The defending state champion Doral boys’ basketball team improves to 9-0. This is how
Head coach Jorge Fernandez might have lost four of his five starters to graduation from last year’s Class 7A state championship team, but that hasn’t slowed down his Doral Academy boys’ basketball team one bit.
Following a tough, close, hard-fought contest on Thursday night, the Firebirds moved their record to 9-0 with a 60-48 win over host Miami Springs in a key early season district contest. That on the heels of rolling to three straight wins last weekend to capture the A-Rod Tournament at Columbus. Miami Springs fell to 6-3, 4-2.
Don’t let the score fool you as neither team led by more than two points the entire third quarter and midway through the fourth. It was only then, trailing 45-44 with 4:35 left and with Devin Carter and Jonathan Nuñez leading the way, Doral took off on a 14-0 run to pull away.
Carter, son of former Miami Heat star Anthony Carter (1999-2003), who was sitting in the stands watching, scored 37 points — including three three pointers.
“Everything we do is through the team. Setting screens and other things which creates opportunities for me and that’s what happened tonight,” said Carter, a junior who moved from Colorado last summer when his father was hired by the Heat to work for Erik Spoelstra’s staff. “Springs is a heck of a team and we knew this would be a tough game but coach stays on us hard in practice which translates to the game so we know how to handle tough situations.”
“He’s a basketball player with some great pedigree,” said Fernandez of Carter. “I was a big fan of his dad, one of my favorite players. He played a long time in the NBA and you don’t last in the league as long as he did unless you’re tough and we see so much of that in Devin. We’re very fortunate to have him.
Nuñez is that lone returning starter from last year’s championship team and finished with 16 points, 12 of those coming on four from beyond the arc including two during that late game run.
Obviously last season was a blessing and with all my brothers having moved on, it’s a little strange,” said Nuñez. “Kind of like the little brother that gets left behind but now that creates new challenges so it’s an opportunity for me to step up and try and help this team succeed.”
DOR – Carter 37, Nuñez 16, Alawie 4, Mercado 3. MS – Lavernia 18, Benitez 8, Chestnut 8, Young 8, Frías 6. Half: DOR 29-27. 3-pointers: Nuñez 4, Carter 3, Benitez 2, Frias 2, Lavernia 2, Young 2, Chestnut, Mercado.
MORE BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Coral Reef 53, Homestead 52: CR – Headley 13, Clark 11, Lane 11.
▪ Coral Park 82, Southwest 44: CP – Lacount 28, Don 20, Campos 16, Pazo 11, Henriquez 2, Boney 2, Guzman 2, Soto 2. SW – Aloma 12, Luis 9, Castellano 7, Garcia 5, Blanco 3, Noy 3, Gonzalez 2, Rodriguez 2, Cruz 2, Abrahante 2.
▪ South Miami 64, Braddock 45: SM – T. Dean 23, Bujan 13, A. Dean 12, Flenor 8, Segurra 5, Miller 3. BRAD – Castellanos 17, Allen 9, Camejo 8, E. Perez 6, C. Perez 3, Bensullam 2.
▪ Hillel 52, Somerset Central Miramar 42: HIL – Ben-Shmuel 19, Assraf 13, Bacal 10, Berkman 5, Taieb 2, Acherman 2, Birmaher 1. SCM – Taylor 13, Taylor 11, Carrillo 7, Garcia 5, Smith 4, Raymond 2 HIL: 9-2
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Ransom Everglades 43, Pinecrest Prep 18: RE – Sosler 10, Rosenthal 7, Arnold 7, Sekoff 6, Pena 3, Lindsey 2, Love 2, Muller-Kahle 2, Harris 2, Kaplan 2. PP – Barrette 9, Skjoldal 6, Estopinan 3. 3-pointers: Barrette 2, Sosler, Rosenthal, Estopinan. Rebounds: Weintraub 7. Steals: Sekoff 4.
▪ Gulliver Prep. 70, SLAM Academy 38: GP – Ka. Sanders 22, Kaplan 16, Haymore 12, Doctor 9, Kr. Sanders 7, Berman 2, Perry 2. Half: GP 37-19. GP: 8-0.
▪ Carrollton 55, LaSalle 22: CAR – Paneque 16, Mas 11, Benitez 10, Rabassa 8, McCarthy-Levy 5, Mendez 4, Williams 1. CAR: 9-2
BOYS’ SOCCER
Goleman 7, Norland 0: Marvin Arias 2 goals; Jaden Mark, Frander Ortiz, Sadel Ekmeiro, Bryant Hernandez and Nick Hernandez 1 goal each.
▪ University School 4, Chaminade-Madonna 0: Liam Borbely, Sebastian Baredes, Jonathan Higgins and Joel Castellanos 1 goal each. Simon Mertnoff shutout. US: 9-0-2.
▪ Miami Beach 3, Southwest 0: Julian Enriquez 1 goal, 1 assist; Franklin Rivero and Gian Goffredo 1 goal each. Lucas Prodomou shutout. MB: 8-3-2.
▪ Ferguson 3 Homestead 1: Mateo Hoyos, Martin Schooley and Andres Melendez 1 goal each. FER: 9-1-1
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Gulliver Prep 3, St. Brendan 0: Ariana Hernando, Julia Hornstein and Hannah Stavola 1 goal each. Isabella Silar (STB) 6 saves.
▪ TERRA 8, Westland Hialeah 0: Alexandra Ortega and Megan Garriga 2 goals each. Madisen Maysonet, Brianna Gonzalez, Daniela Stanfield and Kiana Hernandez 1 goal each. Alanna Martinez 1 assist.
▪ Miami Beach 1, Southwest 0: Julia Silva goal.
▪ Plantation American Heritage 13, Stranahan 0: Gabrielle Scarlett 4 goals, 2 assists; Diana Pon 2 goals and Jenna Lowery 2 goals each. Mia Young, Olivia Roth, Sofia Martinez, Taylor Dobles and Emily Thompson 1 goal each. Thompson 4 assists, Dobles 2 assists.
▪ Archimedean 10, International Studies 0: Nicole Richani 5 goals; Sofia Miliancano 3 goals, 1 assist. Sophia Vizoso and Ashley Otero 1 goal each. Ariadne Aranda 2 assists; Daniela Salce 2 assists. ARCH: 9-0.
▪ Coral Springs Charter 3, FAU High 1: Haley Capplis, Emily Kahler and Bailey Sweginnis 1 goal each. CSC: 5-2-1.
WRESTLING
Columbus 44, Wellington 24: Mira FALL 1:20, Milton FALL 2:56, Walsh FALL 3:20.