Columbus crushes Miami High to advance to boys basketball regional finals

The highflying Columbus Explorers started their night with a rim-rattling dunk and never looked back in a 68-36 win at home over Miami High in a Region 4-7A semifinal on Tuesday night.

Freshmen twins Cayden and Cameron Boozer — the sons of former NBA star Carlos Boozer — scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, to lead the Explorers into the regional title game where they will host Weston Cypress Bay on Friday at 7 p.m.

“We definitely wanted to send a message,” Cayden Boozer said. “Over the last 40 years we’ve always been smacked by Miami High. It was a big game to emphasize the new culture at our school.

“We aren’t going to get beat by Miami High anymore.”

The Explorers (26-2) paired the acrobatic offense with a tenacious team defense, shutting down any lane penetration for the Stingarees (14-9). They opened the game on an 11-2 run and led 17-4 at the end of the first, paced by six points apiece from the Boozers.

The Explorers outscored the Stingarees 18-9 in the second and led by 22 points at halftime. The Stingarees attempted a rally at the start of the third, but the Explorers answered with an onslaught of inside dominance and sharpshooting.

Columbus forced a running clock just a few minutes into the fourth quarter and closed out the game with ease.

Junior Kevin Noriega scored 10 points in the win. Freshman Benny Fragela totaled nine points for the Explorers. Noriega and Fragela each netted a trio of treys. Joshua Middlebrooks scored a game-high 18 points for the Stingarees.

“I just like the way we are playing going into the regional final,” Explorers coach Andrew Moran said. “We made it to the regional final last year and it didn’t turn out so well. This is a totally different team, a different vibe and our defense has been great.

“It really sets the tone for us. We are really excited for Friday.”

The Explorers can advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2011 with another victory and continue their attempt to win the first state title in school history.

“Any time you do something for the first time, it’s really hard, but it means a lot,” Cameron Boozer said. “That’s the goal for us and we are striving to get there every single day.”

COL: Cay. Boozer 15, Car. Boozer 14, Noriega 10, Fragela 9, Bess 7, Miranda 5, Abdullahi 4, Velasquez 2, Galleno 2; MHS: Middlebrooks 18, Robinson 6, Bryan 4, Barcia 3, Bynum 3, McIntosh 2. Three-pointers: C: Noriega 3, Fragela 3, Bess 2 Half: Columbus 35-13.

This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 10:17 PM.