Boys Basketball: Jupiter's defense shuts down Park Vista

Thursday, February 14, 2013
by Jeff Greer

John Andersen doesn't care how bad it looks. He doesn't mind if neither team breaks 20 points in the first half, or if both teams shoot south of 30 percent.

At this point in the season, Jupiter's head coach just wants to see another day.

Andersen's Warriors survived a late-game scare from a punchy Park Vista squad, eventually pulling away to a 46-35 win in the Class 8A regional quarterfinals Thursday. Jupiter now gets a fourth meeting -- Tuesday's regional semifinal - with district rival Wellington, which beat Boca Raton on Thursday.

"There's a purpose to what we're trying to do," Andersen said, adding his team's regional quarterfinal loss to Spanish River last season played a major factor in the approach his team took.

Both teams played intense man-to-man defense for the majority of the game. Shooters rarely found open looks; passes rarely found their destination without a deflection of some kind. It was Jupiter's 7-2 run in the third quarter that gave the Warriors just enough breathing room to hold off an 11-0 Park Vista run midway through the fourth quarter.

Evan Zabriski's 17-foot jumper with 1:50 to play stopped Vista's run, and Jupiter (22-4) finished the game on a 12-3 run of its own.

Zabriski was the most fitting option to hit the game's biggest shot -- with 13 points off the bench, his moxie and presence on fast breaks and in halfcourt sets sparked Jupiter's otherwise stagnant offense.

"When Evan comes into the game, he can score like the guards can," Andersen said. "He's a really tough matchup for any team we face."

Park Vista (14-8) only posted single-digit points in the game's first three quarters. Only one player, Calvin Chandler, scored double-digit points, with 10. But the Cobras hung around long enough to make things interesting, using their press and a few hard-earned layups to make Jupiter sweat.

That's all Vista coach Drew Quinn could ask for, with his team an underdog against an experienced Jupiter team.

"It's our first time on this scene and we wanted to set a defensive tone -- we got that accomplished," Quinn said. "We missed a few shots. We got it right to where wanted it. We got it to two in the fourth quarter against the area's (No. 4) team."

Class 8A

Wellington 62, Boca Raton 50: Arthur Strapazonn and Stephon Gordon each scored 14 points, leading the Wolverines (19-8) over the Bobcats (14-14) in Boca Raton. Max McKee had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrique Young added 13 points for Boca. Wellington will face Jupiter in the regional semifinals Tuesday.

Treasure Coast 52, Winter Park 46: Kevin Grace scored 14 points, Justin Nichols added 12 and Garrett Kent 11 as the Titans (19-5) stopped the Wildcats (17-11) in Port St. Lucie. Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and New Orleans Hornets rookie Austin Rivers were in attendance to see Austin's brother, Spencer, score seven points for Winter Park in a losing effort. The Titans face Orlando-University in Tuesday's regional semifinals.

Class 7A

Royal Palm Beach 40, Atlantic 38: Joe Joe Williams scored 10 points as the Wildcats beat the Eagles (20-7) in Delray Beach. Royal Palm Beach advances to face Palm Beach Lakes in Tuesday's regional semifinals.

Martin County 67, Port Charlotte 58: The Tigers stopped the Pirates in Stuart and advanced to a regional semifinal matchup Tuesday against Punta-Gorda Charlotte.

Charlotte 78, Fort Pierce Central 72: The Cobras fell to the Tarpons in Punta Gorda.

Class 5A

Fort Lauderdale-Dillard 69, Suncoast 60: Jonathan Odjo scored 14 points and LaTarence Butts added 11 points, six assists and eight rebounds, but poor free throw shooting (14-for-26) doomed the Chargers (23-5) against the Panthers in Riviera Beach. "We dug ourselves a hole against a good team," coach Jason Powell said, adding he's looking forward to next season with the majority of his team returning.

Plantation-American Heritage 75, Jensen Beach 27: David Thompson scored eight points and Jean Alexis added seven, but the Falcons (16-11) fell to the Patriots in Plantation.

Class 4A

St. Andrew's 64, Dunbar 56: George Andino had 19 points and seven assists and Asil Kalkavan added 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Scots (21-3) over the Tigers in Boca Raton. Andino scored five points and Kalkavan scored four in a pivotal 11-0 run late in the third quarter for the Scots, who will face Bishop Verot in Tuesday's regional semifinals.

Fort Myers-Bishop Verot 81, Cardinal Newman 45: John Collins had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Collin Grill added 10 points, but the Crusaders (16-8) fell to the Vikings in Fort Myers.

Class 3A

Pahokee 54, Naples-St. John Neumann 53: Anton Paige hit the winning free throw to help the Blue Devils (16-7) escape the Celtics in Pahokee. Paige finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. James Johnson scored 26 points to lead Pahokee, which faces Naples-Community in Tuesday's regional semifinals.

Naples-Community 75, Benjamin 60: Isaiah Hobbs scored 30 points, but the Buccaneers (18-10) fell to the Seahawks in Naples.

Weston-Sagemont 59, American Heritage 25: Amos Jackson and Ronnie Bennett each scored eight points, but the Stallions (13-13) fell to the Lions in Weston.

Coral Springs Charter 60, Summit Christian 53: Shane Phillips scored 26 points, but the Saints (21-6) fell to the Panthers in West Palm Beach .

Class 2A

Lake Worth Christian 76, Vero Beach-Master's Academy 56: Jeantal Cylla scored 32 points as the Defenders (15-13) rolled in Vero Beach. The Defenders advance to play Grandview Prep in the regional semifinals.

Grandview Prep 75, Pine School 36: Chase Peters scored 18 points and Jake Schner added 16 as the Pride (26-2) routed the Knights in Boca Raton.