Young Miramar team captures first Big 8 title

FORT LAUDERDALE — With a starting five comprised entirely of sophomores, Stranahan is sure to be a team to be reckoned with in the BCAA for years to come, but on Saturday night, it was Miramar and its five senior starters’ time to win the Big 8 crown for the first time.

The Patriots went on a 19-4 run in the fourth quarter and won their first BCAA Big 8 title with a 71-66 victory over Stranahan in the final on Saturday night at Fort Lauderdale High School.

Senior Miramar wing Immanuel Crump led all scorers with 20 points and was named tournament MVP.

“We came a long way. We’ve been working hard for it,” Crump said. “[We wanted to] make a name for Miramar. Nobody respected Miramar this year, so we wanted to make a name. Make them respect us.”

Added Miramar coach Tramaine Stevens: “It’s a historic moment for these kids. They bought into our system. … They just fight.”

Senior guards Jamir Moore and Damien Miller had 16 and 11 for the Patriots (23-3), respectively. Moore was also on the all-tournament team. Five different Miramar scorers sparked the run and Crump and Moore each had a pair of baskets as the Patriots worked up a 10-point lead late after trailing 50-45 at the end of the third quarter.

“They always have it in them. I don’t know if it’s going to come in the third quarter or the second quarter, but every game, they settle down, keep believing and keep fighting.”

Stranahan, which was also making its first BCAA Big 8 title game appearance, started a group of five sophomores, but it was junior forward Cyrus Nance off the bench that provided a big spark. Nance led the Dragons (16-6) with 19 points. Sophomore guards Dave Herard and Brian Dugazon had 14 and 11, respectively, and center Inady Legiste added 10.

The two teams played a tightly contested first half where the largest lead for either team was 5 for Stranahan after Dugazon came down the floor and hit a 3-pointer. Miramar then finished the half on a 6-0 run to go into halftime up 29-28.

Along Crump and Moore, Stranahan’s Legiste and Dugazon made the all-tournament team. Blanche Ely’s Michael Forrest and Coral Springs’ Wilvens Fleurizard rounded it out.

Miramar first beat Deerfield Beach in a Thursday quarterfinal and then took down Blanche Ely on Friday en route to the title-game victory. Stranahan

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Stranahan’s Dave Herard tries to drive around Miramar’s Chevel Mills during the Big 8 Basketball Championship game on Saturday.