Deerfield stays hot, ousts Hallandale from tourney

FORT LAUDERDALE — Edwin Louis didn’t score his first points of the second half until just 7:18 remained in the fourth quarter.

The problem for Hallandale is Deerfield Beach’s standout guard had already done his damage. The 6-foot senior scored 20 first-half points on the way to a 27-point night and Deerfield bounced Hallandale from the 2017 BCAA Big 8 quarterfinals with a 65-56 verdict at Fort Lauderdale High School.

The 19-6 Bucks, who are 12-1 since Dec. 27, will face defending Big 8 champion and top-ranked Dillard (20-4) in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

Cardinal Gibbons whipped Piper 55-34 in the late game behind 17 points from senior guard Keonn Scott, 12 from Gertatus Urbonavicius and 11 from Khris Bogle.

The Chiefs (18-6) will face two-time defending state champion Blanche Ely (21-5) in the semis at 6 Friday.

Gibbons led from the start, grabbing a 15-5 firstquarter lead. The Chiefs were up 27-12 at the half and 42-24 heading to the final quarter. Piper falls to 20-5 with the loss.

Hallandale led Deerfield 13-10 after one quarter. But the game turned in the second period. The Bucks dominated the Chargers, winning the quarter 26-4 to go into the intermission up 36-17.

“Defense and mental game [were the difference],” said Louis, who is receiving interest from junior colleges. “Because we’ve been sluggish playing defense.

“Monday I had a bad game so I had to come out and shoot constant reps with my coaches. It gave me faith and they said to keep shooting it.”

Deerfield kept its 19-point lead through three quarters at 46-27. Hallandale kept up the pressure and got to within six, 58-52, with two minutes to go. However, the Bucks put the game away at the freethrow line.

Calvin Davis also scored in double figures for Deerfield with 11 points and Hansley Senatus had 10.

Matthew Alectus and Ashley Paul led the Chargers with 15 points apiece and Jimmy Sylvain had 11.

The loss drops Hallandale to 19-7. The districtchampion Chargers are 9-2 in their last 11 games with the losses to Deerfield and Archbishop Carroll.

In Wednesday night’s other quarterfinals, it was Blanche Ely 76-38 over Pines Charter, while Dillard outmuscled Nova 95-77.

Dillard defeated Ely 68-62 in the Big 8 championship game last year.

The championship is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.