Class 5A State Championship Finals Standouts

<p>The state 5A Championship Game was a clash of player types in the truest sense. Pembroke Pines Charter (FL) is a quick and athletic squad with a tendency to get in transition and play above the rim. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach), on the other hand, is full of strong, half-court style athletes who look like they could be a wrestling team just as well as a basketball squad. So, with these two opposite forced to attract, here’s how the game went:</p> <p><em>Choctawhatchee </em>v. <em>Pembroke Pines Charter</em>, Class 5A State Championship, 83-68 Pembroke Pines wins</p> <p>Here were the standouts from the game:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="955774" first="Kolby" last="King"], Pembroke Pines, 6’2", 2022</strong></p> <p>The junior guard was doing everything for the Jaguars in this one. King showed off his ability to finish around the basket and get above the rim to finish over Choctaw’s bigger centers. He also was able to turn unsuccessful finishes into charity stripe attempts, running up the score for his team in their dominant 15 point win. King even threw down a sick dunk at the end of the game to secure the win. He is a great floor general who keeps the ball moving on offense and can completely take over if he needs to. He finished with 27 points and will catch the attention of high D2 and D1 coaches next season if he continues to play at this level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="829389" first="Elijah" last="Wyche"], Pembroke Pines, 6’6", 2022</strong></p> <p>Wyche is a fantastic player to watch and is one of those kids that makes you say "I would want to play with him." He is a freak athlete who can play above the rim and grab rebounds over anyone on the floor. He is a beast in transition and can create for himself with his low post mobility. Wyche fights hard every possession and is scrappy on loose balls and when the ball is in the air. Wyche also showed flashes of some great post passing, setting up his fellow interior teammates for easy looks against a Choctaw zone. Wyche looks like he could be one of South Florida’s most intriguing prospects next season and will be a guy to keep your eye on. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="714880" first="Jamil" last="Bowles"], Choctaw, 6’4", 2021</strong></p> <p>Bowles returned to the starting lineup for the Indians on Saturday after coming off the bench in the win over Leesburg on Thursday. Seeing the opportunity, Bowles took full advantage. The lanky shooting guard was killing from the midrange, taking guys off the dribble and scoring with ease. He also flashed some potential of getting downhill with ease, drawing fouls mostly but getting a few good finishes in the process. He knocked down a pair of triples en route to a 28 point performance. Bowles is a great talent who refused to go down without a fight against a tough Pembroke Pines charter team.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1065434" first="Caelum" last="Ethridge"], Pembroke Pines, 6’5", 2022</strong></p> <p>Confidence is key when it comes to Ethridge’s game. He is unafraid to make a big play or pull a three pointer directly in your face. And while these past two games weren’t his best in terms of shooting percentages, Ethridge made a much stronger impact in this game than he did against Tampa Jesuit on Friday. Ethridge made 3 triples on 11 attempts and was able to put the game away down the stretch, knocking down free throws and getting to the rack. Ethridge finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds. He’s a high confidence player who will be a key three and D guy for Pembroke next year. </p>