5 Takeaways: 2019 BCAA Big 8 Tournament quarterfinals
Fort Lauderdale Dillard and Pompano Beach Blanche Ely won quarterfinal games in the BCAA Big 8 Tournament on Wednesday at Fort Lauderdale High School. Dillard took down Western, 64-54, while Blanche Ely held off Cooper City, 66-58. Here are 5 Takeaways…
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Continue ReadingFort Lauderdale Dillard and Pompano Beach Blanche Ely won quarterfinal games in the BCAA Big 8 Tournament on Wednesday at Fort Lauderdale High School.
Dillard took down Western, 64-54, while Blanche Ely held off Cooper City, 66-58. Here are 5 Takeaways from the opening day of the tournament:
Illini in the house
Three University of Illinois coaches — including head coach Brad Underwood — were on hand for a Dillard-Western contest, which featured Western 2019 6-6 sharpshooter Damari Monsanto and Dillard 2020 6-8 forward Jalen Haynes.
Monsanto connected on 6 of 11 shots from the field and 7 of 10 from the free-throw line for 20 points before fouling out with 3:06 to play. Dillard held Monsanto to just one 3-pointer.
Haynes recorded a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) while shooting 3 of 8 from the field and 10 of 11 at the free-throw line. Haynes, of course, got what they came for — the W.
Dillard cashes in at FTH line
Dillard made it a priority to pound the ball inside and made a living at the free-throw line, canning 33 of 42 free throws. Senior point guard Deshawn Bartley led the Panthers with 20 points. Bartley went to the free-throw line 14 times and converted on 12.
“We knew they didn’t have a whole lot of size so that was the game plan to make them play us inside,” Dillard coach Darryl Burrows said. 7A Dillard has won seven in a row since losing at defending Class 8A state champion Blanche Ely on Jan. 12.
Burrows said the recruiting process has begun to pick up for the 5-10 Bartley and 6-7 Makerere Williams.
6-4 2020 Garrett Anderson had a nice game for Western with 16 points on 7 of 11 from the field but was lost to fouls in the third quarter.
Graziani’s stock on rise
Cooper City 5-8 junior guard Dallas Graziani‘s stock is rising. Graziani, who was offered by Missouri Western as a sophomore, was impressive against Ely’s pressure defense.
The Tigers started checking Graziani with junior Lamont Evans IV but had to go to 2020 Tyrecke Francois later in the game. Offensively, Graziani finished with 31 points, including three 3-pointers. He was 9 for 24 from the field and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
What was most impressive, however, was his quickness and man-to-man defense. Graziani may be small, but he is a gamer.
Missed free throws hurt Cooper City in the loss. The Cowboys missed nine free throws, seven in the second half of a game that was 60-56 with 3:09 remaining.
Hazelton a beast inside
Look for more and more colleges to get on Ely 6-5 junior Malachi Hazelton. Hazelton was a beast in the paint (17 points) and on the boards. If he gets position on you down low, it’s over.
Hazelton made 7 of his 9 attempts from the field. I also like 6-4 2020 A.J. Staton-McCray (15 points). Ely has now won nine consecutive games since falling back on Jan. 5 to Hillsborough up at the Charger Classic at Suncoast High School.
What’s next
On Thursday, the other two quarterfinals will take place at Fort Lauderdale High: At 6:30 p.m., Coral Springs Charter vs. Miramar, followed at 8 p.m. by Stranahan vs. Deerfield Beach.
Friday in the semifinals, it will be Ely vs.the Coral Springs Charter-Miramar winner at 6:30, followed by Dillard vs. the Stranahan-Deerfield winner. The championship is scheduled for Saturday night.
Miramar is the defending champion. Dillard won it the previous two years.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.