Boys Basketball: Park Vista edges John I. Leonard

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
by Post Staff

Drew Quinn took over at Park Vista with a clear understanding it would take some time to get his new program rolling.

John I. Leonard coach Jim Howell knew his program would take a step back after a recent run of success.

Their meeting Tuesday night in Lake Worth showed both have a way to go. Park Vista outlasted Leonard 56-54 in a sloppy, hand-wringing District 10-8A contest that featured 18 missed free throws and a lot more turnovers.

"We're still a very young group figuring out those situations," Quinn said. "We have a habit of getting into games like that."

Vista (13-8) led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter before relinquishing its lead in the third quarter. Leonard (8-10) even took a one-point in the third before sloppy ball handling and poor shot selection halted its momentum.

Keith Dow scored 18 points for Vista, and Calvin Chandler added 12. Vista shot just 4-of-13 from the foul line as a team, and Quinn tested his vocal cords often in the game's waning moments, as Leonard reduced a 10-point deficit to two in 45 seconds.

"When we're ready and right, we can play with anybody," Quinn said. "But sometimes we do that. It's a new situation for all of us, and how we respond to each experience is important for us going in the right direction."

It's been a tough stretch for Leonard, which lost two varsity players to midseason injuries and transfers. The Lancers, who won the District 10-8A title last year and reached the regional semifinals, have lost three in a row.

Romerrio Saunders pumped in 22 points and TJ Martin had 14, but Leonard's droughts killed hopes of a sustained rally.

"We didn't give up, so I'm proud of that -- we could have lost by 20," Howell said. "We just have to regroup."

No. 10 Royal Palm Beach 65, No. 2 Palm Beach Lakes 61: Ivenor Rosier scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half and also had six assists and seven rebounds and Jimmitry LeBlanc added 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (13-5) to the upset of the Rams in Royal Palm Beach.

No 3. St. Andrew's 59, Glades Central 45: George Andino scored 16 points and Asil Kalkavan added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Scots (16-2) beat the Raiders in Belle Glade.

No. 4 Summit Christian 53, American Heritage 47: Josue Levy had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Shane Phillips added 17 points and 10 assists to lead the Saints (16-5) over the Stallions in West Palm Beach.

No. 6 Atlantic 62, Olympic Heights 35: Jamal Palmer scored 17 points, to lead the Eagles over the Defenders (2-14) in Boca Raton. Jordan Coblin scored 18 for Heights.

No. 7 Lake Worth 65, West Boca Raton 57: Aaron Horne scored 16 points and Jerry Oliver added 14 as the Trojans (17-3) stopped the Bulls in Lake Worth.

No. 9 Wellington 57, Dwyer 51: Stephon Gordon scored 23 points and Dondre Duffus added 16 to lead the Wolverines over the Panthers in Palm Beach Gardens.

Boca Raton 59, Palm Beach Gardens 56: Casey Southards scored 15 points and Max Mckee added 14 to help the Bobcats hold off the Gators (2-19) in Palm Beach Gardens.

Spanish River 60, Seminole Ridge 35: Jeffrey Dezmezyer had 19 points and six assists and Brandon Kenmerer added 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Sharks (14-5) handled the Hawks in Loxahatchee.

Cardinal Newman 62, Inlet Grove 47: John Collins had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Terry Hudson added 11 points to lead the Crusaders (12-7) over the Hurricanes in Riviera Beach.

Pope John Paul II 63, Oxbridge Academy 59: Kevin Johnston scored 28 points and William Jeanlys added 20 to help the Eagles hold off the Thunderwolves (11-6) in West Palm Beach.

Benjamin 68, Berean Christian 40: Jon Pavlov scored 15 points and Michael Wilson added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Buccaneers (12-8) routed the Bulldogs in Palm Beach Gardens. Austin Skelton scored 28 points for Berean.

King's Academy 61, Jupiter Christian 52: Scott Perry scored 26 points and Andrew Titus added 11 points as the Lions defeated the Eagles (4-12) in Jupiter. Alex Burns scored 28 points and Duane Reiff added 11 rebounds for the Eagles.

Dreyfoos 56, Trinity Christian 42: Wolphie Eduard had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Kay-Von Humphrey added 14 points, but the Warriors (1-20) fell to the Jaguars in Lake Worth.

Coral Springs Christian 85, Lake Worth Christian 64: Jeantal Cylla scored 29 points, but the Defenders (11-8) fell to the Crusaders in Boynton Beach.

Boca Raton Christian 78, Pompano Beach-Highlands Christian 47: R.J. Walsh scored 34 points and Heber Michel added 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Blazers (13-6) beat the Knights in Boca Raton.

Jensen Beach 67, Fort Pierce Westwood 56: David Thompson scored 27 points and Alexis Jean added 17 as the Tigers stopped the Panthers (14-6) in Fort Pierce. Terrell Ivey scored 32 points for Westwood.

Port St. Lucie 79, South Fork 52: Alan Morgan had 14 points and five assists and Marc Stewart added 12 points to lead the Jaguars (11-9) to the rout of the Bulldogs in Port St. Lucie.

John Carroll 72, Pine School 32: Edwin Thomas scored 23 points and Tommy Ageeb added 13 to lead the Rams over the Knights (5-11) in Stuart.