William triggers TFA comeback
OVIEDO — Malik William, the guy who usually looks to pass to an open teammate, scored a careerhigh 30 points and spurred The First Academy to an 86-74 come-from-behind basketball win over host Master’s Academy on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-8 power forward with point guard finesse also had 15 rebounds, nine assists and three blocked shots in at the Kalyn High Master’s Classic. The Royals (16-1) needed his clutch performance to overcome an Eagles team that shot lights out in the early going.
“He’s so key for us,” said Royals coach Chris Mayberry. “He takes the shots when he’s supposed to and he passes when he’s supposed to. That’s why I love him.”
The loss was only the second homecourt defeat for Master’s (12-5) since it unveiled its stylish blacktop court in January of last season, and the Eagles did not go down without a fight.
Junior guard Jose Placer opened the game by making consecutive 3-point shots and Master’s scored 27 first-quarter points while leading by as much as 13 early.
“It’s a good feeling [to score 30],” said William, a Clemson signee. “But I’m just happy my team came back. We fought together.”
Master’s made eight first-half treys and went to the break on top 45-39.
“I didn’t use a time out in that half,” Mayberry said. “I wanted them to fight through it themselves. Our defense improved.”
Chaundee Brown scored 20 points and Elijah Jordan had seven assists for TFA.
Placer had 20 and Brooks Cluxton 19 for Master’s. In an earlier game, No. 5 Orlando Christian Prep (15-4) put on the flashy flurry of high-altitude dunks and blocked shots you come to expect from a team as tall and talented as the Warriors are. The show also included the assist artistry of junior point guard Ronaldo “Rondo” Segu and timely three-point shooting by freshman Jouldon Veldez.
But it was OCP’s work ethic on the defensive end that put the exclamation point on its impressive 62-44 win over a 16-3 Melbourne Holy Trinity team.
The Warriors, with junior guard Jordan Goodson doing a lot of the defensive dirty work with shot-swatters Nassir Little, C.J. Walker and Dejuan Lockett behind him, put the clamps on Trinity’s offense. Little scored 18 points. The flashy show at the offensive end included a flurry of dunks, blocked shots and high-altitude rebounds by OCP’s tall and talented frontline arsenal of juniors Nassir Little (18 points) and Dejuan Lockett (14 points) and sophomore C.J. Walker, plus the assist artistry of junior point guard Ronaldo “Rondo” Segu (13 opoints) and some timely three-point shooting by freshman Jouldon Veldez.
No. 9 Boone (14-6) trailed much of the way but found a way to grind out its sixth straight win with a 48-46 decision over Hagerty (8-6).
Junior point guard and player of the game Sean Halloran led the Braves with 15 points and Jordan Morales made the shot of the game when he knocked down a contested threepoint shot to put Boone up 46-45 with 26 seconds remaining.