Standouts: Nature Coast Christmas Tournament (Day 1)
The 5th annual Nature Coast Christmas Tournament opened up on Wednesday.
Eight games took place on a busy slate.
Here are the top standouts from Day 1.
Luke Anderson (Lakeland)
Anderson guided the Dreadnaughts to a first-round win over Dr. Phillips 85-76. The 2019 forward scored 27 points to tie for the team-high. At 6’8″, he’s a gifted shooter and a talented floor stretcher.
Sager Cavalier (Alonso)
At 6’3″, the junior put the Ravens on his back with the game-winning jumper against Zephyrhills. His 35-point day was tops among players on the day.
JP Watt (Mitchell)
Senior forward JP Watt had 30 points in the first game of the tournament, a 77-46 win over Hernando. The 6’0″ guard/forward has been carrying the Mustangs so far this season.
Robert McAfee (Nature Coast)
Perhaps one of the most underrated athletes in the area, senior guard Robert McAfee cruised to a 26-point performance. At 6’1″, McAfee is full of energy and toughness on both ends of the floor.
Dwayne McCalebb (Lakeland)
McCalebb tied Anderson with 27 points in the victory. The 6’1″ point guard is a pure athlete who is a good second option for Lakeland.
Mekhi Perry (Land O’ Lakes)
Only a sophomore, the 6’0″ guard is a pure leader on the floor. Perry led the Gators with 22 points in a 52-42 loss to George Jenkins.
Shaahid Newsome/Stephonse Mack (Armwood)
Armwood earned some fine performances from seniors Shaahid Newsome and Stephonse Mack. Newsome had a team-high 19 points while Mack scored 14. The 2018 duo are leaders for the Hawks.
Daniel Love (Dr. Phillips)
A senior Mercer commit, Daniel Love recorded 18 points for the Panthers in the afternoon loss to Lakeland. Love is a pure shooter and a good ballhandler.
Jordan Domineck (George Jenkins)
Headed to USF for football, Domineck is a 6’4″ athlete who can do a lot on his own. He scored 19 points in the win over Land O’ Lakes.
Robert Hardy (Superior Collegiate)
Superior Collegiate fell to Armwood 65-48, but junior forward Robert Hardy had a team-best 19 points. Hardy wasn’t hitting many shots from deep, but he can find a rhythm in a hurry with his length.
Jeremiah Payton/James Law (Fletcher)
Payton was the leader for Fletcher with 22 points while Law had 20 in the 69-66 win over Countryside. Payton is a junior who is fresh of football season and is packed with athleticism. Law is a junior who attack the basket at will.
Matthew Berry/CJ Williams (Countryside)
The senior duo combined for 34 points in the loss to Fletcher. Berry had 18 points while Williams recorded 16. Berry was firing from beyond the arc and Williams set his offense up all night.
Tony Johnson (Georgia Berkmar)
Noticeably muscular and strong, Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points for Berkmar in a 67-55 win over Brooks DeBartolo. The 6’4″ guard scored a lot of his buckets in transition.
Isaiah Thomas (Brooks DeBartolo)
The Phoenix earned 16 points from senior guard Isaiah Thomas. A bouncy player who can get up for dunks at any moment, he excelled in the second half against Berkmar. At 6’3″, Thomas is full of speed.