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Hialeah Miami Lakes dominates South Miami

Miami Herald Writer

Henry Berroa and Andy Diaz combined to score 31 points Saturday afternoon as Hialeah-Miami Lakes dominated South Miami 48-30 in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at Boyd Anderson.

Leading 27-15 to open the second half, the Trojans put the game away behind the play of 6-9 center Adrian Diaz, but it wasn't because of his inside play.

He hit three three-pointers to open the third, and HML increased its lead to 36-17. South Miami, playing without starting point guard Travis Moss, had no answer.

The Trojans set the tone early, scoring the first eight points, and were never threatened. South Miami cut its deficit to 10-6 and once more had the lead down to four at 12-8 early in the second, but the Trojans outscored the Cobras 15-7 to finish the half.

''I am pleased with the way it's going for us this year,'' HML coach Ray Beneby said. ``I know we've had some tough losses this year, games we shouldn't have lost.

``It wasn't the prettiest game, but we didn't want to get up and down with them and run with them. I felt we slowed the game down and played our game.''

Berroa led HML with 16 points. He also made three three-pointers from beyond NBA range. Andy Diaz finished with 15 points, and his ball-handling ability presented matchup problems for South Miami.

''He can handle the ball better than most big men in Dade County,'' Beneby said. ``When we can get him out there on the perimeter and make the big man defend the perimeter, it's to our advantage. They just couldn't deal with him.''

South Miami (9-3): Heath 6, Smith 2, Cedeno 2, Hazel 5, Horton 2, Boyd 2, Palmer 9. HML (12-3): Hanna 2, Berroa 16, An. Diaz 15, Ad. Diaz 11, Williams 4. Half: HML 27-15. Three-Pointers: Berroa 3, Ad. Diaz 3. Rebounds: An. Diaz 7. Assists: Berroa 3. Steals: Ad. Diaz 2. Blocks: Williams 3.

• St. Thomas Aquinas 70, Norland 44: St. Thomas Aquinas finally has its basketball team intact and it's starting to show. The Raiders pulled off one of their biggest wins of the past few years, thrashing the defending Class 6A state champion Norland in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic.

The Raiders dominated Norland on the boards 36-19. They got three or four shots per possession, especially in the second half as Dezmen Southward dominated the game helping St. Thomas pull away after leading 32-27 at the break.

''[Norland] lost a lot of guys from last year,'' Southward said. ``We just wanted to come out and play hard. If we play hard we can play with anybody. It makes a big difference. We got a lot of skill guys on this team. The football guys bring mental toughness and physical toughness on the court. That helps a lot.''

It was Norland's worst loss under coach Lawton Williams III, who has led the Vikings to two of the past three Class 6A state championships behind its physical play.

Leading 45-34 going into the fourth quarter, Southward took over, and getting putbacks that took the wind out of the young Vikings' sails. He scored seven of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and also had 10 rebounds. Danny Munoz led all scorers with 17 points.

''If he gives us energy on the boards, I don't need him to score. I got a lot of other guys who can do it,'' Aquinas coach Steve Strand said.

Southward is one of four football players Strand was missing until the Kreul Classic. He credited that with the team's increased intensity and toughness.

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