Pembroke Pines Charter blows out Stranahan in BCAA Big 8 boys’ basketball final
No one sent the message to the Stranahan boys’ basketball team that if it fell behind early against high-scoring Pembroke Pines Charter, the odds aren’t good at winning.
Pembroke Pines Charter (21-1) proved that the numbers don’t lie as it rolled behind the 31 points from senior guard and tourney MVP Dallas Graziani for a 76-57 victory in the BCAA Big 8 championship game on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale High.
It was the Jaguars’ first title at the 23rd annual tournament. Stranahan (19-8) has lost the championship in two of the past three years.
“We have a lot of talent on this team, and everyone can score,” Graziani said. “For me, I shoot with a lot of confidence. It’s a great feeling to win this tournament and bring one back to the school.”
Graziani had made 25 consecutive free throws in the tourney before finally missing one late in the fourth quarter. He finished the tournament averaging 25.7 points in three games.
Saturday’s 19-point margin of victory in the championship game was the second largest since Deerfield Beach beat Hallandale by 37 points in the inaugural Big 8 final in 1998.
“I feel it’s the pace and the space,” Pines Charter coach Dave Roca said about his team’s offense. “We figure if we space out the floor, we can take the ball to the hoop with ease.”
Osei Price added 19 points for the Jaguars
Pines Charter widened its lead to open the second half with a 8-2 run following a one-handed dunk by Price for a 47-31 lead with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter.
“They couldn’t miss a shot,” Stranahan coach Terrence Williams said. “There was nothing we could do to prevent them from making shots.”
After slow start, Pines Charter went on a 13-0 run, keyed by four 3-pointers that helped build an 18-9 lead after one quarter.
Graziani went off from the free throw-line in the second quarter by converting all eight attempts that was key to the Jaguars building a 39-27 lead at the half.
Williams indicated a key to Stranahan’s success against Pines Charter would be defending the perimeter. Pines Charter didn’t get that message as it made six from long distance through two quarters.
Stranahan struggled converting numerous drives to the rim in the opening half that likely would have kept the deficit to singles digits.
The Dragons were led by Savier McCall with 13 points. Inady Legiste added 10 points.
