Florida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7
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Florida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7 By Michael Wholey 2/4/21 1:00 PM EST The 2020-21 high school basketball season is winding down as we enter district and regional tournaments. It has been a crazy season that is coming to…
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Continue ReadingFlorida Roundup: News Around Florida Volume 7
By Michael Wholey 2/4/21 1:00 PM EST
The 2020-21 high school basketball season is winding down as we enter district and regional tournaments. It has been a crazy season that is coming to a close. We continue to take a look around the state at player and team performances, accolades, statistical milestones and awards and nominations for the talented players and teams in Florida.
Wallhoff breaks National Record for Career Made 3-Pointers
Senior Guard Emma Wallhoff Emma Wallhoff 5'10" | CG Westminster | 2021 State FL (Westminster Academy) knocked down 7 3-pointers in a game this week, giving her 561 made 3-pointers for her high school career. The 561 total made 3s makes Wallhoff the new record holder for made 3-pointers in a career nationally surpassing the previous record of 560.
Verbal Commitments / Signings
The late signing period started this week and several Seniors made decision to commit or sign to play collegiate basketball next season:
Brianna McClinton (Brooks DeBartolo) – University of Charleston West Virginia
Jayla Woods Jayla Woods 5'8" | CG Lake Mary | 2021 State FL (Lake Mary HS) – Covenant
Mya Lamar Mya Lamar 6'2" | C Tampa Bay Tech | 2021 State FL (Tampa Bay Tech / Tampa Thunder) 6’2 Center – SMU
Kennedy Horton (Terry Parker HS / Lady Nightmares) – Albany State
Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL Joins 2K Club
Senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL (Braden River) recently joined the exclusive club surpassing 2,000 career points. With most high school players playing around 100 career games, the impressive feat means Stubbs averaged close to 20 points per game over her 4 year career at Braden River and Sarasota HS.
New Member of the 1K Club
Congrats to the newest members of the 1,000 point club:
Vanessa Diaz Vanessa Diaz 5'5" | PG Gateway | 2023 State FL (Gateway)
Emani Burks Emani Burks 6'2" | PF Palm Bay | 2021 State FL (Palm Bay)
Ary Dizon Ary Dizon 6'2" | PF Carrollwood Day | 2021 State FL (Carrollwood Day)
40+ Point Club
This week class of 2023 guard Madi Aguilera (Gulliver Prep) had a career game in a district tournament loss to Keys Gate. With her team shorthanded, the 5’4 guard went off for 41 points, doing everything she could to keep Gulliver season alive and move onto the district championship but unfortunately it was not enough as Keys Gate came away with the win vs the shorthanded Gulliver Prep squad due to COVID.
30+ Point Club
Aly Avrach Aly Avrach 5'8" | CG Spanish River | 2022 State FL dropped 34 points in Spanish River district semi-final win over John I Leonard in the district semi-final matchup.
Lindsay Weingard and Lauryn Hornstein Lauryn Hornstein 5'6" | CG Dr Krop | 2021 State FL went for a combined 62 points, with each scoring an impressive 31 points in Krop’s win over Hialeah Gardens. The duo has been scorching the nets all season and one of the state’s most deadly offensive backcourts!
2022 Sydney Shaw Sydney Shaw 5'9" | SG DME Academy | 2022 State FL (American Heritage Plantation) has been playing some of her best basketball as of late. She had an impressive state line this week in American Heritage district semi-final win going for 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals leading American Heritage to victory.
Player Performances
With the game tied at 57-57, Oakleaf guard Fantasia James Fantasia James 5'10" | SF Oakleaf | 2023 State FL knocked down the game winner over several defenders in traffic to give Oakleaf the 59-57 win!
Whitney Rush Whitney Rush 5'7" | CG East Lake | 2021 State FL has been one of the state’s most prolific scorers all season for East Lake High School averaging 25+ points per game. She recently had her first career triple double (15 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds) this past week!
Games
Clearwater 62 – Lakewood 48
In the highly anticipated PCAC Championship game, Clearwater defeated Lakewood 62-48 to take home the championship. The teams had previously met twice, each winning 1 game a piece (Lakewood won 55-41 December 11 while Clearwater won 57-45 December 29). Clearwater controlled the game pretty much from the start. 2023 Liv Fuller Liv Fuller 5'10" | SF Clearwater | 2023 State FL paced the Tornadoes early scoring 13 points in the first half while Ace Sturdivant Ace Sturdivant 5'10" | CG Clearwater | 2023 State FL picked up the slack in the second half dropping 13 in the 3rd and 4th quarters ultimately ending up as the games leading scorer with 22 points while Fuller finished with 18 and Freshman Beckham Hockley Beckham Hockley 5'7" | PG Sickles | 2024 State FL had 14 points. In the loss, 5’9 Senior guard Ta’Nauviyon Williams led Lakewood with 16 points. Check out some of the games’s highlights from darookiemedia:
Montverde Academy 76 – Winter Haven 66
Montverde continues their winning ways defeating Winter Haven HS 76-66. Montverde Academy jumped out to a 13-point lead in the first half. Winter Haven did everything they could to close the game, decreasing Montverde lead to 6 at one point in the 4th quarter but could not get it any closer than that. Montverde continued their balanced scoring attack to keep their impressive winning season rolling along with five players reaching double figures. Furman signee Niveya Henley Niveya Henley 6'0" | SF Montverde Academy | 2021 State FL led all scorers with 17 points, while Mjracle Sheppard Mjracle Sheppard 5'8" | CG Montverde Academy | 2023 State FL had 16, Mariana Valenzuela Mariana Valenzuela 6'2" | PF Montverde Academy | 2021 State FL 14, Maria Morris Maria Morris 6'1" | PF Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL 12, and Fernanda Ovalle Fernanda Ovalle 5'11" | SF Montverde Academy | 2022 State FL 10. Henley’s offensive floor game was impressive shooting 63% from field and a perfect 6/6 from the free throw line. Valenzuela (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Sheppard (16 points and 10 rebounds) both finished with double doubles while Henley just missed by 1 rebound finishing with 9 rebounds. Army signee Trinity Hardy Trinity Hardy 5'10" | SF Winter Haven | 2021 State FL did everything she could to keep Winter Haven in the game, attacking the basketball aggressively and fearlessly, shooting 20 free throw attempts in the game.
Charlotte 51 – Fort Myers 44
In a 6A District semi-final, two of the states’ top team got matched up pairing Charlotte (17-2) against Fort Myers (21-5). Typically, matchups like this are reserved for regional semi-finals and finals but with both having great seasons, this matchup meant only one of these talented teams could advance their season. The game was incredibly closet throughout the first 3 quarters. It was tied 16-16 after the 1st quarter and Charlotte led 27-25 at halftime. 2023 D’Yanis Jimenez D’Yanis Jimenez 5'9" | PG Charlotte | 2023 State FL paced Charlotte dropping 10 points in the first half. Slowly Charlotte pulled away as Fort Myers was not able to stop the scoring tandem of Jimenez (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Junior 5’4 Point Guard Aryana Hicks Aryana Hicks 5'4" | PG Charlotte | 2022 State FL who led all scorers and finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds.