Westwood Christian boys' basketball enjoys strong start

One year ago, the Westwood Christian's boys' basketball team was suffering through an agonizing season, finishing last in the 16-2A district. With no district wins during the 2006-07 season, the Warriors wanted to prove to themselves and their opponents that they are not the same team that struggled last season.

Westwood has jumped out to an impressive 10-0 record, undoubtedly the school's best start in history. With the Warriors now in contention for the district title, it is a most unexpected duo that is leading the way.

Freshmen John Pierre Jr. and Jose Carabano are the dominant players on the court. Point guard Carabano runs the offense, and Pierre Jr., a 6-6 forward, has been a commanding force on the boards.

''These kids are natural leaders,'' said Jose Amat, the Warriors coach and Westwood alumni. ``They are mature beyond their years. They have taken this program to a different level.''

Carabano is the team's leading scorer, averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds a game.

MIAMI PACE 72, GAINESVILLE 65

FORT MYERS -- Eleven games into the 2007-08 season and the Miami Pace boys basketball team is performing more like the unpredictable stock market than defending Class 4A state champions.

Until these Spartans acquire the same tough, defensive mindset that brought three state titles under Mark Lieberman, senior 6-5 swingman Ray Shipman will serve as the team's security blanket.

Shipman scored a team-high 20 points, highlighted by a one-handed dunk with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter to help the Spartans (9-2), ranked No. 1 in 4A, hold off Gainesville, 72-65, in a consolation quarterfinal at the City of Palms Basketball Classic at Bishop Verot High School on Thursday.

The victory sends Pace to the consolation semifinal today at 10:15 a.m. against Fort Myers Dunbar.

''This is a brand new team from last year,'' said Shipman, a Florida signee. ``We are still trying to find our identity.''

One of the new starters is Reggie Chambers, a senior point guard from New York who transferred from Utah over the summer.

Chambers finished with five points, four steals and two assists, with none bigger than the no-look lob he served up on Shipman's dunk. That play capped a 8-0 run for the Spartans and prompted the Hurricanes to call a timeout.

''I think I am fitting in well,'' said Chambers. ``Coach has put a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.''

The Hurricanes, ranked No. 2 in 5A, wasted a sensational shooting night from junior guard Greg Gantt, who finished with a game-high 32 points. Gantt went 12 of 15 from the field, including 8 of 9 from three-point range.

-- FABIAN LYON

MORE BOYS' BASKETBALL

• Miami Christian 81, Bay Point 67: Davin Casley led teh Victors with 26 points and five steals.

MC (8-2): Casley 26, Odio 10, Diaz 20, Martinez 8, Prince 4, Forte 3, Fernandez 4. BP: Ingraham 20, Clevil 16, Joiner 8, James 13, Mcleod 9, Johnson 2. Halftime: MC 43-41. Three-pointers: Kasley 5, Odio 2, Forte 1, Joiner 1, Mcloed 1. Rebounds: Diaz 8. Assists: Martinez 5. Steals: Casley 5.

• KSA Tournament - Calusa Prep 60, Saint Cloud Orlando 53: Jonathan Holton led Calusa with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

SC: Boone 8, Schumacher 18, Ortiz 2, Bouchard 2, George 3, Presendieu 2, Mertune 18. CP (4-2): Slager 9, Lopez 12, Ramos 18, Holton 21. Halftime: CP 29-26. Three-pointers: Holten 1, Schumacher 2, Boone 1, George 1. Rebounds: Holton 12. Assists: Lopez 9. Steals: Ramos 5.

• Palmetto 56, Braddock 41: Andrell Smith led Panthers with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

BRD: Aguilar 4, Perez 3, Novo 11, Thompson 1, Portillo 15, Fernandez 5. PAL (8-4): Hardaway 13, Behar 10, Robertson 13, Heravi 2, Smith 12, Hunter 2, Brumfield 2, Woods 2. Halftime: PAL 25-16. Three-pointers: Perez 1, Behar 1, Robertson 3. Rebounds: Smith 13. Assists: Hardaway 6. Steals: Robertson 3.

• Wheel Valley Shootout - Choice 71, Madison County 57: Cho (6-0): Harvey 13, Carrion 9, Quiblett 9, Bluther 16, Girobolini 14, Torres 5, Christion 5. Mad: Nance 15, Thomas 14, Connor 19, Cross 3, Gruley 6. Halftime: Cho 42-30. Three-pointers: Carrion 1, Torres 1, Kelly 1. Rebounds: Girbolini 15. Assists: Carrion 10. Steals: Harvey 8.

• Westminster Classic - Northwest Christian 58, Champagnat 51: NWC: Terry 28, Hannah 4, Carson 8, McCullough 5, Madry 7, Maiqnon 1, Themlonge 5. Cham: Germasen 16, Alvisa 14, Brezvan 18, Dauqhin 4, Sanchez 2. Halftime: NWC 26-18. Three-pointers: Terry 3. Rebounds: McCullough 10. Assists: Carson 4. Steals: Terry 5.

• Wednesday -- Booker T. Washington 69, Killian 67: BTW: Moise 5, Gordon 4, Dunbar 11, Johnson 10, Nunnally 1, Catilus 7, Gadjee 9, Trail 7, Brown 15. Kil (5-5): Dorvilier 14, Fife 2, Palacios 10, Henderson 10, Davis 5, Berassa 8, Darling 15, Tomlin 3. Halftime: Kil 43-23. 3-pointers: Moise, Dunbar 2, Johnson 2, Henderson 2, Palacios, Tomlin. Rebounds: Darling 18. Assists: Dorvilier 5. Steals: Johnson 3.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

• Varela 51, Booker T. Washington 17: Margerita Rosario led the Vipers with 19 points, 10 assists and two steals.

VAR (8-7): M.Rosario 19, Fuente 7, S. Rosario 8, Estupinan 11, Price 6. BTW: Kennedy 4, Saint Surin 4, Hanse 9. Halftime: VAR 20-9. Three-pointers: Estupinan 3, Hanse 1. Rebounds: Fuente 10. Assists: M. Rosario 10. Steals: M. Rosario 2.

• Braddock 44, Sunset 20: Celeste Sanchez led the Bulldogs with 11 points and five steals.

SUN: Comb 6, Biene-Aine 6, Huete 2, Dinter 4, Sarradet 2. BRD (8-4): K. Gonzalez 9, Sanchez 11, Rodriguez 11, M.Gonzalez 4, Perez 6, V. Gonzalez 4. Halftime: BRD 27-8. Fouled-out: Perez, Huete. Rebounds: Perez 6. Assists: K. Gonzalez 5. Steals: Sanchez 5.

• Goleman 56, North Miami 42: Olga Garcia led the Gators with 23 points. five assists and five steals.

NM: Boyd 5, Martina 18, Laurent 4, Richardson 13, Georges 3, Nazaire 2, Antown 2. GOL (7-5): Garcia 23, Hepburn 14, Parker 10, Fuentes 2, Cook 7. Halftime: GOL 29-21. Fouled-out: Richardson, Parker. Three-pointers: Garcia 1, Cook 1. Rebounds: Parker 12. Assists: Garcia 5. Steals: Garcia 5.

• Hillel 47, Posnack 27: Pos (5-4): Woolfe 13, Klassman 5, Jackowitz 4, Palmer 3, Turko 4. Hil (11-4): Zarco 22, Glick 7, Goldman 6, Wollshalager 5, Markowitz 4, Schoonover 2, Rubensteen 2. Halftime: Hil 15-9. Rebounds: Goldman 12.

• Miami Christian 63, Trinity Christian 26: Tri: Hasbani 14, Martinez 5, Norton 4, Lopez 3. MC (11-4): Dang 14, Beckelheimer 14, Puente 12, Abello 6, Sanchez 6, Robinson 4, D. Garcia 4, K. Garcia 3. Halftime: MC 32-13. Three-pointers: Hasbani 3, Lopez 1. Rebounds: Beckelheimer 11. Assists: Dang 3. Steals: Abello 3.

• Ferguson 70, Coral Park 8: CP: Iturreta 2, Marroquin 2, Sanchez 2, Bridges 2. Fer (14-3): N. Perez 22, Cabrera 9, Kearse 16, J. Perez 9, Santos 14. Halftime: Fer 48-7. Three-pointers: N. Perez 1, Cabrera 1, J. Perez 1, Santos 1. Rebounds: N. Perez 12. Assists: Cabrera 10. Steals: J. Perez 10.

• American 42, Carol City 25: CC: Collier 10, Stewart 4, Sakers 4, Johnson 3, Jackson 2. Ame (4-11): Johnson 22, Suarez 12, E. Jones 7. Halftime: Ame 17-8. Three-pointers: Collier 3, Sakers 1. Rebounds: Mitchell 6. Assists: Mitchell 3. Steals: Suarez 3.

• Mater Academy 43, Ronald Reagan 30: Krystal Cabrera led Mater with 11 points and four steals.

MA (6-5): Mendoza 12, Gutierrez 7, K. Cabrera 11, N. Cabrera 2, Montalvo 6, Machin 4, Monzon 2. RR: Martinez 12, Sanderson 10, Rodriguez 5, Prado 2, Aromashodu 1. Halftime: MA 29-16. Fouled-out: Prado. Three-pointers: Sanderson 2, Martinez 2, montalvo 1, K. Cabrera 1, Mendoza 2. Rebounds: Montalvo 6. Assists: N. Cabrera 5. Steals: K. Cabrera 4.

• Homestead 49, Palmetto 28: Dominique Coulier led Homestead with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

PAL: Aurther 4, Pierrer-Paul 4, Mejila 3, Hunt 8, Paradi 2, Allan 2, Bell 5. HOM (12-1): Hodge 2, Macintyre 8, Harris 6, Bryant 9, Jordan 3, Nelson 10, Coulier 11. Halftime: HOM 27-13. Fouled-out: Coulier. Three-pointers: Mejila 1, Hunt 2. Rebounds: Coulier 13. Assists: Macintyre 6. Steals: Hodge 3, Nelson 3.

• Lourdes 49, Southridge 32: Vanessa Tapia led the Bobcats with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

SR: Stringer 12, Fudge 2, Roscoe 7, Jefferson 4, Esphens 3, Deveaux 2, Danache 2. LOU (11-1): Tapia 13, Iglesias 11, Brooks 15, Ugarte 2, Roca 4, Merritt 4. Halftime: LOU 28-21. Three-pointers: Iglesias 1. Rebounds: Tapia 10. Assists: Alfonso 6. Steals: Iglesias 5.

• Coral Reef 63, South Dade 35: CR (11-2): McLeod 6, Phillips 15, Tomlin 4, Austin 2, Richardson 4, Vasquez 3, Williams 12, Calin 17. SD: Monjaraz 2, Williams 1, Jackson 6, Perez 3, Gomila 6, Uresti 2, Gonzalez 2. Halftime: CR 26-17. Rebounds: Calin 14. Assists: Tomlin 5. Steals: McLeod 3.

• North Miami Beach 47, Krop 43: NMB: Villard 7, Cyprien 1, Cherizol 1, Lewis 10, Sequiere 25, Candelerio 3. Krp: Pittman 2, Rodriguez 12, Cordero 3, Houston 10, Tyrell 9, Pedrera 2, Fernandez 2. Halftime: Krop 18-17. Three-pointers: Sequiere 3, Rodriguez 2. Rebounds: Cherizol 11, Lewis 11. Assists: Candelerio 6. Steals: Sequierre 9.

BOYS' SOCCER

• Coral Gables 6, Central 2: Fernando Figueroa led the Cavaliers (4-8-2) with four goals.

• Edison 6, Booker T. Washington 1: Pablo Cruz led the Red Raiders (14-2-0) with two goals.

• Killian 1, Homestead 0: Ricardo Pelraz had one goal for Killian (9-4-1).

• Belen 2, Reagan 1: Felipe Ortega and Andres Marmol each scored a goal.

• Braddock 2, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0: Marvin Chavez led the Bulldogs (5-7-2) with a goal and an assist.

GIRLS' SOCCER

• Edison 4, Booker T. Washington 0: Lourdine Delphonse scored three goals.

• Sunset 1, Varela 1: Katrina Perez led the Knights (11-2-5) with a goal.

• Miami Springs 2, Palmetto 0: Holly Bain and Maria Hernandez each had one goal.

• Miami Christian 3, Archbishop Curley 1: Alex Rios had one goal and two assists.

• LaSalle Classic -- Lourdes 1, Archbishop Carroll 0: Jennifer Lancet scored the goal for the Bobcats (14-0-2).

• Varela 1, Sunset 1: Adrianna Rivas scored the lone goal for the Vipers (10-1-5).

• Wednesday -- Palmetto 2, Sunset 0: Alex Escobar and Brittney Batten each scored.

• Wednesday -- Palmetto 8, Homestead 0: Alex Escobar had one goal and two assists.

WRESTLING

• Goleman 42, South Miami 39: 135: Chris figueroa (VAR) pin in 1:29; 140: Rey Parrado (VAR) pin in 1:50; Heavy weight: Jorge Tubella (VAR) pin in :38.

• Goleman 45, Coral Park 30: 119: Tommy Amaro (VAR) pin in 1:06; 130: Robert Aguila (VAR) pin in 4:40; 135: Alex Gonzalez (VAR) pin in :22; 215: Leo Mayendia (VAR) pin in :22. VAR 4-2.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE

FOOTBALL

North-South Dade All-Star at Curtis Park: 7:30

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Archbishop Curley at Mater Academy Charter, 5

South Miami at Carol City, 7:30

Miami Central at South Dade, 7:30

Norland at Hialeah, 7:30

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Norland at Hialeah, 6

Archbishop Curley at University School, 3:30

Palmer Trinity at Miami Christian, 6

BOYS' SOCCER

Mater Academy at Chaminade, 4

GIRLS' SOCCER

Booker T. Washington at Hialeah, 3:30

Carol City at South Miami, 3:30

North Miami Beach at Coral Park, 3:30

Coral Park at Gulliver Prep, 4