FORT LAUDERDALE — Fort Lauderdale Dillard and Oakland Park Northeast posted quarterfinal victories before a packed house Wednesday night to advance to the semifinals of the 2020 BCAA Big 8 Championships.
Dillard, ranked No. 7 in the state (all classifications) by the FHSAA, ran past host Fort Lauderdale High, 77-56, while state No. 12 Northeast was too big and strong for Western, 57-49.
Here are 5 Takeaways from Day 1 (with Thursday and Friday’s schedules below):
HIGHEST OUTPUT THIS SEASON
Veteran Dillard coach Darryl Burrows could be heard imploring his team to “Push it … push it,” late in the contest. And push it, the Panthers did. Senior Chandler Mack‘s bucket with 2:05 remaining in the game gave Dillard a 75-48 advantage and marked the Panthers’ highest offensive output this season. Dillard’s previous high point total had been 74 points (twice). “We still got to get a little bit better running the break,” Burrows said. “We have some errors that we need to get better on and again they are a district opponent.”
DILLARD OWNS THE PAINT
Fort Lauderdale led Dillard 16-13 after one quarter but the final three quarters were one-sided. Dillard 6-foot-8 1/2 senior forward Jalen Haynes and 6-4 2020 guard Ivan Reynolds continually got right to the rim for point-blank shots vs. the Flying L’s. Haynes — a high Division I prospect who has yet to take visits, per coach Burrows — connected on 13 of 16 field-goal attempts and 5 for 6 free throws to finish with 31 points and 8 rebounds. Reynolds knocked in six field goals and went 6 for 7 from the free-throw line in a 18-point, 9-rebound performance. “Last year we came [in] second place so we came with a mind-set of winning the whole thing,” Haynes said. Recruiting-wise, Reynolds said Buffalo, Southern Illinois and San Francisco are planning to come and see him play.
SHORTER, VERTUS COMBINE FOR 34
Jordan Shorter, a 6-5 junior forward, and senior guard Alex Vertus led Fort Lauderdale with 17 points apiece. Shorter scored 14 of his 17 in the second half. The loss is just the sixth for the Flying L’s, who could meet up again with Dillard in districts.
NORTHEAST TOO BIG, TOO DEEP
Northeast’s size and depth proved to be too much for Western. The Hurricanes went nine deep and six players scored at least 7 points. Senior guard Tyrecke Francois led the way with 12 points, 2021 standout Wesley Cardet added 11 points and freshman Ryan Bewley hit double-digits with 10 points. The 6-9 Bewley twins — Ryan and Matthew — combined for 22 rebounds. Matthew Bewley grabbed 15 boards and had 7 points. “They are phenomenal talents, national players,” Northeast coach Zach Gillion said of the Bewleys. “But they are freshmen. At the end of the day, I don’t think this was their best game. I thought both of them were a little excited.”
ON FIRE FROM 3
6-1 junior Jack Anderson kept Western in the game. Anderson, who came off the bench, canned five 3-pointers and made all 4 of his free throws en route to a 21-point performance in the loss. The second quarter hurt Western. The Wildcats made just one field goal in the period and were outscored 17-7.
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
Northeast 57, Western 49
Dillard 77, Fort Lauderdale 56
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
6:30 p.m. — Stranahan vs. Miramar
8 p.m. — Pines Charter vs. Boyd Anderson
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
6:30 p.m. — Dillard vs. Stranahan-Miramar winner
8 p.m. — Northeast vs. Pines Charter-Boyd Anderson winner
If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com
