michael Labastille led McArthur (4-3) with 16 points.
McArthur will play Deerfield Beach at 4:35 p.m. Monday in the BCAA Challenge bracket championship.
Isiah Kirby led Cypress Bay (6-3) with 16 points and Brandon Garcia had 13.
DEERFIELD BEACH 58, CORAL SPRINGS CHARTER 50: The Bucks (6-3) trailed 19-10 after one quarter, but turned the game around with a huge second period to take a 33-27 lead into the intermission.
Senior Lutelson Jerome led a balanced Deerfield attack with 13 points.
BOCA RATON 84, WINTER HAVEN 60: Junior Max Demeus — who has an offer from Florida Atlantic — poured in 26 points and Rollins recruit Cade Long added 19 for the Bobcats in the Publix Challenge consolation bracket.
Boca (4-3) lost to Coral Springs, 79-70, Friday in its Kreul opener.
Keyshawn Bryant led Winter Haven (6-2) with 28. IN OTHER GAMES: Mykayle Carter scored 39 points in Piper’s 60-56 victory over Vanguard School, of Lake Wales; Taravella defeated Flanagan 66-47; Cardinal Gibbons downed winless D.C. Friendship 39-34; St. Thomas Aquinas lost to Brooklyn (N.Y.) Thomas Jefferson, 71-38; Oxbridge stumbled against the Bronx (N.Y.) Monsignor Scanlan, 57-42; North Broward Prep fell to Dublin, Ga., 65-52; and Dillard faced Atlantic in a late game that was not complete at press time.