8A State Championship: Blanche Ely earns Randall record 9th title
The records were dropping Saturday at the 2019 Boys State Basketball Tournament in Lakeland. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall added to his long list of achievements by earning his record ninth state championship in the Tigers’ 57-52 victory…
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Continue ReadingThe records were dropping Saturday at the 2019 Boys State Basketball Tournament in Lakeland.
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall added to his long list of achievements by earning his record ninth state championship in the Tigers’ 57-52 victory over Bradenton Lakewood Ranch in the Class 8A state title game at RP Funding Center.
Randall has won seven state championships at the helm of Ely after winning two at Deerfield Beach.
“I’m a very, very blessed man,” Randall said. “Very blessed. I know how hard I work. I know how hard I work these kids, and they stepped to the challenge. They are the ones that really, really deserve this moment.”
The ninth state championship in Ely school history breaks a tie with Fort Lauderdale Dillard for the most state titles in Broward County. Ely’s state titles have come in 1993, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
The Tigers’ state championship Saturday also capped an amazing run by Broward County programs this week in Lakeland. Broward squads went 9-1, winning four (Westminster Academy, 4A; University School, 5A; Stranahan, 6A; Blanche Ely, 8A) of the nine state crowns.
“To have four titles in Broward County is unreal,” Randall said.
Ely (25-6) had to rally from double-digit deficits both days in Lakeland. Friday, the Tigers fought back from 15 points down to knock off Windermere, 56-54. Ely did not lead in the game until there were 3.8 ticks left.
Saturday, the Tigers fought back from 10 down to beat Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch led 15-12 after one quarter and 26-24 at halftime. Ely won the second half, 33-26.
2020 AJ Staton-McCray led Ely offensively with 19 points and 6 rebounds. He also made a game-changing block on a breakaway in what Randall called the play of the game.
Junior guard Lamont Evans added 12 points and senior big man Joshua Scott (above) scored 9 points, had 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The 6-5 Scott became the first Ely student-athlete to play on three state championship teams in his high school career.
“This one is more special,” Scott said when asked if any of the three championships meant more to him. “I’m the first person at Blanche Ely to get three, so it feels pretty special.”
2020 Malachi Hazelton also had 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Tigers. Ely shot 21 of 45 for the game, out-rebounded Lakewood Ranch, 29-20, and forced 19 turnovers.
“I think Ely just made a few more plays [than us],” Lakewood Ranch coach Jeremy Schiller said. “… I think it was a really even game.
“I think we could be sitting here totally flipped, you know, us with the win and them with the loss.”
Six-foot junior Keon Buckley led Lakewood Ranch (24-7) with 17 points, (2020) Christian Shaneyfelt added 12 and (2019) Joshua Young 10. The Mustangs shot 20 for 40 (50 percent) from the field.
Ely won its final 18 games of the season. The Tigers’ last loss came to Tampa Hillsborough, 64-47, on Jan. 5 at the Suncoast High Charger Classic.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.