January 18
Third Annual Florida Prospects' Martin Luther King Dream Challenge

Here is Jim Clark's look at last weekend's games.....

DAY ONE

Evans (Orlando) 62 vs. The Rock School 41

Both teams fought hard with a slight edge going to Evans. The Rock had no answer for senior guard Kedric Taylor. As the leader he did a good job involving his team mates. Although Evans guard play (good defense and a little quicker) frustrated The Rock, this team never gave up or stopped playing hard. Patrick Konan, sophomore guard for The Rock, is very good. He’s athletic, handles the ball well and is pretty quick too. He’s on the list for players to watch.

Jones (Orlando) 66 vs. Tavares 31

These two teams match up very well, in size only! Jones High is a very high energy team. Although a little undersized, this team can go! Tavares seemed a little intimidated by their surroundings.

Jones quickly jumped out to a 14 point lead. The score was 23 to 6 Jones at the end of the first quarter. Jones kept the pressure on to start the second quarter. Tavares fought hard and started to put some things together. Jones was leading by 32 points at halftime! Senior guard Quentin Bradford and senior center Joseph Anthony played well when they where on the floor.

Tavares played hard in the second half. But, they where just too deep in the hole. Steals, rebounding, and forced turnovers would seal Tavares’ fate. Senior guard Demario Fountian for Jones High had a lot to do with that! Both teams have a lot of talent.

DAY TWO

Pendleton School (IMG Academy) 54 vs. Lyman 50

On the second day of this great event, we start out with two teams that are ready to play. From the start of this game it appears that Lyman High school is more talented and deeper! Before the end of the first quarter Lyman had benched their starters. At the end of the first Quarter Lyman was ahead 16 to 9.

In the second quarter IMG fought back, closing the gap to within one point. Execution, setting up in the half court and defense is what worked for them. Lyman calls a time out at 5:12. Lyman is only ahead by one point. Junior forward Daniel Feliciano of Lyman has yet to make an impact in this game so far. At 1:00 left in the half senior forward Chris Watson is benched with three fouls. The half time score IMG 22, Lyman 21.

Daniel Feliciano is ready to go in the second half! He’s starts to knock down long range jumpers and rebound. He also passes well. The game is tight through the third quarter, still within one point.

At 7:32 in the forth quarter the game is tied up at 35. Late into the fourth quarter with both teams playing hard, and a couple of free throws from Feliciano keeps Lyman in the game. With 0:45 seconds to go in the fourth IMG sealed Lyman’s fate with fastbreaks and a turnover in transition. FINAL…..IMG….54….LYMAN…50

Spruce Creek 51 vs West Orange 62

Spruce Creek is a small team that can run. They play zone defense well. The West Orange team can also ‘lock’ you down! Both teams are playing well in the first quarter and keeping it close. The score is 14 to 16 at the end of the first, West Orange by 2.

In the second quarter it is defense that is keeping this game close. Both teams are working hard and earning every basket. Late into the third quarter, it’s West Orange leading Spruce Creek by only one point.

In the forth quarter West Orange’s zone defense is taking it’s toll on Spruce Creek. These two to teams match up very well. It was guard play and defense that allowed West Orange to go on a run to win by 11 points

Mainland (Daytona Beach) 60 vs. Apopka 51

Another good match up. Mainland is featuring it’s only freshman on an all junior and senior squad, Cortez Davis. Both teams played well thru the first quarter, working hard and moving the ball. Apopka leads after the first quarter by 5 points.

Senior forward Morgan Salley and Senior guard Kasey Richardson are playing well. By halftime the game is tied at 24 points.

Freshman Cortez Davis for Mainland has shown why he is so special. He can score from anywhere on the court with little effort.

Mainland does everything well at both ends of the court. They got stops when they needed and knocked down their own shots. Apopka played tough but Mainland pushes pass them for the win.

Atlantic (Port Orange) 57 vs. Evans (Orlando) 74

Evans has really came to play tonight! Evans quickly jumped to a 13 point lead playing defense, knocking down shots, getting back quickly in transition and stopping Port Orange! At the end of the first quarter Evans lead by 14 points.

Evans just went flat in the second quarter. The fire they started the game with cooled! Port Orange kept playing and trying to put things together to make a run. The half ended with Evans leading by just 9 points.

The fire had returned for Kedric Taylor and his Evans teammates to the start the second half. Evans held off Port Orange with tight defense and “back on your heels” offense while keeping the pressure on and never looked back. Evans finally wore Port Orange down for a 17 point victory.

Norland (Miami) 39 vs. Olympia (Orlando) 42

This is a grudge match between two of the top teams in the state of Florida! Having played just two weeks ago Olympia pulled that game out by one point. So here we go again….

Norland scores quickly and goes on a nine point run. Olympia starts the game flat. Norland is playing loose and looking good. Nothing is falling for Olympia; missed layups, not finishing in the paint and missing free throws. Dexter Fields of Olympia High scores in the paint with 0:45 seconds left in the first quarter. Norland is ahead by 10 points at the end of the first quarter.

Early into the second quarter Olympia is looking better as Jamel Marshall scores in the paint. Olympia is getting tough on defense. William Green stepped up and shut down the paint. Norland is working hard to maintain a ten point lead. Dexter Fields gets a steal to start closing the gap late into the second quarter. Dexter is starting to knock down shots and scoring from all angles. Jamel is pulling down rebounds and Martell Buie of Olympia all help push pass Norland by two points at the end of the half.

Olympia sets the tone in the second half by getting a steal and a fastbreak to score. Norland draws a foul, missing both shots at the line. Now down by two, Norland is playing tough defense. William Green of Olympia cuts to the basket for a’monster’ jam. Norland responds in transiton and drains a long three pointer. Good quarter for both teams. At the end of the third quarter Norland is ahead by one point.

In the last quarter, defense is the name of the game. Neither team can buy a basket at this stage of the game. Both teams are playing excellent defense! Not until 3:58 into the quarter did Olympia score when William Green hits a jumper. Both teams are playing tough to win this game. William Green of Olympia throws down another nice jam with just over two minutes left in the game! Time out is called with 1:20 left. Olympia is ahead by one point. Martell Buie is fouled with 0:26 seconds left in the game. He sinks both free throws to go up by three points. Hats off to a very good Norland team in a loss to a very good Olympia team.

South Dade 53 vs. Jones (Orlando) 57

It’s fitting that Orlando Jones High School, our host, caps off this event. South Dade, like Jones, is a high energy team from South Florida where there is so much talent. In the first half their talent was obvious, keeping it close and slighty ahead. South Dade’s Rashad Dantzler, Ed Stinson, and Mike Brits are all very good players.

South Dade at 5:18 is leading a very good Jones team by 6 points in the second half. These teams are playing well at both ends. Jones leaps ahead of South Dade by three points with excellent guard play. As a matter fact, South Dade is trying to slow the game down late in the third quarter as Jones guards just might be a little too quick off the ball for South Dade!

It’s all tied at 51 pts at 1:32 into the forth quarter. Both teams are really working hard to get what ever the other will give, which is not very much. With just 0:35 seconds to go in the game Jones scored to lead by four points and again with 0:18 seconds in the game. Time is called with 0:05 seconds with Jones up by four points. A foul is called on South Dade. Jones misses at the line but takes the win! What a way to end the night and a GREAT event!

All of the teams played well. They put on a great display of talent and skill. Basketball is alive and well in the state of Florida! The rest of the country will stand and take notice.