Florida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7

Florida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7 By Michael Wholey 2/5/21 9:00 AM EST As we near the end of high school basketball, we will continue to update you of all that is going on in Florida. Here is the Florida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7.   Lake Highland Prep, Montverde Academy, and Central Pointe Academy have established themselves as three of the top teams in the state and have scheduled a number of challenging opponents throughout the season.   Lake Highland Prep <img class=" wp-image-251969 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8736-272x300.jpeg" alt="" width="181" height="199" />Lake Highland Prep claimed the number one spot in the state by defeating Montverde Academy 57-467 on January 6. Since then they have only played one game defeating Colonial High School 59-36. Up next for the Highlanders is the district tourney and the FHSAA 4A State Tournament where they will be the favorite to take him the championship. I don't foresee a team that could take down the impressive core of [player_tooltip player_id="91555" first="Nyla" last="Harris"], [player_tooltip player_id="91496" first="Kayla" last="Blackshear"], [player_tooltip player_id="91585" first="Stefanie" last="Ingram"], Bri Rivera, [player_tooltip player_id="217664" first="Lexi" last="Blue"], and [player_tooltip player_id="91649" first="Eleecia" last="Carter"]. Also wishing Junior Guard [player_tooltip player_id="91596" first="Sierra" last="Godbolt"] a quick and speedy recovery as she recently tore her ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.   Montverde Academy <img class=" wp-image-249695 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/IMG_7900-e1611594548694-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="137" height="183" />Since being defeated by Lake Highland Prep on January 6, Montverde Academy has strung off several victories against a couple of Florida's top teams defeating Palm Bay 59-50, HB Plant 59-49, Central Pointe Academy 52-42, and Winter Haven 76-66. With just one loss on the season, they have a 19-1 record and the state's number two teams. The Eagles continue to rely on a balanced attack from Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="145091" first="Mariana" last="Valenzuela"] and [player_tooltip player_id="145093" first="Niveya" last="Henley"], Junior [player_tooltip player_id="219953" first="Fernanda" last="Ovalle"], and Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="219933" first="Mjracle" last="Sheppard"] and [player_tooltip player_id="219934" first="Rusne" last="Augustinaite"].   Central Pointe Christian Academy <img class="wp-image-219885 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/11/Naylee-Cortes-Central-Pointe-e1612275420526-300x292.jpg" alt="" width="209" height="203" />Christian Pointe is 20-2 on the season with losses to AZ Compass Prep and a recent loss to Montverde Academy. They have quickly established themselves as one of the top teams in the state as well as nationally with solid wins vs Miami Senior HS, Seffner Christian, Fort Myers, Braden River, and Palm Bay. The Junior trio of [player_tooltip player_id="219994" first="Naylee" last="Cortes"], [player_tooltip player_id="219996" first="Daniela" last="Gonzalez"], and [player_tooltip player_id="219993" first="Silkiari" last="Vazquez"] continue to set the tone for CPCA and will be exciting to watch for the next two years along with [player_tooltip player_id="248447" first="Sofia" last="Munoz"], [player_tooltip player_id="219998" first="Damaris" last="Alarcon"], [player_tooltip player_id="91576" first="Aylanies" last="Crespo"], [player_tooltip player_id="247485" first="Betzalys" last="Delgado"] and [player_tooltip player_id="219999" first="Jayshlynn" last="Vega"]. In addition to Central Pointe Christian Academy having a national team, they have also formed a second team referred to as Central Pointe Christian Academy (Regional). They recently took home the 2021 Space Coast Invitational Championship defeating City of Life Christian Academy 58-47. The game was a up tempo, intense battle that featured 54 combined free throws with CPCA going 19/22 from the line! 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="248447" first="Sofia" last="Munoz"] was named the Tournament MVP, impressive for an 8th grader scoring 20 points while 2023 Marypaz Martinez and 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91576" first="Aylanies" last="Crespo"] had 12 points each. City of Life was led by and 2021 Josie De Pool-Maisonet with 13 points and her sister 2024 Camila De Pool-Maisonet finishing with 10 points.   St. Joseph's Academy (St. Augustine) Finishes Regular Season Undefeated St. Joseph's Academy (St. Augustine) Girls Basketball team finished the regular season 18-0! The Flashes are averaging 58 points per game while holding their opponents to just 30 points. <img class=" wp-image-232843 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/126812556_10223087894604033_5456860612400416788_o.jpg" alt="" width="268" height="200" />The offense is led by Senior 5'4 guard [player_tooltip player_id="91540" first="Jessamy" last="Gaetanos"] who is averaging 16 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Gaetanos recently had her best performance of the season against Jacksonville Bishop Snyder. She scored 29 points on 10/13 shooting with 6 assists and 6 steals as the Flashes won 68-44.     In addition to Gaetanos, St. Joseph's Academy has 5'10 Senior Forward Gabby Williams who is averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds per game and is getting major contributions from a 5'9 Freshman Forward Kelly Cramer. Cramer is averaging 13.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. St. Joseph Academy Head Coach Sherri Nowatzki had this to say "Jessamy and Gabby, since their freshman year have been thrust into major playing roles and leadership positions. The nice part about this year is, they don't have to just do it alone. For so many years, it was just Jess and Gabby, as far as the main burden of scoring." She continued on to say "Kelly Cramer, is by far one of the best players in the area. And she's on pace to be one of the best ever. She can play everywhere from 1-2-3-4, because of her ball handling skills. As a freshman, which is the most amazing, she's my best defender on the floor. So, we kind of just let her loose and let her go play basketball."   Other Games Fort Myers 77 - Seffner Christian 53 <img class=" wp-image-91620 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2019/09/Chaniya-Clark-300x269.jpg" alt="" width="146" height="131" />The game was very close in the first half with Fort Myers leading by 5 points. North Carolina A&T signee [player_tooltip player_id="91481" first="Chaniya" last="Clark"] got it going in the second half dropping 17 points in the second half as Fort Myers used its speed and athleticism to speed the game up and outscore Seffner Christian 40-21 to finish the game!     Brooks Debartolo 57 - Gulf Coast 48 <img class="wp-image-204271 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/26-Amarie-Godwin-2-e1612274782560-266x300.jpg" alt="" width="147" height="166" />BDCA Senior [player_tooltip player_id="145103" first="Amarie" last="Godwin"] led all scorers with 22 points including an extremely impressive 15 point 2nd quarter while Gulf Coast was led by 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91599" first="Reese" last="Tremitiere"] who finished with 15 points. Brooks DeBartolo led by two at halftime and the game was close heading into the 4th quarter but Brooks dominated the final quarter 21-10 to seal the win.   American Heritage (Plantation) 42 – HB Plant 32 <img class="wp-image-249971 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/joey-delancy-crop-960x631-1611676638-e1612274843886-219x300.jpg" alt="" width="135" height="185" /> American Heritage dominated the game early holding a 22-4 in the second quarter. But HB Plant used a zone defense to slow down American Heritage holding them to 6 points over 12 minutes and cutting the lead to 28-23 with 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="166173" first="Tanner" last="Strickland"] and 2021 Kendal Chessman leading the way for the Panthers! American Heritage's Junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id="91557" first="Sydney" last="Shaw"] and [player_tooltip player_id="91566" first="Joey" last="Delancy"] were solid from the free throw line late, sealing the victory 42-32.   Miami Country Day 77 – Tampa Bay Tech 38 <img class=" wp-image-247575 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Kayla-Nelms-2019-MD-scaled-e1609786138745-crop-928x610-1611080203-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="142" height="93" /> The goal is to play your best basketball at the end of the season and the Lady Spartans have rolled off 13 wins after starting the season 3-3. The front court duo of 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91494" first="Andrea" last="Daley"] and 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="217667" first="Kayla" last="Nelms"] has been impressive as of late with both averaging double doubles. Miami Country Day finished with 4 players in double figures.   Montverde Academy 56 – Jones High School 48 Montverde dominated the first three quarters leading 37-14 at half time and 47-29 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Jones attempted a come back but it was too little, too late and Montverde ultimately came away with the win 56-48. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91560" first="Paris" last="Gaines"] was the game's leading scorer finishing with 22 points showing why she is one of the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/florida/rankings/2022-rankings/">class of 2022s top ranked players</a>. Montverde Academy continued with their key to success, with a balanced scoring attack from their starting five (10, 9, 8, 8, and 8).   Eustis 59 - Santa Fe Catholic 57 <img class=" wp-image-249973 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/cerina-rolle-crop-960x631-1611676723-e1612274971757-190x300.jpg" alt="" width="137" height="216" />The game was highly competitive and close throughout with Eustis pulling out the 2-point victory. The back-and-forth battle featured several lead changes. With 10 seconds to go and the game tied, Eustis Junior [player_tooltip player_id="151169" first="Cerina" last="Rolle"] drove through traffic and finished an off-balance lay-up to give Eustis the lead by 2, which ultimately proved to be the game winning shot! 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91512" first="Kassidy" last="Jones"] (Santa Fe Catholic) was the games high scorer finishing with 23 points while Rolle ended up with 19.   We will look to continue to cover news all across the state. Our audience supplies us with some of our best information. Keep us updated on Florida news be emailing me at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM'ing me through <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/WholeyPrepHoops">Twitter</a> or <a href="http://www.Instagram.com/WholeyPrepHoops">Instagram</a> <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/WholeyPrepHoops">@WholeyPrepHoops</a>.