Riviera Prep boys basketball puts in the work to extend its state championship run
Dante Allen let out a big scream when the final buzzer sounded.
He then screamed the word, “Yeah!” as loud as he could toward the section of Riviera Prep fans, that included his father, Miami Heat assistant coach Malik Allen, as they cheered.
A few feet behind him, Allen’s teammate Myles Fuentes hopped slowly on an injured ankle to try and join the celebration.
That’s when Riviera Prep coach Tony Shahbaz and athletic director Courtney Young swooped to help and put Fuentes’ arms over their shoulders to get him over there.
Teamwork.
It symbolized why this joyful scene took place on Friday night at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland after Riviera Prep defeated Windermere Prep 68-57 in the Class 3A final to win their second consecutive state championship.
“I want to believe this is a real blessing for the amount of work we put in,” Allen said. “It started right when that buzzer sounded last year. We know what our goal was, we knew we wanted to get back here. It took a lot of early mornings and late nights that people didn’t see, but they are going to see it now. That’s why when that buzzer hit, it’s a very emotional time.”
Allen has been at the heart of a three-year run for Riviera Prep (25-8) during which they have made it to Lakeland each year, losing in their first trip to the state final in heartbreaking fashion by one point before returning and securing back to back titles.
And it doesn’t appear likely to end anytime soon as Riviera Prep has no seniors on its roster.
“There were a lot of things that went on behind the scene, not negative, but just the ups and downs of starting two freshmen and having a team with no seniors,” Shahbaz said. “I’m sure everyone is going to ask me which team was better? They are both special. Last year was my baby. It was the first year, this year is so special because they just bought in. And now they will go for the legendary three-peat.”
Allen, a 2025 four-star prospect who is being recruited by multiple Division-I schools including Villanova and Michigan, finished with 26 points and six rebounds and helped the Bulldogs pull away in the second half after a highly physical contest in the first half.
But as usual with Riviera Prep, it’s not all about one player.
Gustavo Guimaraes Alves totaled 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Mason Fuentes had 14 points and seven assists.
“He is the most underappreciated superstar in the country, he never gets the credit he deserves because he plays the game the right way, always,” Shahbaz said. “He does not care about stats, he does not care about mistakes, he does not care about social media, he is the ultimate winner along with other guys that sacrifice every single day.”
Fuentes’ brother, Myles, totaled six points and two steals in 21 minutes despite playing with a sprained ankle.
Shahbaz said after the game that Fuentes, who sat out Wednesday’s semifinal, was playing at 45 percent at best.
“I just had to push through it, it was the last game of the season,” Fuentes said. “I trust my team. I had to put my heart on defense even though I was handicapped on offense. They used me as a decoy a little bit but I still locked up on defense. I take pride in that.”
The Bulldogs have formed one of the most talented teams in the state.
It’s a squad that begins workouts as early as 4:45 a.m. before school starts and then will practice in the late afternoon as well.
The Fuentes brothers and Guimaraes Alves drive together every morning from Boca Raton for over an hour and a half to get to those morning sessions in time and then go back late afternoon on a similarly long drive.
“Since day one when I came in six years ago, I said I’m going to change the culture, we are going to make this into a college program, we are going to get them ready, we are going to do right by them,” Shahbaz said. “We installed study halls, we tracked shots. I always tell them I will do anything for them as long as they work hard and they work harder than anyone else.
“Obviously the players are important, but we have the best coaching staff in the world, our administration went above and beyond this year, from our former owner Peter Cohen, our Director (Kara) Locke, Courtney (Young), Mark Schusterman, all of them make this possible,” Shahbaz said. “I love to give everyone their flowers because the head coach and players get all the credit, but believe me when I tell you they do as much as I do and I love them all.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2024 at 10:44 AM.
