High School Sports Blog

Dillard girls' basketball coach Marcia Pinder named National Coach of the Year

Fresh off leading the Dillard girls' basketball team to its third consecutive state title, legendary Panthers coach Marcia Pinder has been named the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year.

Pinder, the winningest coach in state history with a record of 804-175, will be invited to coach in the WBCA High School All-America Game on March 31 in Denver as part of the award. The game will be played at 6:30 p.m. as part of the events on NCAA Women's Final Four weekend.

Pinder has led Dillard to a Broward County-best seven state titles during her 35-year career. The number of championships is one shy of the state's all-time record held by Jacksonville Ribault. The "three-peat" achieved last week in Lakeland is Dillard's first.

Adidas Holiday Slam basketball starts Tuesday

Holiday basketball continues for Miami-Dade and Broward county teams this week.

The 2011 Adidas Holiday Slam kicks off Tuesday with games all day at Florida Christian School. The 16-team field features some top teams from South Florida including Coral Springs Christian, American, University School, Palmetto, Southridge, Archbishop McCarthy, Champagnat Catholic, Westminster Christian, Gulliver and the host Patriots.

The teams will be divided into a pair of 8-team brackets - one labeled the Derrick Rose bracket and the other the Dwight Howard bracket. The semifinals will be played Wednesday and the finals of each bracket will be played Thursday. The high school tournament will be followed by a two-day, four-team Division-III college tournament to be played Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday's schedule - Rose bracket: University vs. American, 9:30 a.m.; Treasure Coast vs. Palmetto, 11 a.m.; Champagnat vs. Lake Worth Christian, 6:30; Wellington vs. Florida Christian, 8; Howard bracket: Orlando Faith Christian vs. Westminster Christian, 12:30; Gulliver vs. Coral Springs Christian, 2; Southridge vs. Center Point, 3:30; Archbishop McCarthy vs. Tampa Sickles, 5.

Longtime Dade official and coach Ralph Lewis passes away

I opened my email this morning to learn the sad news that Ralph Lewis, a longtime official in multiple sports and coach in Miami-Dade County, passed away late last night after an 18-month battle with leukemia.

Lewis, 54, officiated numerous high school and college events around the state for over two decades, as well as coached and worked at Killian and Palmetto High Schools.

This past May, we had the privilege of honoring him at our All-Dade Awards breakfast with our annual Walter Krietsch/Leo Suarez Courage Award for his years of dedicated service to high school student-athletes in South Florida.

Speaking on a personal note, Lewis was a generous, caring and professional individual, who was always willing to help others and was a pleasure to be around and work with.

The kind of guy that officiated a high school football game on a Friday night, then hit the road right after to go to Dade City and officiate a state cross-country championship at the crack of dawn the next morning...and do it with a positive attitude. He was a classy individual that will be missed.

On behalf of the Miami Herald's high school sports staff, I'd like to extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Dorothy Lewis and his extended family.

Funeral arrangements and details haven't been made available yet, but we will have that information soon either on this blog or in the newspaper.

- Andre C. Fernandez

Jacksonville Arlington Country Day no longer in FHSAA

Just ran across this press release on the Florida High School Athletic Association's website:

That should shake things up among small school basketball. ACD has made it to the Class 1A state finals six consecutive seasons, and won 5 titles in a row before last season.

From FHSAA:

Arlington Country Day resigns FHSAA membership

GAINESVILLE - Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville resigned its membership in the Florida High School Athletic Association, effective immediately.

School officials had been in contact with Executive Director Roger Dearing to tender the school's resignation. The FHSAA and Arlington Country Day mutually agreed to this decision.

Dillard girls' basketball team invited to ESPN national tournament

    Fresh off its Class 5A state chaampionship victory, the Dillard girls' basketball team has been recognized nationally with an invitation to the second annual ESPN RISE National High School Invitational.

    The Panthers are the only South Florida boys' or girls' program to be invited to the 12-team event that will be televised live on the ESPN networks April 1-3. The tournament will be played at Coppin State University’s Physical Education Complex in Baltimore and will feature some of the country’s top boys and girls high school basketball teams and players. 

    Dillard went 26-4 and will be joined by Class 6A state champion Lake Mary in the 4-team girls' bracket. The Panthers will square off against Peddie School of New Jersey on April 2nd at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Lake Mary will face national power Oak Hill Academy (Va.) at 4:30 p.m. and the winners will play for the title on April 3rd at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2.

    The boys' 8-team bracket will feature Florida powerhouses such as Class 6A champion Winter Park, Montverde Academy, as well as national powers Oak Hill, Findlay Prep (NV) and Christ School (NC).

    Follow this link for a full bracket that includes dates, and TV info: http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/NHSI-1st-Round-Bracket-2010.pdf

 

 

 

 

Pine Crest boys' basketball advances to Class 3A championship

Defending state champions have cruised so far in the first day of the FHSAA boys' basketball state championships here at The Lakeland Center.

Pine Crest, led by its star guard Brandon Knight, romped against Williston 77-63 in the Class 3A state semifinal.

Although he played only 26 minutes due to foul trouble and due to a minor leg muscle injury, Knight finished with 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

Knight's teammates helped overcome an uncharacteristic 35-turnover performance by the Panthers.

Tevin Westbrook had 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Traveon Henry had 17 points and seven rebounds. Forward Matt Milk had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Billy Thompson, Jr. had nine points and seven rebounds.

In other games so far:

Five-time defending Class 2A state champion Jacksonville Arlington Country Day moved down to 1A this season.
The Apaches have a chance to continue their dominance after an easy 63-43 win against West Palm Beach Summit Christian moved them into the 1A final.

Their opponent will be two-time defending state champion Orlando Christian Prep, which also won convincingly 59-33 against Boca Raton Grandview Prep.

ACD will try to break the state record for most consecutive titles when they take on OCP in the 1A championship at noon Thursday.

Chaminade-Madonna hosts basketball tournament

HOLLYWOOD – Tony Perkins, head boys basketball coach at Chaminade-Madonna announced that Brandon Knight (Pine Crest), Darius Perkins (Chaminade-Madonna), Alex Carter (South Miami), Zachary Perkins (Archbishop McCarthy) and Fred Conner (Ely) will headline several of South Florida's top high school basketball teams at the Chaminade-Madonna High School Tip-Off Classic, to be held at Chaminade Madonna starting on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and ending Saturday Nov. 22 at 8pm.
 
This event will showcase eight of South Floridas talented high school basketball teams: Chaminade-Madonna, Northwest Christian, Champagnat Catholic School, South Miami, Piper, Archbishop McCarthy, Ely and Pine Crest.

This event strives to be South Floridas premier Fall High School Basketball Tip-off Classic.
 
Chaminade-Madonna Prep is located at 500 Chaminade Drive. The cost for each game is $5.

For more information, contact Tony Perkins at 786-202-1679 or tonyperkinsbasketball@hotmail.com.  
 
THURSDAY GAMES
Nov. 19, 6:30pm – Game #1 Champagnat Catholic vs. Archbishop McCarthy
Nov. 19, 8pm – Game #2 Chaminade-Madonna vs. Pine Crest
 
FRIDAY GAMES 
Nov. 20, 6:30pm – Game #3 Piper vs. Northwest Christian
Nov. 20, 8pm – Game #4 Blanche Ely vs. South Miami High School
 
SATURDAY GAMES
Nov. 21, 3:30pm – Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #3
Nov. 21, 5:00pm – Loser of Game #2 vs. Loser of Game #4
Nov. 21, 6:30pm – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #3
Nov. 21, 8:00pm – Winner of Game #2 vs. Winner of Game #4

GMAC baseball today has been moved!

Due to poor field conditions at Alex Fernandez Field after that nasty T-storm yesterday, Tuesday's GMAC quarterfinals have been moved to Killian High.

The Killian-Goleman game will be at 2:30, followed by Hialeah-Columbus immediately after weather permitting.

If there are more changes to the schedule, we will post them here.

Dade County Private School Basketball All-Star game tonight

Still can't get enough basketball in March?

Some of the top players in Dade County will be at the 23^rd Annual 4A–1A Basketball All Star Game tonight (Friday) at Miami Christian School.

Admission is $6. The girls' game will be played at 6 p.m., followed by the boys' game at 7:30 p.m.

The event will also feature a slam-dunk contest for the boys, as well as a three-point shootouts for the boys and girls. Coaches and Player of the Year Awards will be given during the event as well.

The boys will be coached by Calusa Prep's Tim Fowler and Miami Christian's Ozzie Pineda. The girls' game will be coached by Palmer Trinity's James Valle and La Salle's Raymond Lopez.

 

 

New Florida state poll for girls' basketball (Week of Jan. 19-25)

Here's the state poll for girls basketball for this week. I'm trying to get the boys' poll. Once I do, I will post.

Class 6A

Team, record, (first-place) votes

1.

Miami

Norland (6);20-0; 60

2.

Lake

Mary

;17-1;52;2

3. South Broward;15-2;49;3

4. Edgewater;16-4;39;T4

5.

Palm Beach

Lakes

;13-5;31;T4

6. Our Lady of

Lourdes

;21-1;21;

7.

Palm Beach

Gardens

;14-4;14;6

8. Blanche Ely;11-4;13;7

9. Atlantic Community;18-7;12;

10. Buchholz;8-2;11;8

Others receiving votes:

Vero Beach

9.

Palm Beach

Central 8.

Winter Park

6. Coral Reef Senior 5.

Class 5A

1. Dillard (5);17-1;58;2

2. Nova;19-1;50;T3

3.

Clearwater

(1);19-1;46;1

4.

Lake

Howell

;18-2;39;5

5.

Winter Haven

;12-5;32;T3

6.

Pine

Forest

;18-1;23;

7. Jefferson;17-1;20;7

8. Barron Collier;16-5;19;6

9. Wesley Chapel;18-1;16;10

10. Boca Ciega;17-3;11;8

Others receiving votes: Gibbs 10.

West Boca Raton

Community 5. Pace 1.

Class 4A

1. Bishop Moore (4);14-2;56;1

T2. Andrew Jackson (1);17-2;52;3

T2. Astronaut (1);14-1;52;2

4.

Pensacola

;18-2;43;4

5.

Lincoln Park

Academy

;18-1;25;

6. South

Fort Myers

;;23;5

7.

DeSoto

County

;15-2;17;9

8.

Port Orange

Atlantic

;14-3;13;8

9. Rockledge;;12;6

10.

Pensacola

Washington

;;10;10

Others receiving votes: Bishop Kenny 9. Archbishop McCarthy 6. Monsignor Pace 6. Wiregrass Ranch 5.

Key West

1.

Class 3A

1.

Parkway

Academy

(6);20-3;60;1

2. P.K. Yonge;16-0;52;3

3.

Plantation

American Heritage;14-3;50;2

4. Ribault;13-3;39;4

5. Cardinal Newman;18-1;31;7

T6.

St. Petersburg

Catholic;15-4;29;6

T6.

Tampa

Catholic;18-2;29;5

8. Gulliver Prep;17-1;19;9

9. Lake Highland;14-3;11;

10.

Pompano Beach

;15-5;6;10

Others receiving votes:

Pensacola

Catholic 3.

Dunbar

1.

Class 2A

1. Hollywood Christian (6);19-2;60;2

2.

Community

School

of

Naples

;16-4;52;3

3. Father Lopez Catholic;;46;1

4. King’s Academy;16-3;43;T4

T5.

Florida

Air

Academy

;;26;T7

T5.

North Florida

Christian;;26;T4

7.

St. John

Neumann;;24;T7

8. Lafayette;;21;6

9.

Miami

Country Day;;11;

10.

Orlando

The

First

Academy

;;9;T9

Others receiving votes: Maclay 6. University Christian 3. Jupiter Christian 3.

Class 1A

1. Trinity Christian-

Lake

Worth (6);17-2;60;1

2. Paxton;;50;2

3.

Lake Worth

Christian;15-3;46;5

4.

Lake

Mary

Prep;16-5;38;4

5.

Sarasota

Christian;13-7;33;3

6. Seffner Christian;11-6;27;6

7.

Westlake

Preparatory;14-2;25;9

8. FAMU Developmental Research;;23;7

9. Malone;;17;8

10. Northwest Christian;;7;10

Others receiving votes: Rock 4.