Wildcats leap into the forefront
William Dandy Middle School wraps up undefeated season in county boys’ basketball
As the final buzzer sounded, William Dandy Middle School eighth-grader Nicholas Bennett chocked back tears.
The starting point guard couldn’t contain his feelings as he and his Wildcats’ teammates celebrated the school’s eighth Broward County championship in boys’ basketball.
Bennett hit for five points to go along with his seven assists during a recent 52-23 victory over New Renaissance at Stranahan High School.
“I never felt this emotion before,” said Bennett of the win that came on his 14th birthday. “I wished for this. This feels great. We worked hard.”
The hard work certainly paid off for the Wildcats, who wanted to take that next step after losing to Pompano Middle School in the semifinals last year.
William Dandy not only improved but went undefeated in its 14 games on the hardwood this season. The Wildcats never won by less than 20 points.
“This was big, especially for Nicholas,” said coach Terrance Williams. “It was emotional. It was his last game in a William Dandy uniform. We stuck it out like brothers from his sixth-grade year to now. He is a leader on and off the court.”
Williams said this year’s team was determined to win, especially after the fight it put up last year against Pompano Middle and nearly advancing to the finals.
“This is what they started to play for at the beginning of the school year and we just kept working hard every day for it,” Williams said. “We play man-to-man and we never single out a kid to one position. When they get to high school they can play anywhere.”
William Dandy jumped out to a 9-0 lead against the Miramarbased New Renaissance squad and never looked back. Dave Herard scored three points, while Daquan Vickers, Roger McFarlane and Basil Sloly also scored during the opening offensive surge. Mike Bensky subsequently added four more points on consecutive baskets.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the second quarter as it outscored the Cavaliers, 18-6. They forced the running clock on a 3-point play by Herard with just under a minute left in the third quarter.
Seven players scored for William Dandy, led by eighth-graders Vickers with 13 points, and Herard with 11.
“This is the greatest feeling of my life,” said Herard, a Lauderdale Lakes resident who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. “When we got out so early, I thought we were going to win. We weren’t challenged this year. There wasn’t any team out there that could beat us.”
Vickers, of Cooper City, transferred from Pioneer Middle School at the beginning of the season.
“This is real big to win this because every team wishes they could have this,” Vickers said. “When we beat Westpine Middle School in the semifinals, we thought it could win it all.”
Tamarac’s McFarlane, also an eighth-grader, finished the title showdown with five points and nine rebounds.
“To win the county championship is really big,” McFarlane said. “This is history. A lot of scouts come and watch us so [playing well] helps you get into high school.”
Other scorers for the Wildcats included Bensky (8 points), Sloly (6 points) and Thaddeus Squire III (3 points).
New Renaissance coach Mark Trueba couldn’t have been more proud of his team as the Cavaliers realized theirs best county finish in the 14-year history of the school.
“The team finished 4-6 last year and didn’t qualify for the playoffs,” Trueba said. “We had experience and leadership. I told them not to worry about the score today because they accomplished something the school has never accomplished. I am very proud of all the players.”
Eighth-grader Michael Rogers led the Cavaliers with 10 points.
“The experience of playing in this game was good,” said Rogers, of Miramar. “It was pretty tough to lose, but we had a pretty good season. We just came up short.”
Others in the scoring column for the Cavaliers were Tristan Ferguson (4 points), Brent Davis and Dylan Powell (3 points each), Isaiah Harrell (2 points) and Vamir Cadet (1 point).