Hannah Schaible scored a game-high 27 points along with six rebounds and six assists to lead top-ranked Women’s Basketball to a dominating 83-62 victory over Gainesville to win the Florida Prospects Tournament title for the third consecutive year. Sydnei McCaskill tossed in 24 points and 12 assists on her way to tournament Most Valuable Player honors and Ionna McKenzie joined Schaible on the All-Tournament team with ten points and 14 rebounds. After drubbing Ben Mays HS (GA) last night in the semifinal, 81-39, DP (15-3) jumped all over Gainesville in the first quarter, building a 31-13 lead but the Hurricanes battled back to cut the deficit to 11 at the half, 49-38. In the third quarter, Matea Britvar (15 points, six rebounds) drove in for a layup and buried a three pointer and Ionna McKenzie followed up with two monster rebounds and put-backs as the lead jumped back up to 18. Gainesville went on a 5-0 run but a three by Sydnei McCaskill from the top of the key stifled the rally. Later in the fourth, a pair of floaters in the lane by Schaible and McCaskill put the Panthers back up by 20 and slammed the door for good. DP has now won 54 consecutive games against in-state competition.
At the Kingdom of the Sun Tournament in Ocala, RaShawn Powell poured in 33 points to go with seven assists and six steals as third-ranked Men’s Basketball held off Coral Springs Christian, 68-67, to win the Consolation Championship. After falling in the opener to Morgan County (GA), 58-54, DP (11-4) won their final three tournament games over American Heritage (70-69), Ocala Forest (69-33) and CSC to capture the bracket title. The Panthers caught no breaks in this game as three players fouled out and a nine-point lead (50-41 after three quarters) evaporated quickly in the fourth. With 2:16 to play, DP held a five-point lead, 64-59, but the Crusaders went on an 8-2 run for a 67-66 lead with 21 seconds left in the game. RaShawn Powell drove in the lane, drew the foul with 17 seconds left, and sank both free throws for a 68-67 lead. Still with a chance to win, CSC took the inbound pass but with two seconds left, Tyriefe Beard came up with the steal and was fouled. It wasn’t over, however. Beard missed the front end of the one and one, giving the Crusaders one last shot with 1.1 seconds on the clock. On the inbound, they heaved a pass from one end of the court into the paint…the ball was caught…the shot went up…and rimmed out at the buzzer. Powell earned All-Tournament team honors for his performance while Tyriefe Beard had another strong game with 14 points and four steals and Pedro Lalor continued his torrid shooting from beyond the arc with three more three-pointers and four rebounds.
