Florida Prospects Christmas Invitational Recap
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Florida Prospects 13th Annual Girls’ Basketball Christmas Invitational Recap By Michael Wholey 1/6/21 9:00 AM EST Florida Prospects once again put together a solid event at its annual Christmas Invitational December 28-30 at Faith Christian Academy and Orlando Christian Prep. …
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Continue ReadingFlorida Prospects 13th Annual Girls’ Basketball Christmas Invitational Recap
By Michael Wholey 1/6/21 9:00 AM EST
Florida Prospects once again put together a solid event at its annual Christmas Invitational December 28-30 at Faith Christian Academy and Orlando Christian Prep.
Herb Thomas and the entire Florida Prospect staff were able to pull off a solid event in the midst of this COVID pandemic. In its 13th year, the schedule and locations were backed up to smaller field and limiting to just two gym locations but all in all, the event went off with few hiccups and attracted a solid field with competitive games.
THE SCHEDULE
December 28 – Day 1
Windermere 48 – OCP 43
Saints Acad. 71- Hagerty 28
Nease 67 – Gateway 52
Oak Ridge 37 – Glynn Acad. (GA) 31
Seminole 43 – Lake Nona 37
Wekiva 67 – Lake Mary 39
West Orange 46 – Hawthorne 44
Ribault 48 – Dr. Phillips 37
Palm Bay 68 – Timber Creek 38
Miami Country Day 53 – Colonial 48
December 29 – Day 2
OCP 49 – Seminole 47
Nease 47 – Oak Ridge 46
TC 62 – Lake Mary 49
Windermere 48 – Hagerty 34
Dr. Phillips 54 – Gateway 32
Palm Bay 58 – Colonial 48
Glynn Acad. (GA) 33 – Lake Nona 16
Wekiva 57 – Ribault 54
Hawthorne 49 – Saints Acad. 31
Miami Country Day 60 – West Orange 32
December 30 – Day 3
Saints Acad. 51- OCP 41
Nease 52 – Lake Mary 45
TC 63 – Hawthorne 28
Oak Ridge 42 – Lake Nona 28
Glynn Acad 49 – Hagerty 39
West Orange 66 – Gateway 45
Windermere 74 – Seminole 53
Miami Country Day 51 – Dr. Phillips 38
BEST GAME
Ribault 43 Colonial 40
Ribault was led by 2023 Asiana Britt Asiana Britt 5'7" | CG DME Academy | 2023 State FL who finished with 15 points. The game was intense and back and forth from jump ball to final buzzer and saw multiple lead changes in the 4th quarter.
Dezmariah Soto Dezmariah Soto 5'3" | CG Faith Christian | 2024 State FL made a runner to give Colonial a 40-39 lead with 33 seconds to go but it was 2021 Samaya Carroll who was the player of the game scoring 4 of her 9 points in the last 20 seconds of the game to lead Ribault to victory.
Colonial played well and was once again led by a young core group of players. 2024 Carmen Richardson finished with 11 points while 2023 Sofia Barriero dropped 7.
BEST TEAM
Miami Country Day got off to a slow start this season with a 2-3 record. After several key transfers choosing to go elsewhere, the teams young core group of players that have previously been in role player positions are starting to gel and consistently contribute to fill in around George Washington signee Andrea Daley Andrea Daley 6'0" | SF Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL . MCDS went 3-0 in the event, defeating Colonial 53-48, West Orange 60-32, and Dr. Phillips 51-38.
The West Orange game was the most impressive as the Warriors came in 9-4 and playing basketball and solid wins over Dr. Phillips and Master’s Academy but Miami Country dominated the game right from the jump ball jumping out to a 22-7 after the 1st quarter and a 58-21 lead after 3 before calling the dogs off in the 4th quarter.
2024 Kayla Nelms Kayla Nelms 6'1" | PF Miami Country Day | 2024 State FL is emerging as one of the state’s top players a she finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the Colonial win while2023 Kristina Godfrey Kristina Godfrey 5'7" | PG Miami Country Day | 2023 State FL had 12 points and 6 assist and 2021 Andrea Daley Andrea Daley 6'0" | SF Miami Country Day | 2021 State FL had a double-double dropping 12 points along with 10 rebounds.
OTHER UNDEFEATED
In addition to Miami Country Day, Nease, Windermere Prep and Palm Bay all went 3-0. The Palm Bay vs Wekiva game was also a barn burner with Palm Bay defeating Wekiva 70-66. Both teams have a number of prospects that will continue playing collegiately and both teams have a chance make deep runs in Lakeland in pursuit of a FHSAA State Championship. The game was back and fort throughout with Palm Bay jumping out to an early lead but Wekiva going on a run to close the 1st quarter to tie the game at 18. The game remained close at half with Wekiva leading 36-35, as well as after 3 where Palm Bay led 54-51. Palm Bay tried to pull away building up a lead as big as 9 points in the 4th but Wekiva made a run of their own to cut the lead to 3. In the end, Palm Bay’s star Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL had two 3-pointers in the 2nd half and went ½ from the free throw line down the stretch to bring Palm Bays’ lead to 70-66 and take home the win.
Wekiva Freshman Jada Eads was the player of the game finishing with 33 points (including 21 at the half). It was an impressive performance for the 2024 prospect as Palm Bay changed their defenses multiple times to try and slow her down and could not contain her.
Palm Bay was led by Georgia State signee Mikyla Tolivert Mikyla Tolivert 5'7" | CG Palm Bay | 2021 State FL who finished with 26 points while 2023 Alonya Walden was active on both ends of the floor and finished with 13 points while fellow Sophomore Emma Risch Emma Risch 6'2" | PG Palm Bay | 2023 State #23 Nation FL scored 16 in the win.