Jones shocks West Oaks
Host Oak Ridge won the marquee matchup in Saturday’s Breast Cancer Awareness Classic. But it was Jones, which came in with an 0-1 record against a 9-1 West Oaks Academy team carrying a national ranking, that pulled off the biggest boys basketball shocker of the day.
The Tigers didn’t score a bucket for nearly six minutes but never quit and pulled off a stunning 61-60 victory when West Oaks blew a layup opportunity and Jones junior Dalvin Leggett made a game-winning free throw with 14.3 seconds to go.
West Oaks missed the final shot of the game, sending Jones first-year coach Alex Jackson and his team galloping onto the court in a raucous celebration.
“We aren’t scared of nobody,” Jackson shouted as he joyously jogged onto the floor.
Kenan Blackshear, a 6-foot-5 FAU signee, led all scorers with 29 points and the Tigers had balance behind him in knocking off a lineup stacked with college prospects.
Jones, which lost a tight opener against Windermere High, trailed by 17 in the second quarter.
“We wanted to prove to people we could play with anybody,” said Jackson, who returned to coaching after a stint as a school administrator. “That’s what we just did. I’m glad to be back.”
Oak Ridge, a defending state champ, broke open a close game in the third quarter and improved to 4-0 with a decisive 71-51 win over Class 9A region rival Kissimmee Osceola (1-1).
The Pioneers played without senior standout Niven Glover, who has been bothered by cramping issues in his legs since the season started. But Kaleb Coleman, a 6-foot-6 senior, came up big with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Oregon signee C.J. Walker added 14 points and 13 boards.
Osceola’s defensive quickness bothered Oak Ridge early and the Kowboys led 24-22 after senior Jeremiah Palermo made a 3-point shot with 2:38 to to in the second quarter. But Oak Ridge finished the half on an 6-0 run and led by 23 points at one point.
Akiem Nickerson and Jyre McCloud, juniors who played limited roles when Leesburg repeated as Class 6A state champ last season, turned in strong showings as the Yellow Jackets (3-0) coasted to a 73-41 victory over St. Petersburg Canterbury (1-2) in the opener of the six-game basketball buffet at Oak Ridge.
Next up was Downey Christian of east Orlando, and the Patriots put on a show with 6-foot-3 sophomore Emmanuel Maldonado rising to the occasion to pair with veteran longrange bomber Julian Newman in a 72-63 victory over previously unbeaten Tampa Hillsborough (3-1).
Maldonado, who started for Colonial as a freshman, made five 3-point shots and scored 25 points as Downey (2-2) pulled out a win after losing big against nationally ranked Oak Ridge on Friday.
Newman, a 5-7 junior, also made five treys and totaled 23 points.
“Teams are always going to focus on Julian and look to stop him and that gives Emmanuel his time to shine,” said Jamie Newman, Downey’s coach and Julian’s father.
The Patriots also have burly 6-5 forward Eduardo
Saturday scores
Breast Cancer Awareness Classic at Oak Ridge
Leesburg d. St. Petersburg Canterbury, 73-41 Downey Christian d. Tampa Hillsborough, 72-63
St. Petersburg Lakewood d. Jacksonville Potter’s House, 63-57 Central Pointe Christian Tampa Catholic, 58-56 Jones d. West Oaks Academy, 61-60
Oak Ridge d. Osceola, 71-51 Rotary Tip-Off Classic at Winter Park
Apopka d. Lake Highland Prep, 60-46 Mainland d. Seminole, 58-56 Championship game: Atlantic 54, Edgewater 53 vs.
Peralta, who contributed 14 points and collected 15 rebounds.
In an afternoon game, junior point guard Luis Rolon scored 21 points to lead Central Pointe Christian Academy (3-2) of Kissimmee to a hardfought 58-56 win over a tough Tampa Catholic team (1-2) with zero seniors.
Atlantic wins Rotary: In a Rotary Tip-Off Classic that was highlighted by overtime thrillers all week, it was only fitting that Saturday night’s championship game at Winter Park went down to the wire.
Port Orange Atlantic beat two-time defending champion Edgewater 54-53 in a game that came down to a final free throw.
Deandre Harvey made a lay-up with 11 seconds left to give the Sharks (4-0) a 54-52 lead. Edgewater’s Dequarius Jordan was fouled at the other end but missed the second of his two free throws.
Atlantic is the first Volusia County Tip-Off champ since Vince Carter led Daytona Beach Mainland to the 1994 crown.
Edgewater won its Friday semifinal in overtime against Mainland.
In Saturday’s third-place game, Seminole (1-2) let a 7-point fourth-quarter lead slip away and lost 58-56 in overtime to Mainland (2-1). The Buccaneers sank 7-of-8 free throws in the extra time.
Seminole lost in doubleOT against Atlantic on Friday.
Apopka defeated Lake Highland Prep 60-46 in the fifth-place game for a 2-1 tournament showing. The Blue Darters had four players score in double figures, led by 6-foot-6 junior Zach Anderson with 18 points. Keeving Etienne added 16.