Going into this season, the Coral Reef boys' basketball team came in with a rare glimmer of hope to win its first-ever district title because of three top-tier players in its starting lineup.

But it's the roster beyond Steven Lopez, Jerron Granberry and Charles Hankerson Jr. that could tarnish those aspirations.

And Monday's semifinal game at the Junior Orange Bowl Classic provided a glimpse at just how scary that proposition can be.

Vance's bench outscored Coral Reef's reserves 19-0 in the first half and, thanks to its great pressure defense, never let the Barracudas lead in handing them a 74-67 loss at Miami Dade College's Kendall Campus.

Granberry, Lopez and Hankerson Jr. combined to score 60 points on 16-of-32 shooting, but the rest of the team went just 3 for 11 from the field.

Lopez said that's simply not going to get it done.

''The role players have to step up every game,'' said Lopez, already signed with Lynn University. ``We [Lopez, Granberry and Hankerson Jr.] have to do what we have to do and play our regular game -- not try to force too much.

``It can't always be about us, though.''

Vance's speed in transition allowed it to score 11 of its first 20 points on the break, and Coral Reef (9-2) was in a bind from the start. The Cougars (11-0), from North Carolina, went on a 12-1 run to end the first quarter and went into halftime with an eight-point lead.

Things didn't get any better in the second half, as Vance went on a 6-0 run to make it a 13-point game midway through the third quarter and never let Coral Reef back in it until the one-minute mark, when the Barracudas made it a seven-point game.

At that point it was too little, too late.

South Broward 59, North Miami Beach 42: While South Broward (11-1) is trying to defend a state championship after graduating five players, North Miami Beach (9-5) is trying to build itself back into playoff form with five seniors on its roster.

But the Chargers took a step back during their semifinal match, as they shot just 23 percent in the first half -- 32 percent for the game -- and fell behind by as many as 20 early in the fourth quarter in the eventual loss.

North Miami Beach has not made the playoffs since 2005, when it lost to Deerfield Beach in the second round, but coach Selena Volcy believes this senior-laden team has a shot in 2009.

In order for that to happen, they'll have to play better than they did Monday, when they let Bulldog stars Krystal Saunders and Alicia DeVaughn score 22 points each.

''Sometimes we've had some great games, and sometimes we've had some games that were not too good,'' Volcy said. ``They have potential. As long as they come to compete every game, we should be able to play with most teams.''

BOYS' BASKETBALL

• Junior Orange Bowl - Vance 74, Coral Reef 67 - VAN: Durante 18, Davis 17, Traynham 13, Robinson 11, Rankin 4, Sayles 4, Tillman 2, Farmer 2, Obgueze 2. CR: Lopez 22, Hankerson 21, Granberry 17, Vickers 3, Palmer 2, Tameze-Rivas 2. Halftime: VAM 34-26. Three-pointers: Davis 1, Vickers 2, Granberry 1. Rebounds: Tillman 9. Assists: Rankin 5. Steals: Lopez 4, Sauders 4.

• Junior Orange Bowl - Norland 49, LaSalle 46 - NOR: Lynch 14, Mincy 9, Baynham 9, A. Roberts 8, c. Roberts 5, Jackson 2, Brown 2, Jackson 2. LAS: Greenspahn 11, Miller 8, Portillo 7, C. Pellot 4, Davis 3, Garcia 3, Torres 2, Campbell 2. Halftime: LAS 22-18. Three-pointers: Lynch 4, C. Roberts 1, Mincy 1. Rebounds: Greenspahn 8. Assists: Mincy 2, Lynch 2. Steals: C. Roberts 2, Jackson 2.

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