Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Oxbridge, Newman reach final
WEST PALM BEACH — Friday night Cardinal Newman and Oxbridge Academy will meet for the district tournament championship for the third season in a row.
Top-seeded Cardinal Newman took care of business in the District 12-5A semifinals on Wednesday, blitzing tourney host King’s Academy, 68-40. Oxbridge, the No. 2 seed, led throughout to beat Inlet Grove, 82-73, in the other semi.
Cardinal Newman (19-6) has prevailed in the previous two district championships, something not lost on Oxbridge junior Keidron Smith, who led the ThunderWolves (15-7) with 20 points Wednesday.
“They got us last year and we want revenge,” said Smith, who is also a Division I football prospect. “They got the district championship last year. It will be a great match-up ... always a great atmosphere when we play them.”
Oxbridge did come back to knock off Cardinal Newman in the regionals a year ago. The two programs split two regular-season games this year. Oxbridge won the first meeting, 62-58, on Dec. 13. Newman evened things up, 59-58, on Jan. 17. The Crusaders were the No. 1 seeds by a coin toss.
“For us, it’s just another game,” Cardinal Newman coach Tavarus Harris said of Friday. “We’re treating it like another game. It’s one game at a time. It’s about getting on a streak.
“We’re not looking back. We’re not looking forward. It’s just looking to that next game. It’s our rival. It’s always going to be a good game. All the games we have played have been close.”
Game time Friday is 7 p.m.
Cardinal Newman made quick work of King’s Academy behind junior Armani Hayes and senior KJ Fitzgerald.
The Crusaders led 21-14 by the end of the first quarter, ballooned the lead to 42-23 by the half and held a commanding 58-34 lead going to the fourth quarter.
Hayes, who had 15 points in the first half, finished with 21 points. Fitzgerald, a Division I prospect and two-time Sun Sentinel Fab Five selection, added 18 points.
King’s season ends at 4-20. Ryan Kingman led the way with 13 points and Calvin Johnson had 11.
Oxbridge, too, got out fast and was in command the entire way. Inlet Grove did get to within seven, 80-73, with 23 seconds remaining, but that was as close as it got.