Dillard takes down Blanche Ely

Panthers take second straight title with 72-61 win over Tigers

FORT LAUDERDALE — Dillard broke open a one-point game with Blanche Ely at the half, outscoring the Tigers 26-12 in the third quarter on the way to a 72-61 victory Saturday in a showdown of defending state champions in the finals of the BCAA Big 8 Championships at Fort Lauderdale High School.

It marks the seventh time Dillard has won the Big 8 Championships and it is the second consecutive year the Panthers have defeated Ely for the title. Dillard also beat Ely earlier this season, 69-64, at Ely on Jan. 7.

“They came out with a lot of intensity and fire in the first half,” Dillard coach Darryl Burrows said. “Ely is a tremendous team and they are going to bring that fire every time.

“We just wanted to be steady. At halftime, we talked about being steady with the ball and taking advantage of the size inside.”

Senior Jordan Wright, who signed to play football at Kentucky on Wednesday, led Dillard with 18 points and was named the MVP of the tournament. Senior big man Robert Johnson, who has signed with The Citadel, added 17 points, junior guard Bryce Oliver scored 13 and Florida State signee RaiQuan Gray had 11.

Dillard ran its record to 22-4 with victories over Nova High, Deerfield Beach and Ely in the Big 8. The Panthers’ only loss to a Florida high school program this season came vs. Miami Christian on a 3-pointer in the final seconds at the AAA.

Senior guard Geremy Taylor Darryl Burrows, led Ely with 23 points and junior guard Michael Forrest had 14.

The loss drops the Tigers to 22-6. Ely defeated Pines Charter and then Cardinal Gibbons to reach the finals.

Dillard went to the half with a 28-27 advantage on a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Wright. Wright led the Panthers at the half with nine points and Johnson had six. Gray was plagued by foul trouble (two fouls) and did not play in the second quarter. Gray finished the half with just four points.

Forrest connected on three 3-pointers to lead Ely with nine at the half and Calvin McCutcheon had six. Sophomore forward Josh Scott was also plagued by foul trouble — three — which proved to be key as Ely no longer has 6-4 forward William Maloney (grades). Scott managed just three free throws in the game.

Dillard won Big 8 championships in 2017, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2003, 2001 and 2000.

Ely won Big 8 championships in 2015, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

The All-Tournament Team was made up of Wright, Oliver and Gray from Dillard; Taylor and Forrest from Ely; Gertatus Urbonavicius, of Cardinal Gibbons; and Edwin Louis, of Deerfield Beach.