To knock Boyd Anderson from the ranks of the unbeaten, reigning 4A boys' basketball state champion Miami Monsignor Pace will try to give the Cobras a taste of their own medicine.

Unlike the first 12 opponents who tried to slow the Cobras' explosive transition game, Pace boys coach Mark Lieberman said his team will be looking to push the ball at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at Boyd Anderson on Friday night.

''Our team still likes to play fast and score off our defense,'' said Lieberman. ``We are not going to change that.''

The Spartans (10-3), ranked No. 1 in 4A, witnessed firsthand how quickly the Cobras (12-0, ranked No. 1 in 6A) can convert turnovers and long rebounds into easy baskets at the Arby's Classic in Tennessee last week. Although the teams didn't face each other, the Spartans watched from the stands as Boyd Anderson beat their first three opponents by an average of 20 points before winning the championship game by nine.

Pace 6-8 star forward Rakeem Buckles, a Louisville signee, said if the Spartans can limit turnovers, they can beat the Cobras at their own game.

''Boyd Anderson has a real quick team,'' Buckles said. ``They get up and down real good. They play good defense and play hard. I think we just have to come out and play harder than them and compete on every play. We can run with them, no doubt.''

That might be easier said than done. Even though Lieberman said Buckles, Christian Martinez, Darren Stewart, Cody Mann, Charles Fashaw and Damian Parms have shown improvement handling full-court pressure, their biggest test will come against an athletic four-guard lineup featuring seniors Martavious Irving, Bryan ''Kobe'' Bynes, Tyrone Davis and Cedric Flood.

The Cobras, ranked No. 14 in the National Prep Poll, have also gotten a spark off the bench from Marvin Metellus and T'Vaughn Ferguson.

With 6-8 center Travis Elliott developing as an inside presence and Cobras guards running their version of ''Showtime,'' it's no wonder opponents have had a difficult time catching their breath.

''We approach each team like they are highly ranked,'' Irving said. ``The goal is not just to beat them, but beat them down. When people look at the schedule they know it will be a long night.''

The Classic continues Saturday with an eight game schedule highlighted by Kenny Boynton Jr.-led American Heritage against Palm Beach Dwyer at 7:15 p.m. followed by a rematch between reigning 3A state champion Pine Crest and star guard Brandon Knight against Robert Burger and reigning 5A state champion Dillard.

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