Friends turned rivals: Southridge’s Cotton tops South Dade’s Dean in GMAC hoops clash
Miami Southridge’s Koree Cotton and South Dade’s Mister Dean are good friends on and off the basketball court.
They both wear the same number 4 on their jerseys.
They grew up playing the game they love in Florida City as each developed into two of the top players in South Florida.
On Tuesday night, the two put that friendship on pause as their respective schools clashed in a GMAC quarterfinal rivalry clash before a crowd of over 600 fans at South Dade.
If it had been a game of 1-on-1, it might have taken all night to settle.
Cotton and Dean each scored 31 points to lead their teams on the scoresheet.
But in the end, it was Southridge that had a little more depth and defense to tip the scales in Cotton’s favor as the Spartans prevailed 77-63 to advance to the semifinal round.
“It was real gritty and competitive,” Cotton said. “It was fun playing against my homeboy. He’s got that dog in him.”
Southridge (16-5) will next take on Columbus, ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, on Wednesday at 5 p.m. while South Dade (14-3) will turn its attention to its final four regular season games and the upcoming district playoffs. Miami Palmetto will play at Miami Norland in the other GMAC semifinal on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
“We just followed the game plan and we won,” Cotton said. “That game right there prepares us for the playoffs and I think we’re ready.”
Cotton, who has signed to play his college ball at the Virginia Military Institute, sparked Southridge with 12 first quarter points as did Keyonte Green, who hit three 3-pointers during those first eight minutes.
Southridge coach Robert Doctor praised Green for his clutch shooting and said he’s been one of the best perimeter shooters on the team this season.
Dean scored 20 of his points in the second half and helped the Bucs pull to within six in the third quarter before Cotton helped the Spartans pull away in the fourth quarter.
Southridge’s trapping defense at midcourt forced several turnovers in the first half which it converted into quick transition scores allowing the Spartans to build a 41-29 lead by halftime. Anthony Dozier had 15 points and Rey Daniels also had 10 points.
“We wanted to come out and trap them a little bit and our guys did a good job making sure (Dean) didn’t get a lot of good looks,” Doctor said.
Orien Valdes had 14 points for South Dade, which is also looking for a breakthrough this season in a difficult District 16-7A bracket that includes Columbus and Palmetto.
Southridge has never advanced to the state tournament. Doctor, who led South Miami to the state final four five times in eight seasons from 2013 to 2020, believes his team has the ingredients this season to make a deep push and it begins with Cotton.
“(Cotton)’s been stellar for us the whole year making plays for us and really putting together a breakout year,” Doctor said.
Southridge is the top seed in District 16-6A, but is in a challenging region that includes Broward County contenders Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Pembroke Pines Charter and Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson.
“We needed this game with the crowd and all the hype they had for this game so we can see what it’s like when we get into a playoff game,” Doctor said. “I want them to play Columbus because they’re another great team, but we have to come out swinging and just keep getting better for the playoffs.”
