Columbus basketball team showcases its depth in dominant GMAC championship win
The Columbus basketball team’s talent is evident just from watching twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer.
But the Explorers have taken their program to an elite level thanks to their depth that goes beyond their star sophomores.
Columbus put that depth on full display on Friday night at the Miami Dade College Kendall campus gym during an 84-57 blowout win over Miami Palmetto in the GMAC boys’ tournament final.
The Explorers (19-3), ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, secured their second consecutive GMAC title thanks to a balanced effort that resulted in five players scoring in double figures.
Cameron Boozer once again paced that offensive output with 20 points and Cayden scored 15.
But it was 6-8 junior forward Malik Abdullahi and 6-1 senior guard Garyn Bess, who provided the extra juice to Columbus’ blistering pace during a 24-6 first quarter that put the Explorers in control of the game quickly.
Benny Frangela overcame a slow shooting start and finished with 13 points.
“(Malik) has been tremendous for us,” Columbus coach Andrew Moran said. “Defensively, he’s a monster and can guard all positions. He’s really starting to feel comfortable in his game and starting to show his skill.”
After the game at least one Division-I college coach was speaking to Abdullahi, who Moran said has seven offers already and counting. Abdullahi, who entered the game averaging 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, has become a valuable frontcourt player for Columbus against some of the toughest competition in the country.
Bess, who is averaging 9.0 points and 2.7 assists, has developed into one of the team’s most versatile players thanks to his ability to attack the basket and his accuracy from the perimeter (46 percent from the field this season). Bess, however, has not received the scholarship offers that his teammates have, according to Moran.
“I don’t know what else they need to see,” Moran said. “We’ve played some of the best teams in the country and in those games is when he’s been at his best so I think people are missing out.”
Palmetto (18-4) had its 14-game winning streak snapped, and lost for the first time since a 88-48 defeat against Columbus on Dec. 14th.
But the Panthers, who could face the Explorers again potentially twice more this season, held their own through most of the second and third quarters after the poor start.
Matthew Mairena led the Panthers with 18 points and Randy Smith totaled 15 points. Braylon Burbridge added 10 points.
“I know we beat them by a good amount but they’re well coached and we wanted to set the tone defensively early on,” Moran said. “I really wanted the guys to stay mentally focused because each time we play them it’s going to be more and more difficult.”
