Dean leads South Miami boys to GMAC basketball final
Arturo Dean wasn’t exactly wearing a fireman’s hat on Tuesday night, but he may as well have been.
His South Miami boys’ basketball team found itself in a dogfight with Coral Park in a GMAC semifinal contest at Coral Park High School.
With the Rams having their best season in the history of the program and making a firs tever GMAC semifinal appearance, an enthusiastic and noisy crowd packed the gym to root their team on to the upset.
They might’ve gotten it had it not been for Dean. The senior guard went off as he led his team with 32 points and the Cobras held off a series or Coral Park rallies to hang on for a 67-59 win.
South Miami, the defending GMAC champion, advances to Thursday night’s championship game where the Cobras (19-4) will host Norland in the South Miami gym at 7 p.m. Norland knocked off North Miami 66-61 in the earlier semifinal.
It wasn’t just about the 32 points Dean scored but when he scored them.
South Miami led the entire game and by as much as 17 (42-25) late in the third quarter but with Coral Park’s Ga’khari Lacount burning up the net on his way to 32 point night including seven three pointers, the Rams (18-6) made a series of runs cutting the Cobra lead to four points twice.
But each time it was Dean that stepped up and made the big baskets including a personal 7-0 run midway through the fourth to put his team back up by 11. “No problem,” said Dean shrugging his shoulders like the entire thing was no big deal. “If I need to put the team on my shoulders when things get tough, I just go out and ball and do what I need to do.”
Even after the Cobras got the lead back to 60-49 with 1:21 left, Lacount brought the crowd to its feet by putting on a show, scoring 10 straight points on three NBA range three pointers (including one 4-point play) in a 40 second span to cut it to 63-59 with 39 seconds left.
But there was Dean again as he made a pair of free throws and then stole a pass for an uncontested layup to close things out. “He’s a special kid who is not afraid of any kind of big moment,” said South Miami coach Robert Doctor. “He showed that tonight.”
▪ Norland 66, North Miami 61 : The Vikings (18-6) survived a sloppy turnover-plagued contest to knock off the Pioneers and are back in the GMAC final for the first time since 2016, the last time they won it. Javon Smith (16 points, 7 rebounds) and Malik Siggers (12 points, 5 assists) led the way for Norland.
MORE BOYS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Krop 61, Carol City 53: J. Reid 14 points, 8 rebounds; E Sterling 12 points, 7 rebounds; D. Joseph 10 points.
▪ ECC Semifinal at Highlands Christian: Hillel 59, Highlands Christian 54: HIL — Abbo 24, Taieb 15, Berkman 9, Acherman 6, Gilbert 3, Almkies 2. HC — McDougle 17, Nichols 16, Federico 8, Louis 6, Wik 5, Obas 2. Half: HC 25-24. 3-pointers: Berkman 3, McDougle 3, Louis 2, Gilbert, Acherman, Wik, Nichols. Rebounds: Abbo 14. Assists: Berkman 5, Birmaher 5. Steals: Abbo 3. Blocks: Taieb 2.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ District 15-8A semifinal Miami High 94, Miami Beach 18: Colleen Bucknor and Darria Whitley each scored 18 points. Kamryn Burnstine scored 11 points for Miami Beach.
▪ District 15 semifinal: Southwest 36 Coral Gables 29: Cameron Araujo led the way for SW with 24 points. Kaitlyn Cruzata had 7 points for Gables.
▪ Westminster Christian 49, Marathon 36: WC — Arana 14, E. Matias 13, Rebhand 6, Boulris 6, Alejo 5, Z. Matias 5. 3 pointers: Z. Matias, E. Matias, Arana. Rebounds: Arana 12. Blocks: Acevedo 3. Steals: Matias 3• Palmer Trinity 60, Riviera Prep. 28: PT — Montes 11, Leon 18, Martinez 8, Lindsay 4, Porto 2, Deleon 8, Kaplan 1, Veloso 2, Lahoud 2, Brand 4. Half: PT 35-11. 3-pointers: Leon 3, Martinez 2, Montes, Deleon. Rebounds: Brand 12. Steals: Montes 10 Assists: Leon 6 Blocks: Porto 2. PT: 15-5B.
BOYS’ SOCCER
▪ Ransom Everglades 1, Westminster Christian 0: Joe Gross scored the lone goal, David Pulido with the assist. GK Gasper Broad shutout.
▪ District 16-5A championship — TERRA 3, Belen 1: Sebastian Inigo 2 goals, 1 assist. Carlos Delgado 1 goal. GK Gabriel Mora 15th win of the season.
▪ University School 5, Monsignor Pace 2. Joel Castellanos two goals to lead the way for University School. Sebastian Baredes, Sebastian Smith and Rafael Matiello one goal each. US: 15-0-2.
▪ District 15 3A semifinal — LaSalle 4, Palmer Trinity 1: Marcelo Aedo 2 goals. Miguel Valle and Kamani Turner 1 goal each. Lucas Moreno 1 assist.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
▪ District 13-7A championship: Krop 2, West Broward 1 (OT PKs): Ally Ratner scored the winning goal in PKs for Krop. Mai Lisa Attis scored Krop regulation goal. Good goalkeeping by Alyssa Marquez.• District 16-3A final: Carrollton 3, Ransom Everglades 0.
GIRLS’ WRESTLING
▪ 2020 Bill White Memorial Girls Wrestling Championships” final team standings: 1. Orlando Freedom 41; 2. Orlando Dr. Phillips 26; 3. South Dade 16; 4. North Miami 15; 5. Boca Raton Olympic Heights 9; 6. Hollywood McArthur 6; 7. Monarch 5; 9. Coral Springs 4; 10. Plantation American Heritage; 12: Hialeah-Miami Lakes. 13; Western. 15. Monsignor Pace; 16. Cooper City; 17. Mater Lakes.
▪ Individual final standings: 100 pounds: 2. M. Alfonso SD; 4. V. Ceballos CC; 106: 2. L. Macias W; 3. N. Duran SD, 4. J. Jean NM; 112: 2. J. Godinez HML; 3. F. Shah MON, 4. J. Berry CS. 117: 3. J. Perez SD; 122: 4. G. Coccia MON; 128: 3. S. Townsend SD; 134: 4. J. Hernandez MLA; 140: 1. T. Mack NM, 2. C. Anzalone AH; 147: 2. L. Victorin CS; 4. M. Guerrier MP. 154: 1. V. Mesidor NM; 2. S. Renous NM; 3. K. Jordan SD. 162: 2. L. Pierce McA, 3. Y. Gallo SD; 184: 2. S. Villalobos SD. 197: 2. A. Avila McA. 222/287: K. Alexander NM; 4. V. Boggio MP.