Zion Lutheran’s small-ball game comes up big against Gulliver Prep
Gulliver Prep and its twin towers had no answer for Zion Lutheran’ small ball attack at the Tournament of Champion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic on Monday.
Zion, led by Eli Abaev’s 16 points, opened a commanding 37-17 halftime lead, weathered a spirited second half comeback, and beat the Raiders 65-44 at the Coral Springs Gymnasium.
Gulliver Prep featured 7-0 foot junior Victor Uyaelunmo and 6-8 Solomon Uyaelunmo, but it was Zion Lutheran’s vaunted transition game that proved to be the difference.
Zion showed why it is ranked No. 2 in 2A, jumping on the Raiders with a 16-5 blitz, sparked by four three-pointers. From there, the Lions remained in control for much of the game.
Zion 6-8 senior Shaq Carter, making only his third appearance this season, proved to be the most important big man, scoring 14 points, including a layup, alley-oop dunk off a lob pass from Brandon Bornelus (12 points), and a floater from the baseline to push the lead to 63-44 with 20 seconds left.
“It’s great to play with the guards on this team,” said Carter, who suited up for just the third time this season. “They drive the ball, give us easy shots and put great pressure on the ball. We just came in did what we had to do to play team basketball.”
Zion got two crucial plays at the end of the second and third quarters to take away whatever momentum Gulliver was building. First, it was Brandon Bornelus with two consecutive buckets to close the second quarter, and then Valentino Gifford had the presence of mind to toss in an off-balance shot on an offensive rebound to beat the third-quarter buzzer.
Solomon Uyaelunmo’s had a team-high 13 points, and Justin Perez sparked the Raiders’ second half comeback with eight of his 12 points. Victor Uyaelunmo finished with six points but had two crucial baskets to cut the lead to 53-42 with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Jamal Mashburn, the former NBA All-Star and Heat player, watched from the stands as his son, Jamal Mashburn Jr., a standout eighth-grader for Gulliver, scored four points.
Zion Lutheran 65, Gulliver Prep 44: GP (10-12): Robinson 3, Mashburn 4, Perez 12, So. Uyaelunmo 13, Jackson 4, V. Uyaelunmo 6. ZL (17-5): Mulder 3, Bornelus 12, Louis 10, Abaev 16, Gifford 6, Carter 14, Jerome 3. Half: ZL 37-17. Three-pointers: Bornelus 2, Mulder 1, Louis 1.
More Boys’ Basketball
Miami Norland star Dewan Huell will formally be presented with his invitation to the upcoming McDonald’s All-American game at a ceremony Tuesday at his high school.
Huell, a 6-10 senior power forward/center who has signed with the University of Miami, is one of 24 players selected to the prestigious annual game, which will be played March 30 in Chicago at the United Center.
Huell is averaging 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, helping the Vikings to a 17-3 record so far this season.
RESULTS
▪ Scheck Hillel 49, Archbishop Curley 45: AC (12-8): Anilus 14, Augustine 8, Castillo 6, Acosta 6, Fields 4, Alphonso 4, Cajuste 3. Hil (8-9): Klainbaum 17, Moskovitz 16, Zaken 15, Budman 1. Half: Hil 24-14. Three-pointers: Acosta 2, Anilus, Moskovitz. Rebounds: Klainbaum 8, Zaken 8. Assists: Moskovitz 5. Steals: Klainbaum 3, Moskovitz 3.
▪ MLK Classic in Jacksonville: Boyd Anderson 64, Jacksonville Ribault 60: Ribault: Hardeman 7, Kemp 13, Stripling 6, Hicks 12, Ginnie 20, Wells 2. BA (12-7): Brown 11, Clarke 21, Patrick 14, Jean 5, Joseph 4, Lynch 9. Half: Ribault 38-37. Three-pointers: Brown 2, Ginnie 2, Clarke 1, Hardeman 1, Kemp 1.
▪ Wally Keller Classic: Miami Country Day 70, Tampa Prep 56: MCD: Cambo 10, Doumbia 20, Escalante 8, Friedman 11, Lynott 15, Stier 6. TP: Schaffer 6, Dobbins 2, Goulbourne 4, Fletcher 4, Sibert 17, Ward 23. Half: MCD: 41-30. Three-pointers: Doumbia 3, Friedman 3, Cambo 2, Escalante 2, Stier 2, Ward 2, Lynott 1,Schaffer 1. Rebounds: Doumbia 22. Assists: Friedman 12. Steals: Friedman 6.
▪ Killian 58, Palmetto 43: Palm: Hardaway 16, Eisenberg 3, Percy 7, Escobar 5, Guerro 4, Shinester 6, Thomas 2. Kil: Russo 2, Smith 8, Katz 7, Anthony 7, Avila 5, Martinez 3, Coscia 15, King 4, Calatayud 9. Half: Kil 32-22. Three-pointers: Coscia 3, Calatayud 2, Hardaway 2, Katz 2, Anthony 1, Eisenberg 1, Escobar 1, Martinez 1, Smith 1.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Miami Country Day School 60, Dillard 47: MCD (18-6): M. Alvarez 5, S. Provenzano 2, C. Lewis 15, M. Edwards 5, D. Jackson 10, K. Marshall 17, A. Berry 6. Dillard: S. Woods 5, D. Frazier 2, T. Wilks 4, J. Allen 12, S. Huggins 3, G. Johnson 8, R. Grier 4, A. Emmanuel 9. Half: MCD 23-17. Three-pointers: Lewis 2, Marshall 2. Rebounds: Edwards 8. Assists: Lewis 5. Steals: Lewis 4. Blocks: Marshall 2.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 64, Taravella 41: CG (15-3): Antoine 19, Cohen 16, Zeschke 9, Tumminello 8, Armstead 8, Gregos 2, Fox 2. Tar (4-16): Delcio-Rosado 19, Finklestein 17, Harris 2, Qutar 2, Longman 1. Half: CG 25-13. Rebounds: Antoine 12, Fox 9, Cohen 8. Assists: Tumminello 3. Steals: Tumminello 5, Antoine 3.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 63, University 26: CG (16-3): Antoine 20, Gregos 15, Cohen 12, Armstead 8, Tumminello 3, Zeschke 3, LaBranche 2. University School (10-8): Perez 9, Shashona 6, Fienstein 5, Katz 3, Frye 3. Half: CG 43-11.
BOYS’ SOCCER
▪ District 16-2A quarterfinals: Westminster Christian 6, St. Brendan 0: Nick Auerbacher goal, Dylan Petrucci goal, Renzo Brambilla goal, Tyler Persaud goal, Kyle Kissane goal, Solon Robbins goal, Mike Figg assist, Jeremy Hewett assist, Charles Gonzalez assist, Grant Parker assist. WC 10-7-2.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
GMAC quarterfinals at Ferguson: South Dade vs. Norland, 3:30; Hialeah vs. Ferguson, 5; At Miami High: South Miami vs. Reagan, 6; Miami High vs. Booker T. Washington, 7:30
BOYS’ SOCCER
District 12-5A quarterfinals at Douglas: Deerfield Beach vs. Delray Atlantic, 4; Coral Springs vs. Monarch, 6; Boca Raton Spanish River vs. Boca Raton, 8
District 14-5A quarterfinals at Milander: Flanagan vs. Krop, 5:30; McArthur vs. Hialeah Gardens, 7:30
District 15-5A opening round: Southwest at Braddock, 3
District 16-5A semifinals at Harris Field: Ferguson vs. Killian, 3:30; Palmetto vs. Varela, 5:30
District 14-4A quarterfinals at Blanche Ely: Boca Raton Olympic Heights vs. Boyd Anderson, 5; Northeast at Blanche Ely, 7
District 16-4A quarterfinals at Traz Powell: Mater Academy vs. Terra, 5; Reagan vs. Westland Hialeah, 7
District 14-2A quarterfinals: International School of Broward at Cardinal Gibbons, 5; Pine Crest at University School, 5; FAU at North Broward Prep, 5; Coral Springs Charter at Boca St. Andrews, 5
District 15-2A quarterfinals at Ransom Everglades: Chaminade-Madonna vs. MAST, 4; La Salle vs. Edison, 7
District 12-1A semifinals at Highlands Christian: Boca Christian-Zion Lutheran winner vs. Donna Klein, 5; Yeshiva-St. PJP II winner vs. Highlands Christian, 7
District 15-1A opening round at Kendall Soccer Park: Greater Miami Academy vs. Archbishop Curley, 2
District 16-1A semifinals: Riviera Prep at Palmer Trinity, 3:30; Marathon at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30
This story was originally published January 18, 2016 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Zion Lutheran’s small-ball game comes up big against Gulliver Prep."