Columbus routs Miami High to move closer to goal of winning three state titles in a row

They are the future of Miami basketball … but they play the game in an old-school way.

The Columbus Explorers advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals with a resounding 71-42 win over Miami High at FIU on Friday night.

Columbus (26-4), which is ranked No. 1 in 7A, is attempting to win its third straight state title. The Explorers will face Orlando Evans on March 8 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland at 11 a.m.

On Friday, Columbus made just four 3-pointers. Instead of bombing away from deep, the Explorers started the game with a full-court press, and – after trailing 6-5 – they went on a 22-4 run, which ended any suspense as to the outcome.

“We knew they were going to hold the ball, so we wanted to trap and cause chaos,” Columbus coach Andrew Moran said. “We wanted to get turnovers and get out on the break.

“That was the emphasis tonight – get in the paint. Even on the 3s that we did make, we had guys attacking and then kicking out.”

Columbus’ Jase Richardson, a 6-3 senior combo guard who has signed with Michigan State, led all scorers with 21.

Also for Columbus, the Boozer twins combined for 33 points as Cayden scored 17, and Cameron added 16.

Cameron Boozer, a 6-9, 235-pounder, is ranked the No. 1 junior in the nation, the No. 1 power forward in his class and also No. 1 in Florida overall.

“Cam was bullying everybody in the paint,” Richardson said after Friday’s game.

Cayden is ranked the No. 17 player in the nation, and both of the twins are weighing offers from Duke, Kentucky, Miami, Florida and Florida State.

Richardson, meanwhile, said he focused on defense the entire game.

“To hold a team to 42 (points) is tough to do,” Richardson said. “This was a great team win. We stuck to the game plan, and we were defensive-minded.”

This game marked the end of the season for Miami High (23-9). The Stingarees went 23-6 since a troubling 0-3 start.

The Stings on Friday were led in scoring by Absalon Cortes (11 points), Jean Joseph (nine) and Romari Robinson (eight).

Miami High coach Humberto Govea praised Columbus in general and Cameron Boozer in particular.

“Cameron is a special player,” Govea said. “He can run the floor like a wing. He is long and agile, and if you make the wrong read he swallows you up on the press.

“The kid is probably going to be a lottery pick. When he comes out of the game, we make a run. They can’t take him out for long.”

Govea had some other pointed comments, however. He clearly didn’t like that the Explorers still had starters in the game with less than two minutes remaining.

“Columbus is a tough team,” Govea said. “They’re not easy to beat. We held them at bay in the first (quarter), but they have a bunch of four-star and five-star (players), some of them from different parts of the country.

“We have a bunch of Miami kids. I’m proud of our guys. We will be OK going forward. We have practically our whole team coming back.

“Our fans were salty because Columbus had starters in up 30 with two minutes left. That was a little silly.”