January 29, 2016 11:33 PM
Michael Forrest admits “everything’s blurry” without his prescription goggles.
With the goggles, however, his shooting eyes were on target again on Friday night as he scored 19 points to help lead Pompano Ely to a 74-53 win over Nova (19-4) in the first semifinal of the BCAA Big 8 boys’ basketball tournament at Fort Lauderdale.
Ely (15-11) is now one win away from what would be its fifth Big 8 championship in the past seven years. But to get that trophy, Ely will have to get past rival Dillard (19-5) Saturday night at 7:30, also at Fort Lauderdale.
Dillard, the top-ranked team in Broward County, survived a scare from McArthur and prevailed 74-67 in overtime.
Forrest, a 5-10 sophomore guard, was on the junior varsity last season and watched from the stands as Ely won a state title in Class 7A.
“It was a great feeling to watch greatness happen,” Forrest said.
This week, Forrest is making greatness happen.
He had 20 points in Ely’s 74-73 quarterfinal win over Coral Springs on Thursday, and he came back in less than 24 hours and impressed again, this time tying Ely senior Trevor Goodrum for the game’s scoring honors.
Goodrum, though, had nine of his points in the third quarter when the blowout had been all but decided. Nicholas Stampley added 17 points for Ely, including eight in the fourth quarter.
Ely coach Melvin Randall, who lost a lot of seniors from last year’s state-title team, affectionately called this squad a “group of babies.”
They are talented babies, to be sure.
Forrest had 11 of his 19 points in the first period on Friday as Ely closed the quarter on a 12-0 run to take a 27-15 lead. The game was virtually over by halftime, when Ely led 42-22.
Randall said Forrest has been coming on as of late, but …
“He s still got a little flaw — his immaturity,” Randall said. “His decision-making [can improve]. He’s making too many turnovers.”
Dillard, the fourth-rated team in Broward/Miami-Dade, advanced to the Big 8 final for the first time since 2012.
McArthur (17-9) had a chance to advance to the Big 8 final for the first time in school history after Dillard missed 7 of 10 free throws in overtime.
But McArthur couldn’t take advantage. Trailing by three in the final 12 seconds, McArthur turned the ball over twice, and Dillard’s Jordan Wright converted those gifts into a layup and a dunk, putting the game away.
MORE BOYS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Pace 87, St. Brendan 84: MP(11-14): del Castillo 20, Brunson 20, Smart 14, L. St. Fleur 13, I. St. Fleur 11, Alvarez 5, White 2, Paula 2. SB: Torch 26, Kevin 20, Ryan 16, Edmund 9, Chris 7, Mike 4, Jonathan 2. Three-pointers: Smart 4, del Castillo 2, Brunson 2, L. St. Fleur, I. St. Fleur, Alvarez. Rebounds: King 5. Assists: Brunson 4. Steals: L. St. Fleur 4. HT: MP 50-47.
▪ Braddock 58, TERRA 35: TER:Swihart 19, Cueto 4, Rodriguez 5, Garcia 6, Bacall 1. BRA: L.Garcia 5, Grant 16, Hernandez 8, Molinares 2, Gomez 8, Madonna 3, Acosta 4, G.Garcia 1, Penalver 4, Simon 1, Dupont 6. Three-Pointers: L.Garcia, Grant, Madonna, Acosta, Dupont. HT: BRA 26-14.
▪ Late Thursday — Gulliver Prep 86, SLAM 68: GP: Jackson 24, Massirman 15, S. Uyaelunmo 13, Perez 11, V. Uyaelunmo 10, Robinson 6, Mashburn 4, Heckaman 3. SL: Brown 31, K. Tyler 16, Bain 9, L. Tyler 7, Fuentas 4. Rebounds: V. Uyaelunmo 12. Assists: Perez 5, Jackson 5. Blocks: V. Uyaelunmo 4. HT: SL 43-39.
▪ Late Thursday — Belen 60, Ronald Reagan 48: BEL: Torres De Navarra 3, Salazar 4, Cabrera 5, Mejer 4, Rodriguez 7, Bravo 2, Consuegra 7, Puenete 1, Romeu 24, Carrillo 3. RR: Matas 2, Luaces 7, Sweet 9, Cervino 4, Lopez 9, Canto 2, Fernandez 15. Rebounds: Romeu 8. Assists: Consuegra 5, Rodriguez 5. Steals: Romeu 3, Rodriguez 3.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ District 15-8A — Lourdes 55, Ferguson 52 (OT): LOU (23-6): Maristany 6, Minervino 10, Vidal 6, Couto 15, Midolo 5, Moralejo 13. FER (23-7): Laureano 18, Perez 19, Rodríguez 6, Pineda 9. HT: FER 25-13. Three-pointers: Minervino 2, Vidal 2, Couto, Moralejo 3, Laureano, Perez 2, Rodriguez, Pineda.
▪ District 14-4A Final — Gulliver Prep 48, Keys Gate 41: GP (24-3): Ra. Kaiser 3, Pyatt 5, Pinder 7, Kunkel 14, Thomas 14. KG: Tyre 2, Velez 12, Calderon 6, Dennis 14, Moore 6. Three-pointers: Bahadue, Kunkel 2, Velez. Rebounds: Thomas 17. Assists: Kunkel 6. Steals: Bahadue 10. HT: GP 32-26.
▪ District 15-3A Final — Florida Christian 56, Archbishop Carroll 33: FC: Irvine 11, Nunez 9, Castellano 13, Skojldal 6, Estape 6. Rebounds: Irvine 7. Steals: Skojldal 2. Assists: Nunez 8. Three-pointers: Castellano 3.
▪ District 16-6A Final — Doral 63, Miami Springs 25: DA (22-5): Martinez 11, Guerrero 9, Barrios 9, Vega 8, Rondon 6, Suarez 5, Torres 3, Abdala 3, Osceola 2, Suarez 2, Huggins 2, Machado 2, Molina 2. MS: Parson 9, Moise 5, Flowers 3, Carter 2. HT: 42-11 DA. Three-pointers: Guerrero. Rebounds: Molina 5. Assists: Martinez 6.
▪ Late Thursday, District 14-4A Semifinals — Calvary Christian 49, University School 32: CCA (12-12): Bender 25, Isaac 17, Hickey 5, Collins 2, Derr 0. US (10-9): Frye 12, Shashona 12, Tolchinsky 3, Perez 3, Fienstein 2. HT: 19-14.
▪ Late Thursday, District 14-4A Semifinals — Cardinal Gibbons 55, Pine Crest 43: CG (18-4): Gregos 19, Antoine 15, Armstead 11, Cohen 8, Tumminello 2. PC (17-4): Ballesteros 15, Taylor 9, Mordis 6, De las Casas 4, Weinberg 3, Engler 2, Hancock 2, Shea 2. HT: 25-25.
WRESTLING
▪ Cooper City 66, Western 12: 106: Jacob Swartz (CC). 113: Nicholas Luna (CC). 120: Christian Morales (CC) over Ethan Chiappelli (WR) (Fall) 126: Kyle Thompson (CC) over Jeffrey Rubold (WR) (Fall). 132: Jacob Jordan (CC) over Eros Arias (WR) (Fall). 138: Vincent Garcia (WR).145: Liam Jones (CC). 152: Connor Jones (CC) over Nicholas Casmass (WR) (Fall). 160: Nasser Hasson (WR) over Isaiah Gauthier (CC) (Fall). 182: Nicholas Gonzalez (CC) over (WR) (For.) 195: Jozef Macugoski (CC) over Henry Morer (WR) (Fall) 220: Nick Guzman (CC) over (WR). 285: Andrew Tilghman (CC) over Amir Mozanrour (WR) (Fall)
▪ Cooper City 61, Mater Lakes 18: 106: Jacob Swartz (CC) over Ivan Hadfey (ML) (Fall). 113: Nicholas Luna (CC) over Diane Perez (ML) (Fall ) 120: Christian Morales (CC).126: Kyle Thompson (CC) over Rafael Alvarez (ML) (Fall) 132: Jacob Jordan (CC) over Bryan Valbuena (ML) (Fall ) 138: Austin Henriquez (ML). 145: Liam Jones (CC) over Joseph Tucker (ML) (Dec 10-3) 152: Connor Jones (CC) over Nestor Nunez (ML) (MD 12-1) 160: Daniel Capo (ML) over Isaiah Gauthier (CC) (Fall) 170: Sebastian Marrero (ML).182: Nicholas Gonzalez (CC) over Sebastian Marrero (ML) (Fall) 195: Jozef Macugoski (CC). 220: Nick Guzman (CC) over Andy Delpozo (ML) (Fall) 285: Andrew Tilghman (CC).
▪ Goleman 42, Alonzo Mourning 12: 138: Anthony Romero fall 1:26. 132: Alex Godinez fall 4:17. 160: Jesus Perez fall 5:22. BG 16-3
▪ Goleman 30, Hialeah Gardens 28: 113: Noah Sinko fall 3:13. 145: Anthony Romero fall 2:34. 160: Jesus Perez fall 2:26. 182: Enrique Estrada fall 1:31. BG 17-4.
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