Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic Recap
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Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic Recap By Michael Wholey 1/10/21 9:00 AM EST The Junior Orange Bowl has traditionally attracted a number of out of state teams to mix in with some of Florida’s top teams. With the COVID pandemic…
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Continue ReadingJunior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic Recap
By Michael Wholey 1/10/21 9:00 AM EST
The Junior Orange Bowl has traditionally attracted a number of out of state teams to mix in with some of Florida’s top teams. With the COVID pandemic reducing many teams travel plans during the high school season, the JOB field was reduced to a local field. The three-day event hosted Blanche Ely, Somerset Academy Silver Palms, Miami Christian, Miami Central, Western, South Broward, Norland, and Cardinal Gibbons with the second and third days schedule being reduced due to COVID issues related to contact tracing.
After a delayed start due to BCAA rules pushing back the start date for winter sports in Broward County, Ely played their 6th game in a week and a half over the holiday break taking home the Jr. Orange Bowl title and moving to 5-1 on the season defeating Somerset Academy Silver Palms 62-39, Norland 68-44, and in the championship game defeating Miami Christian 63-55.
In the championship game, after jumping out to a 25-14 lead after the 1st quarter, Ely saw their lead squander away trailing by as many as 5 points in the 4th quarter. Uncommitted 2021 guard Gabriela Bendeck Gabriela Bendeck 5'4" | CG Miami Christian | 2021 State FL led the way for Miami Christian by spearheading a 19-5 run to give the Victors a 51-46 lead with 6 minutes to go. But it was Ely’s star Freshman guard Janessa Kelley Janessa Kelley 5'9" | SG Blanche Ely | 2024 State FL who knocked down a 3-pointer to break a 53-53 tie with 2:30 to go to give Ely a 3-point lead. One possession later 6’1 Junior Zaria Blake Zaria Blake 6'0" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL converted a 3-point play off an offensive rebound to raise Ely’s lead to 59-53 and it was all over from there.
2022 Zaria Blake Zaria Blake 6'0" | SF Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL and Michiyah Simmons Michiyah Simmons 5'8" | PG Blanche Ely | 2022 State FL were named to the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic All-Tournament team while Senior guard and recent University of Miami signee Ja’Leah Williams Ja’Leah Williams 5'9" | CG Blanche Ely | 2021 State FL was named Most Valuable Player.
Somerset Academy Silver Palms went 0-2 losing to eventual champion Blanche Ely in the opening round and close 3-point loss toCardinal Gibbons. 2021 uncommitted guard Amari Hunter Amari Hunter 5'6" | CG Somerset Silver Palms | 2021 State FL had an impressive 30 points on 12/22 shooting vs Cardinal Gibbons while 7th grader Ashley Martinez led Somerset with 14 points in the loss to Blanche Ely. The Stallions currently have three players averaging double digits with Hunter averaging 14.8 PPG, Martinez averaging 11.8 PPG, and 2022 Amber Mateo Amber Mateo 5'4" | CG Somerset Silver Palms | 2022 State FL averaging 10.3 PPG.
Norland defeated Cardinal Gibbons on day # 1 and then also fell to Blanche Ely in the semi-finals 68-44. Jaiyah Harris-Smith Jaiyah Harris-Smith 5'7" | PG Norland | 2021 State FL continues to have a big Senior year averaging 13 points per game, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals while 2024 Shania Swan Shania Swan 5'8" | SF Norland | 2024 State FL is having an excellent Freshman campaign averaging 11.7 points per game.
Gabriela Bendeck Gabriela Bendeck 5'4" | CG Miami Christian | 2021 State FL did everything she could to try and lead Miami Christian to victory in the championship game vs Blanche Ely. She does it all for the young Victors team leading them in scoring (13.9), rebounding (5.8), assists (4.0) and steals (2.6).
We have Gabriela Bendeck Gabriela Bendeck 5'4" | CG Miami Christian | 2021 State FL , Jaiyah Harris-Smith Jaiyah Harris-Smith 5'7" | PG Norland | 2021 State FL , and Amari Hunter Amari Hunter 5'6" | CG Somerset Silver Palms | 2021 State FL as three of the state’s top Senior prospects who have yet to make a college decision.
FINAL SCORES
Monday, December 28, 2020
Blanche Ely 62 – Somerset Academy Silver Palms 39
Miami Christian 69 – Miami Central 47
Western 50 – South Broward 45
Norland 45 – Cardinal Gibbons 30
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Miami Central 48 – South Broward 44
Cardinal Gibbons 62 – Somerset Academy Silver Palms 59
Blanche Ely 68 – Norland 44
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Blanche Ely 63 – Miami Christian 55 – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Michael Wholey is the Senior Scout of Prep Girls Hoops Florida. You can reach him at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or on Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.