What We Learned: University School @ Chaminade-Madonna

It is one of the biggest games of the year and it lived up to the billing.

At least towards the end...

The Chaminade-Madonna Lions took out University School 61-57 in front of a packed crowd in Hollywood. The Lions (16-7) are playing well down the stretch of the season, having won four straight games and eight of their last nine. With the loss, University School (16-6) snaps its four-game winning streak after a late fourth quarter rally came up short. The Sharks were held to a season low 57 points in a loss among Florida competition.

What We Learned:

Weir...The Real Deal:

Last year, I saw then junior Andre Weir match up against future Duke commit Vernon Carey Jr. against University School and show flashes of his talent. This year, Carey Jr. is up in Durham and the 2020 6-foot-10 center is dominating his contemporaries in his senior season. Against U-School, Weir finished with a fundamental double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds. Since it is super bowl weekend, the senior is built like a left tackle on the floor and simply over-matched the size of the Sharks front court. Weir is able to clear out space using his frame and go up to the basket with either hand. The unsigned prospect was a huge reason why the Lions were able to pull out a win over their rival.

Johnny OH!

The Lions jumped out on the Sharks and 2020 6-foot-8 wing Johnny O'Neil was a huge reason. The American University commit hit a pair of of 3-pointers in the first quarter and floated a pretty over-the-top pass to Andre Weir for a bucket underneath. O'Neil, who finished with 10 points, also blocked a shot in the first quarter on defense, ratifying his ability to play at a high level on both ends of the floor.

Shark's Slow Start:

If you told me before the game the Sharks were going to have more turnovers then points after the first quarter I probably would have said you're crazy. Against the Lions, that is exactly what happened as U-School scored seven points while committing eight turnovers. I don't have a sports book, but I am willing to bet the Sharks have scored single-digit points in a quarter next to none this season. In fact, 2020 guard Roger McFarlane was the only Shark to score until sophomore Caelum Ethridge hit a jumper with 5:22 left in the second quarter. McFarlane ended up with 15 points for U-School, 11 of which came in the first half. The slow start certainly hurt the Sharks, who wound up trailing by twelve at halftime.

Dax Kaye All Day

The 2020 point guard stepped up big with fellow senior Justin Allen out, scoring 15 points while dazzling spectators with some acrobatic lay-ups. Kaye is a lighting quick guard for Chaminade-Madonna who can get to his spot and finish with either hand. While not being the biggest kid on the floor, Kaye knows how to shield his body against defenders when going up to the glass. Hypothetically, the loss of Allen deducted about 15-20 points for the Lions and Kaye made up for that production in a big way.

Jett Not Grounded

In correlation with the slow start, sophomore sensation Jett Howard missed his first three shots and did not score a bucket until the second quarter. Like many good players, it is hard to keep Jett on the tarmac as he finished with 19 points, 14 coming in the second half. The Sharks comeback was certainty fueled by the 6-foot-6 guard, who hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half.

For any South Florida hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 or follow him on Instagram @Mungertown_Mike23.