Dillard boys’ basketball team rallies past North Miami in regional quarterfinal
Ivan Reynolds and Jalen Haynes combined for 17 fourth-quarter points as Dillard rallied to defeat North Miami 77-72 in a Class 6A regional quarterfinal on Thursday at Dillard High.
The Panthers (21-7) advance to a regional semifinal against the Martin County on Tuesday.
North Miami (15-7) ended its season losing five of six games. Dillard on the other hand, has won six games in a row against Miami-Dade opponents in playoff games dating back to 2016.
Dillard trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter.
A 10-0 Panthers’ run in the fourth quarter was powered by a pair of monster dunks by Reynolds and Hayes.
Chandler Mack added and Darryl Burrows Jr. added 13 points each for the Panthers.
Vee’Lesk Avin led the Pioneers with 19 points, and Carlos Hart had 18 points.
Too many missed shots in the paint and turnovers allowed North Miami to lead throughout the first half and go into the half leading 35-28.
Dillard stayed within striking distance of the lead by converting 8-of-10 free-throw attempts in the second quarter.
▪ Northeast 77, American Heritage 38: Northeast looked every bit the No. 1 seed in its Region 4-5A regional quarterfinal matchup against visiting No. 8 American Heritage.
The Hurricanes’ superior talent and depth helped Northeast turn a competitive first quarter into runaway victory that sends them to the regional semifinal against archrival Pines Charter on Feb. 25.
Wesley Cadet was the early catalyst, scoring 10 first-quarter points and finishing with 13 points, but it was 6-9 freshman Ryan Bewley (16 points) who started the decisive run with a layup that beat the first-quarter buzzer after a steal at the three-point line.
That defensive play sparked Northeast to 45-22 halftime lead and from that point on the only question remaining was the margin of victory. Northeast coach Gerald Gillion said the Hurricanes’ reliance on their defense left no room for a possible letdown.
“We just always focus on getting stops on the defensive end,” Gillion said. ”From Sunday to today our whole effort has been on defense. When you are playing defense one through 12, its hard to have a letdown. Eventually things get rolling off our defense.”
American Heritage, coached by former NBA player Raja Bell, hung tough early but ultimately had no answer for the Hurricane’s superior talent and depth. The biggest bright spot for the Patriots was Jackson Arnberg, who poured in a team-high 17 points.
Northeast’s victory sets up a fourth and final meeting in a compelling season series against Pines Charter. Northeast beat Pines Charter 89-81 in the second game of the season, lost 85-78 in the BCAA Big 8 Championship game but bounced back to beat the Jaguars 65-63 in the district championship game. The Hurricanes have won nine of their past 10 games.
“If we do play Pines Charter, we will be prepared,” Gillion said. ”Whomever we play, whether its Pines Charter or Miami Northwestern, we treat it like our next championship game. This would be great for the city. Two of the best teams going at it. “
—Fabian Lyon
BASEBALL
▪ Miami Springs 3, Reagan 1: Y. Diaz 3-3, 2R, 2B, 3B; J. Ricardo 2-3, RBI; R. Banks 2-3. WP: Brandon Villabrille 5IP, 2H, 4Ks; SV: J. Torres 3Ks.
▪ Doctors Charter 6, Ransom Everglades 2
SOFTBALL
▪ Palmetto 15, St. Brendan 1: Samantha Suarez 2-3, HR, 3B, 3R, RBI. Katie Burge 2-3, 3R, 4 RBI. Olivia Rapp 2-3, R, RBI. WP: Melody Vizcaino (1-0) .
▪ Marathon 18, Ransom Everglades 3
GIRLS’ TENNIS
▪ Doral d. Ransom Everglades 7-0.
▪ Plantation American Heritage d. Delray American Heritage 7-0: Natalie Block, Katelyn Gramanzini, Emilpy Stouch, Grace Odom-Montbrun ande Livia Kaufman all won in singles. Block/Gramanzina and Stouch/Odom-Montbrun won in doubles.
BOYS’ TENNIS
▪ Doral d. Ransom Everglades 4-1
▪ Delray American Heritage d. Plantation American Heritage 5-2: Alex Marzban won in singles for Plantation, Luca Benaibbouche/Daniel Naylor won in doubles for Plantation.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
▪ Miami High 10, Hialeah Gardens 7: MHS – Ashley Ampie-Salgado 8 goals, Juliana Jaramillo 2 goals. HG – Mariana Zapata 3 goals.
▪ Miami High 10, Palmetto 6: MHS – Juliana Jaramillo 6 goals, Ashley Ampie-Salgado 3 goals. PAL – Isabella Falcon 3 goals.
BOYS’ WATER POLO
▪ Miami High 10, Palmetto 7: MHS – Martin Stern 4 goals, Eddie Villatoro 3 goals.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
▪ Ransom Everglades 17, Gulliver Prep 3
BOYS’ LACROSSE
▪ Gulliver Prep. 16, Ransom Everglades 3: Tanner Jenkins 4 goals, 1 assist. Diego Rodriguez 12/12 faceoff wins, Rafi Reyes 10 saves, Lucas Zayden 1 takeaway, 3 ground balls.
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
▪ Preseason —Belen d. Ransom 2-0: Cody Aguirre with 7 kills; Herman Suarez 19 assists, 5 digs; Johnathan Cosio 9 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces.
▪ Preseason — Belen Palmetto 2-0: Cody Aguirre 5 kills; Herman Suarez 13 assists, 6 digs.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ SOCCER (State Semifinals)
7A – Vero Beach at Cypress Bay, 7 p.m.
6A – Viera vs. Lourdes at Belen Jesuit, 4 p.m.
5A – Estero at Archbishop McCarthy, 7 p.m.
4A – Merritt Island at Cardinal Gibbons, 7 p.m.
3A – Orlando Lake Highland Prep. at Carrollton School, 3 p.m.
2A – Westminster Academy at St. Pete Shorecrest Prep. 7 p.m.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL (Regional Finals, all games 7 p.m.)
7A – Krop at Miami High
6A – Dillard at Blanche Ely
5A – Norland at Plantation American Heritage
4A – Cardinal Gibbons at Keys Gate Charter
3A – Westminster Academy at Miami Country Day
2A – Boca Raton Grandview Prep. at Miami Christian
