Coral Reef coach Chachi Rodriguez has noticed one important change in his boys' basketball team this season.

''We've learned how to win the close games,'' Rodriguez said.

And the Barracudas did it again Thursday night, pulling away from South Dade for an 87-81 district victory at the Bucs' gym.

Coral Reef (15-3) remained unbeaten against Miami-Dade County opponents and secured the top seed in the District 16-6A playoffs for the second consecutive season. Coral Reef, however, was eliminated in the district semifinals last year. Rodriguez thinks his team has learned from the setback.

''We've got nine seniors on this team, so it's all a credit to the experience they've gained from playing together the past couple of years,'' said Rodriguez, whose team moved to 4-1 this year in games decided by six points or less.

Coral Reef's top two college prospects, seniors Charles Hankerson (6-5) and Jerron Granberry (6-5), led the team in scoring. Hankerson had 27 points and four steals, while Granberry had 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Barracudas led by as many as 14 points in the second half before South Dade (13-5) cut the lead to six behind the sharpshooting of Vincent Williams. The Bucs' 6-1 junior guard led all scorers with 30 points, and made five three-pointers.

With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, however, Williams missed a three-point shot that would have cut Coral Reef's lead to three. Following the miss, Granberry drove to the basket, scored, and drew a flagrant foul from South Dade forward Ed Stinson. After converting two free throws, the Barracudas retained possession and extended the lead to 12 points when Brandon Vickers made a short jump shot with 2:16 left.

''Our whole up-tempo game starts with getting rebounds that allow us to get out and run,'' Rodriguez said. ``Our starters did a great job of getting the boards.''

• CR (15-3): Lopez 14, Granberry 25, Hankerson 27, Palmer 10, Strawder 2, Vickers 6, Carithers 2. SD (13-5): Williams 30, Price 10, Floyd 5, Wilcox 10, Brown 8, Newton 8, Stinson 10. Halftime: CR 36-27. Fouled out: Vickers, Newton. Three-pointers: Price 2, Williams 5, Floyd, Wilcox 2, Lopez, Granberry, Hankerson. Rebounds: Granberry 10. Assists: Lopez 11. Steals: Hankerson 4.

MORE BOYS' BASKETBALL

• Palmetto 73, Homestead 32 - HS: Lubin 2, Vera 2, Williams 3, Moore 4, Hollowman 8, Brooks 6, Lindor 3, Cochran 4. PAL (12-5): Hardaway 15, Malagon 9, Robertson 22, Anderson 12, Flynn 2, Woods 6, Hunt 2, Kett 5. Halftime: PAL 42-28. Three-pointers: Hollowman 2, Brooks 2, Lindor, Hardaway 2, Malagon 2, Robertson 6, Anderson 2, Kett. Rebounds: Woods 7. Assists: Robertson 5 . Steals: Anderson 4.

• Jackson 69, Westland Hialeah - WH: Kintana 2, Wuscovi 2, Vidal 11, Renero 5, Cespedes 2, Consepcion 6. JAX (5-8): Baskin 6, Williams 2, Sedano 4, Puello 3, Cheveler 5, Milton 14, Baptiste 5, Cunningham 20, Ortiz 2, Burgess 8. Halftime: JAX 32-13. Fouled out: Mujica. Three-pointers: Vidal, Cunningham. Rebounds: Milton 10. Assists: Cunningham 5. Steals: Cunningham 6.

• South Miami 56, Ferguson 27 - SM (14-4): Cedeno 7, Moss 2, Duffis 2, Hazel 15, Horton 10, Boyd 8, Palmer 12. FER: Rodriguez 4, Desimone 3, Scott 2, Cardona 2, Porter 3, Del Castillo 13. Halftime: SM 11-6. Technicals: Moss. Fouled out: Moss, Scott. Three-pointers: Desimone, Porter, Del Castillo, Cedeno. Rebounds: Horton 10. Assists: Moss 3. Steals: Porter 5.

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