By Dave Brousseau
CORAL SPRINGS – There times in the second half Miami Northwestern cut into a large Cardinal Gibbons lead down to eight points.
The Chiefs weren’t about to be denied becoming the champion of the Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital bracket champion in the 36th annual Kreul Classic on Monday.
Led by senior guards Justus Dylan-Herbert’s 30 points and A.J. Ambrose’s 21 points Gibbons defeated the Bulls 73-52 for the championship in the first meeting between the two schools at the Coral Springs City Gymnasium.
Dylan-Herbert was named the tournament MVP, averaging 25 points over three games. Ambrose was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“We kind of knew they were going take A.J. away and deny, which they did,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Bill Mallon. “Once we figured that the game became a little easier.
Mallon said it was an honor to compete against Northwestern coach Melvin Randall, who won a combined nine state championships while at Deerfield Beach (2) and Blanche Ely (7).
“Randall is a legend for a reason,” said Mallon. “I wish he was back in Broward honestly. He’s a great coach, but it was great to beat him.”
No sooner that the Bulls (9-2) cut into the deficit, Gibbons (10-1) nullified the effort bouncing back to a sizable lead, up by 16 with 2:35 remaining.
A strong offensive first half for the Chiefs led to convincing 36-19 lead behind the scoring of Dylan-Herbert and Ambrose. Together they combined 26 points that helped build a 17-point lead at the break.
Bulls senior guard Jakeel Baker led his team with 14 points, while teammates Jarvis Chamber and Giovanny Desire each had 12 points.
THIRD PLACE
HOLY CROSS 58, NOTRE DAME PREP 55: Payton Wilson, a 6’8 sophomore, scored a team high 16 points as the Knights (4-6) held on for the three-point victory.
Jahzir Crawford added 12 points and Donovan Medley 11 points.
The Lancers (3-2) got 19 points from 5-11 guard Joshua Charlot, while Jameer Reid had 17 points and Jaise Greaves finished with 10 points.
FIFTH PLACE
CORAL SPRINGS 57, SAN TAN CHARTER 52: Senior guard Josiah Ayers led the Colts (8-6) with 19 points. Craig Bryant Jr. added 13 points and Gabriel Benkovisky 12 points.
The two teams combined for 15 three-pointers.
Jose Benjaman scored 16 for the Roadrunners (10-3). Jachin Reynolds was the only other player on the team in double-figures with 10.
SEVENTH PLACE
KELL 69, WAXAHACHIE 48: B.J. Love, a 6’1 junior point guard, had a game-high 23 points to lead the Longhorns (3-8). Maximus Cook added 11 points.
The Indians (8-9) were led by Kaleb Jones with 16 points.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
BJ Love, Kell (Marietta, Ga.)
Kaleb Jones, Waxahachie (Tx.)
Matt Croissy, Coral Springs (FL)
Peyton Lubash, San Tan Charter (Gilbert, AZ)
Payton Wilson, Holy Cross (Flushing, NY)
Joshua Charlot, Notre Dame Prep (Fairfield, CT)
AJ Ambrose, Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
Jakeel Baker, Miami Northwestern (FL)
Giovanny Desire, Miami Northwestern (FL)
MVP: Justus Dylan-Herbert, Cardinal Gibbons (FL)
CORAL GLADES FALLS TO BERGEN CATHOLIC
Coral Glades boys’ basketball coach Stefan Whittingham has prepared his team to play the toughest regular season schedule possible with his site to successfully compete for a state title.
The Jaguars faced another difficult task against Bergen Catholic (NJ) for the BSN Bracket championship in the finale the of the 36th annual Kreul Classic.
Through two quarters Glades looked up to the challenge with a seven-point lead, only to falter to the Crusaders aggressive press during a 58-52 loss at the Coral Springs City Gymnasium.
“We’re really focused on playing the toughest schedule we can play,” said Whittingham. “In order for to achieve the goal that we set at the beginning of the season; we have to play national talent.”
Bergen Catholic was one of those 10 teams the Jaguars (8-5) have faced to date that aren’t from Broward County.
Led by Jahill Owusu’s 18 points and another 12 points from Julius Avent, the Crusaders (5-0) rallied with a suffocating defensive effort to earn the title.
“We went to a full-court man that started to help us,” said Bergen Catholic coach Billy Armstrong. “Coral Glades did a great in the half court with our normal pressure in the half court. Our guys gutted it out and this is how we get better.”
Coral Glades was led by Kyler Theophile with 12 points and Donovan Swain with 11 points.
The Jaguars will continue its challenging schedule with two more teams from Georgia next week.
THIRD PLACE
BISHOP IRETON 65, CORNER CANYON 63: Senior guard Silas Devanish scored a game-high 20 points to lift the Cardinals to a third-place finish in the BSN Bracket of the Kreul Classic.
Ireton (8-2) trailed 39-33 at the half.
Jayden Mills added 19 points, while Jake Bahr had 13 points and Evan Brown 10 points.
The Chargers (7-6) were led by senior Tyler Mortenson with 19 points. Josh Tolman finished with 15 points.
FIFTH PLACE
STRANAHAN 52, HIGLEY 47 (OT): Christian Yeargan scored 17 points and Isaiah Brown, a 6’10 senior center, added 16 points to lead the Dragons (7-7). Brown also scored six points in the overtime period.
Marquice Ples led the Knights (4-3) with 15 points. Andre Tyler added 13 points and Noah Gloor 10 points.
SEVENTH PLACE
PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER 73, BEN L. SMITH 62: Anthony Wallcott scored a game high 23 points to lead the Jaguars (6-3). Zac Dawson added 16 points as he and Wallcott also combined to make six 3-pointers. Both were named to the Kreul All-Tournament Team.
Robert Guishard added 12 points and Alex Vardakis 11 points.
Jyi Dawkins led the Golden Eagles (6-3) with 31 points, while setting a Kreul tournament scoring record of 115 points in three games played. He was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Anthony Wallcott, Pines Charter (FL)
Zac Dawson, Pines Charter (FL)
Jyi Dawkins, Ben L. Smith (NC)
Damari Foster, Stranahan (FL)
Isiah Brown, Stranahan (FL)
Marquice Pless, Higley (Gilbert, AZ)
Jayden Mills, Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, VA.)
Dillon Roberts, Corner Canyon (Draper, UT)
Donovan Swain, Coral Glades (FL)
Kyler Theophile, Coral Glades (FL)
Jaden Brown, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ)
Jahlil Owusu, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ)
MVP: Julius Avent, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ)
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.