Class 6A, Region 3 Semifinal: East Lake handles business against Charlotte

<p>TARPON SPRINGS - The top team in Class 6A, Region 3 used two strong senior performances to put away visiting Punta Gorda Charlotte 68-36 in front of a huge home crowd in Tuesday night's region semifinal.</p> <p>East Lake (25-3) earned 26-point outings from both guards <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dionte-blanch/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dionte-blanch/">Dionte Blanch</a></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-hillmon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-hillmon/">Jordan Hillmon</a></a>. The rest of the cast did its job as Charlotte found it hard to push the ball in transition and get comfortable in their offensive sets. </p> <p>Playing without 2023 guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/john-gamble/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/john-gamble/">John Gamble</a></a> who was not with the team, Charlotte simply didn't match up speed wise against East Lake.</p> <p>Here is a look at notes from the night.</p> <p><strong>Hillmon was raining 3's</strong></p> <p>With eight 3's, 2020 5'10" guard <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-hillmon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-hillmon/">Jordan Hillmon</a></a></strong> tied a career-high set last season against Palm Harbor and set a new season-high with 26 points. He had two games with seven 3's this season. Hillmon hit three 3's in the opening quarter and was nearly perfect on the night, shooting with confidence and connecting on great feeds from his teammates. His one two-pointer came on a mid-range floater in the fourth quarter. When Hillmon is drilling 3's like that and left open, East Lake is very hard to slow down.</p> <p><strong>Blanch is hard to defend</strong></p> <p>Getting past multiple defenders is something 2020 6'3" Murray State signee <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dionte-blanch/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dionte-blanch/">Dionte Blanch</a></a></strong> can do with ease. He did that time and time again and wowed the crowd with 26 points. One of the best possessions I saw from him was in the second half when he was in control of the ball at the top of the right circle. He dribbled it around and then tried to bowl over a defender but instead fell to the ground. On the hardwood, he somehow kept his dribble all the way that low and then moved around and dished out a pass to Hillmon who hit a corner 3. Blanch never gives up on a play on either end and is a pure winner.</p> <p><strong>East Lake's cast is all business</strong></p> <p>Hats off to 2021 6'3" guard <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dean-gabrelcik/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dean-gabrelcik/">Dean Gabrelcik</a></a></strong> who played through a sprained ankle. It was wrapped up well and he played nearly the entire game until the fourth quarter when East Lake had the game in hand. He only attempted two shots, missing both, but he was grabbing boards, blocking shots and passing with ease. It was awesome to see him play through the pain. It shows a lot about his character. As for underclassmen trio: 2022 6'1" guard <strong>Noah Chatman</strong> (5 points), 2023 6' guard <strong>Henry Hurst</strong> (8 points) and 2023 6'3" forward<strong> Austin Huff </strong>(0 points) they all hustled. Chatman is a speed freak who is growing as a shooter and a stealer on the break. Hurst is a strong guard in the form of Blanch who loves to finish at the rack. Huff didn't score, but is a nuisance on defense moving guys around and coming up with big rebounds.</p> <p><strong>Carroll fights and scraps</strong></p> <p>With USF in the crowd watching, 2021 6'7" forward <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tre-carroll/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tre-carroll/">Tre Carroll</a></a></strong>, it was hard to see what the junior could truly do. Normally, he's getting inside and finishing with versatile finishes. With Gamble not in uniform and the guards not able to get Carroll the ball too easily, he was forced to attack and shoot the mid-range. East Lake's defense double and triple teamed him at times, collapsing on him as he got the ball inside. Carroll finished with seven points, all of which were earned the hard way. He will be just fine this summer in AAU ball as he gets stronger and improves his ballhandling skills.</p> <p><strong>A look ahead</strong></p> <p>---East Lake will play host to Fort Myers who outlasted St. Pete 110-108 in five overtimes. Both East Lake and Fort Myers played in the 3rd annual Prep Hoops Sun Bash Tampa at Clearwater Calvary Christian in early January which East Lake won the SUN bracket title.</p> <p>---Friday's region final will give the Eagles a chance to avenge last year's region final loss to Lakewood Ranch and make it to its first state title in program history. The team element is in place and the ball movement is in sync as Blanch and Hillmon score in bunches.</p>