Boys basketball: Dwyer, West Boca could play for Kreul titles

Sunday, December 20, 2009
by Faran Fagen

Following a double-overtime win Saturday night, the top-ranked Dwyer Panthers are poised to challenge for their third Hawk Kreul Classic championship.

Behind senior guard Tia Harris' 22 points, Dwyer (4-0) beat Calvin Coolidge High School out of Washington 78-66. Seven of Harris' points came in the second overtime, when the Panthers outscored their opponent 13-1.

Dwyer, which won Kreul titles in 2002 and 2007, play Gainesville-The Rock at 5:30 p.m. in today's semifinals. If the Panthers win, they will face Oakland Park-Northeast or Miramar at 8 p.m. Tuesday for the Kreul's Sweet Sixteen Championship.

The Rock — which features a backcourt of Dennis Mavin and Scott Wilbekin, each considered among the top 10 guards in Florida — defeated North Carolina's Quality Education Academy 72-67 in the second round.

Northeast upset Fort Lauderdale-Pine Crest, which is ranked 14th nationally, 55-51 on Saturday. J.T. Sapp scored 20 points to lead Northeast and held reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year Brandon Knight to 16 points.

Northeast plays Miramar — which defeated Fort Lauderdale-Dillard 63-57 on Saturday — in today's other semifinal.

West Boca Raton, meanwhile, plays Miami-Pace in today's Bronze semifinal at 12:30 p.m. at Coral Springs Gymnasium

Playing in the 20th annual tournament for the first time, West Boca suffered a difficult 49-47 loss to Dillard in Thursday's opener. The Bulls committed 28 fouls, yet still had a chance to send the game into overtime. In the closing seconds, however, two put-backs deflected off the rim to allow Dillard to escape. Anthony Anderson was fouled on the final shot, but it came after the buzzer.

"We were in foul trouble from the time the game started," West Boca coach Joe Nappi said. "We made a few too many mistakes in the end."

The Bulls (6-2) bounced back to beat Hollywood-Chaminade 65-49 in Saturday's second round. Should they beat Pace today, the Bulls would play in the Sweet Sixteen Bronze title game at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Pace, which has won four state championships in coach Mark Lieberman's 13 years as coach, defeated Washington D.C.'s KIMA 59-49 in the second round.

Nappi welcomes facing teams the caliber of Dillard and Pace.

"You want to play teams like that," Nappi said. "Facing quality teams gets you ready for next year."

Atlantic and Pahokee are the other two Palm Beach County teams in the tournament. The fifth-ranked Eagles, playing in the Florida Challenge, defeated Deerfield Beach 58-55 Friday, but lost to Miami-Norland 72-56 Saturday to set up a meeting with Sunrise Christian Academy from Wichita, Kan., at 3:45 p.m. today. The winner plays in a third-place game Tuesday.

Pahokee, playing in the Coral Springs Challenge at Coral Springs High, lost to Miami-Belen Jesuit and plays Mount Airy (N.C) at 7:30 tonight. Should Pahokee win, the Blue Devils would play for the Silver Bracket title at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.