By Dave Brousseau
Staff Writer
COCONUT CREEK – Trying to defend the Thompson twins can be difficult when facing the Pine Crest boys’ basketball team,
That was the task at hand for North Broward Prep in the Gold Bracket Championship game of the Rock Holiday Classic on Saturday.
But with Ausar Thompson in foul trouble, his brother Amen took it upon himself to carry the Panthers to the title. His game-high 31 points was good enough for a 66-57 victory over the Eagles.
It was the 20th win for the Panthers over North Broward Prep (9-5) since the start of t2005 and are 8-1 since January 2014.
“He’s learning what he needs to do to win,” said Pine Crest coach Isaac Smith of Amen Thompson. “He used to just play basketball and it’s his attitude that he’s changing.
The Eagles got off to a strong start by attacking the rim resulting in a 9-2 edge at the line for an early lead.
Pine Crest settled down with defense tying the score at 35-35 by the half.
The second half was more the same for the Panthers (8-3) as they gained control with their defensive play.
“We prefer to play man-to-man, but our zone is something special right now,” said Smith. “We put the Thompson’s up top and that made a difference. We make the steal and that translate into a dunk.”
With the Eagles trailing late in the game, they needed to foul to earn possession of the ball. The Panthers wouldn’t faulter as they made seven of eight attempts from the line to hold on.
“Pine Crest got some easy points off turnovers and that always helps,” said North Broward coach Casey Wohlleb. “I thought they were composed at the end of the game. We just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch.”
Eros Capio added 13 points for Pine Crest.
North Broward was led by Dominick Denny with 18 points, while Mikael added 14 points.
Riverdale (NY) defeated Madison Southern (Ky.) 67-65 in overtime to win the Silver Bracket championship.
GOLD BRACKET
Championship
PINE CREST 66, NORTH BROWARD PREP 57
PC (8-3): Au. Thompson 3-1-7, Am. Thompson 11-7-31, Brodsky 1-2-5, Marzouca 1-5-8, Carpio 5-2-13, Platner 1-0-2.
NBP (9-5): Schleifer 1-1-3, Denny 7-2-19, Field 1-1-3, Ashmore 4-4-14, Abson 5-1-11, Fuentes 0-6-6.
3-pointers: Am. Thompson 2, Brodsky, Marzouca, Carpio, Denny 3, Ashmore. Half: Tied 35-35.
Third Place
FIRST ACADEMY 64, GRANDVIEW PREP 56
FC (5-7): Johnson 4-3-11, Summers 9-2-23, McRae 2-0-4, Shields 0-7-7, Battle 9-1-19.
GVP (10-3): Octave 6-4-17, Bolles 7-2-17, Thomason 1-0-2, Brown 4-0-8, Giles 1-0-3, Smith 2-1-5, Yudien 2-0-4,
3-pointers: Summers 3, Octave, Bolles, Giles. Half: GVP 30-27.
Fifth Place
SAGEMONT 49, AMERICAN 26
A (5-5): Wade 4-3-13, Figueroa 1-0-3, Corredera 0-4-4, Moratrinos 3-0-6.
S (12-4): Arca 2-0-4, Castre 1-0-2, Ballard 4-0-9, Bensky 2-0-5, Houssou 4-1-10, Grishaev 1-0-2, Mangurov 3-0-8, Molinor 4-1-9.
3-pointers: Ballard, Bensky, Houssou, Mangurov 2, Wade 2, Figueroa. Half: S 30-14.
Seventh Place
WELLINGTON 75, OLYMPIC HEIGHTS 41
OH (2-8): Steig 5-1-14, Mackrey 1-2-5, Baquerizo 2-2-7, Sineway 1-1-4, Cohen 1-2-5, Dzarnowski 2-0-4, Wady1-0-2
W (10-4): Perez 6-0-15, Frazier 5-2-12, Ruiz 2-0-4, Gedeon 1-0-2, Allen 7-0-17, Kindred 2-1-5, Andrews 0-7-7, Green 4-5-13.
3-pointers, Perez 3, Allen 3, Steig 3, Mackrey, Baquerizo, Sineway, Cohen. Half: W 52-25.
SILVER BRACKET
Championship
RIVERDALE 67. MADISON SOUTHERN 65 (OT)
MS (6-4): Robinson 1-0-2, Sebastian 1-0-2, Fugate 2-3-9, Buchanan 1-0-3, Lee 6-2-17, Turner 8-2-20, Wooten 3-5-12.
R (9-5): L. Klores 6-0-16, N. Seeherman 2-3-7, S. Klores 6-5-20, O’Toole 1-1-3, Khalid 3-0-7, Slott 5-0-14
3-pointers: L. Klores 4, Slott 4, S. Klores 3, Khalid, Lee 3, Fugate 2, Turner 2, Buchanan, Wooten. Half: R 35-32.
Third Place
LAKE MARY PREP 68, ST. JOHN PAUL II 64
SJP (7-4): Ansah 3-0-7, Hayslett 5-0-10, Louis 11-11-33, Hoffman 1-2-4, Alcantara 1-0-2, Sheridan 2-0-4, Whitaker 2-0-4.
LMP (6-4): Grady 4-5-15, Esters 2-2-6, Reardon 5-2-13, McClure 1-1-4, Williams 9-3-23, Laureano 3-0-7.
3-pointers: Grady 2, Williams 2, Reardon, McClure, Laureano, Ansah. Half: LMP 44-27.
Fifth Place
ORANGEWOOD CHRISTIAN 74, MIAMI COUNTRY DAY 68
MCD (6-4): Richardson 4-6-15, Mendelson 1-0-3, Cooke 7-2-20, Miles 8-2-19, Kohen 1-0-2, Wendrow 3-2-9.
OC (8-3): Cooper 9-5-23, Roberts 1-0-2, Negron 5-3-17, Morgan 3-0-7, St. Germain 7-3-18, Cintron 3-0-6.
3-pointers: Negron 4, Morgan, St. Germain, Cooke 4, Richardson, Mendelson, Miles, Wendrow. Half: OC 40-28.
Seventh Place
LEMAN MANHATTAN 88, LOYOLA 68
LM (3-5): Hopkins 7-0-19, Laffitte 7-2-19, Owusu 2-0-5, McHayle 4-1-12, Emile 3-0-8, Puseya 2-0-4, Alsbergs 5-0-12, Talton 2-0-4, Forde 2-0-4.
L: An. Naber 6-1-13, Tubridy 3-0-7, Van 1-0-2, Burich 7-1-21, Al. Naber 3-0-6, Martin 1-0-2, White 7-1-15.
3-pointers; Hopkins 5, Laffitte 3, McHayle 3, , Emile 2, Alsberg 2, Owusu, Burich 6, Tubridy. Half: LM 52-29.
