Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Six from South Florida have championship hopes
South Florida will be well-represented in Lakeland this week. Four Broward County teams and two Palm Beach County teams are heading to Central Florida for the state boys basketball championships this week.
The slate of state semifinals starts Wednesday with Grandview Prep’s state semifinal against Orlando Christian Prep, and at least one local team will play in the last game of the week: the Class 7A title game at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Here is a look at each local team hoping to return from Lakeland with a state championship trophy. All rankings are from Max Preps.
Class 7A
Dwyer (13-3): The Panthers are returning to Lakeland after a 10-year absence following a win over Coral Springs in the regional finals. Dwyer has a balanced offense, with three players averaging double-digits in scoring. Rodrick Johnson Jr. leads the way with 13.2 points per game; Johnson also leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. The Panthers are ranked 44th in the state entering the state semifinals, and they are seeking the program’s fourth state championship. Western (14-7): The Wildcats didn’t earn their trip to Lakeland until Monday, but they earned it with distinction: Western blew out Miami Columbus in the regional finals, putting on a strong display before traveling to Lakeland. Gary Adam and Matthew Robinson Jr. lead the way for Western, averaging 12.8 and 11.6 points, respectively, through 16 games played. Western is ranked 21st in the state. The Wildcats, who have never won a state title, play Dwyer at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
Class 5A
Pembroke Pines Charter (11-3): Pines Charter is back in Lakeland for the second year in a row. The Jaguars’ 2020 bid for the program’s first title ended with a late comeback attempt that fell short in the state championship game. This year’s Pines Charter team is talented and has four players — Caelum Ethridge, Kolby King, Geoffrey Sprouse and Elijah Wyche — averaging more than 10 points. The Jaguars’ only losses this year came against a pair of fellow state-title contenders, Pine Crest and Western, and to a strong Hallandale team. The Jaguars, who are ranked ninth in Florida, face Tampa Jesuit at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Jesuit is 25-4 this season and ranked 90th in the state.
Class 4A
Pine Crest (19-1): It has been a dominant season for Pine Crest. The Panthers dropped one game to Westminster Academy on Dec. 19 and have won all 16 games they have played since. Leading the way for Pine Crest are two dominant junior twins: Amen and Ausar Thompson. Ausar is the top scorer, averaging 22.8 points to his brother’s 19.5. But Amen leads his brother and the team with 8.3 rebounds per game (Ausar has 7.6). Pine Crest is ranked sixth in the state. The Panthers’ opponent, Titusville Astronaut, is no pushover. The War Eagles are 26-3 and ranked 35th in the state. The two teams face off at noon on Wednesday. Pine Crest is looking for the program’s fourth state title and first since 2012.
Class 3A
Calvary Christian (15-7): The Eagles are arguably the most talented team in South Florida, and they have a fearsome trio leading the way for them. Sophomore Marvel Allen (13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds), junior Gregg Glenn (14 points, 6.8 rebounds) and junior Taylor Hendricks (14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds) have had strong seasons against great competition. Calvary has won five straight since falling to Kansas’ Sunrise Christian, the No. 3 team in the nation, on Feb. 6. Calvary is aiming for the program’s second state title — the Eagles won their first in 2017. The Eagles, ranked seventh in the state, face Miami Country Day (12-9, ranked 100th in the state) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Class 2A
Grandview Prep (16-2): The Pride have been rolling lately, winning 11 consecutive games heading into the state semifinals. Grandview is looking for their third state title and first since 2016. The Pride, who are ranked 38th in the state, boast three double-digit scorers: junior Gunner Walters (17.6 points per game), senior Makye Boles (15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds per game) and senior Pedro Brown (13.6 points, 10.3 rebounds). Grandview has a tough task in front of it, facing undefeated Orlando Christian Prep on Wednesday at noon. Orlando Christian Prep is ranked fourth in the state and 22nd in the nation. The Warriors are 25-0 this season. If Orlando Christian Prep wins the state championship, it will be the ninth title in program history — surpassing Blanche Ely for third-most in state history.