Elyzee’s spectacular performance leads Pines Charter over Aquinas and back to state

Pembroke Pines Charter senior forward Jeremy Elyzee saved his finest performance of his two-year Jaguars career on Friday in the Region 4-6A final against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Elyzee scored the first 11 of Pines Charter points in the fourth quarter to build a 10-point lead en route to a 64-57 victory. Elyzee, who just committed to Southwest Louisiana, finished with a career high 28 points.

The Jaguars (23-4) are seeking their second boys’ basketball championship since 2021 and will face Ponte Vedra on March 7 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

“It was the desire to win,” said Elyzee about his start of the fourth quarter. “This is my senior year, and I didn’t want to waste it by losing. I thank my team for trusting me with the ball. We came out with the right energy and that’s how we were able to pull through.”

He scored 22 of his team’s 35 points in the second half.

“Jeremy just got going and we went to the hot hand.,” Pembroke Pines Charter coach Dave Roca said. “I don’t know what got into him, but I’m glad it was tonight. St. Thomas was a tough out.”

Despite Elyzee’s second half play, the Raiders (21-7) closed to within two at 59-57 following a 3-pointer by Justus-Dylan Herbert with just under a minute to play.

Five consecutive free throws by Pines Charter in the final 41.5 seconds helped seal the victory.

Junior guard Maximo Ortego finished with 12 points and senior forward Josh Harris had 10 points for the Jaguars.

Freshman guard Kellson Sandi had a strong first half with 14 points, 12 of those points coming on four three-points. However, the Jaguars defense held him scoreless in the second half.

Sophomore guard Drake Sandi did his best to keep Aquinas close with 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second half. Ayden Ambrose added 10 points for the Raiders.

“Elyzee took over during that stretch in the fourth quarter and obviously he got it going,” St. Thomas coach Julius Sandi said. “He had a great game and willed his to a great victory. We’re a young team and the future is bright for us. We could have done a better job.”