Michel Castro hadn’t been playing very much lately, and he had become discouraged.
Thursday night changed all that.
Castro hit the most crucial shot of the night — a three-pointer from the left corner — to help the South Miami Cobras rally past visiting Southridge 58-54 in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal.
“This week in practice, he was thinking that he might not play [in this game], and I told him, ‘You never know. Your number might be called,’” South Miami coach Robert Doctor said.
Castro’s shot — his only basket of the game — came with 33 seconds left and gave South Miami a 55-54 lead.
Southridge missed on its next two possessions, and South Miami guard Ezacuras Dawson hit three free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.
South Miami (16-10), which is two wins away from going to state for the third straight year, will play host to Columbus on Tuesday in a regional semifinal.
The Cobras overcame some adversity in this game, including the loss of 6-8 sophomore center Latravian Glover, who fouled out with 7:05 left. He had 14 points and was South Miami’s leading scorer at the time of his exit.
Once he fouled out, other Cobras emerged, including Travvon Barney, who scored 11 points off the bench in just his third game of the season. He missed the first part of the season due to being academically ineligible.
Dawson also stepped up, finishing with 25 points on five three-pointers, eight free throws and a two-pointer.
For Southridge (18-9), it was a bitter defeat on a couple of levels. This was the second year in a row that the Spartans have been eliminated by South Miami. In addition, Southridge led by as many as six points in the fourth quarter before Dawson, Barney and Castro led the comeback.
Southridge guard Shawn Chandler had 25 points, and teammate Raquan Mitchell added 15 points. Mitchell had perhaps the dunk of the season in the third quarter when he took the ball coast to coast and soared over a couple of Cobras defenders.
“[Chandler] played like he didn’t want to lose,” Southridge Coach John Herron said. “We had the game, and then we had a communication.
“We never switch, and [yet] we switched on that last play. We left [Castro] wide open. It’s tough. Two years in a row [losing to South Miami], and we lose another close game.”
SM: Castro 3, Dawson 25, Glover 14, Barney 11, Brown 2, M. Davis 2. SR: Chandler 25, Mitchell 15, Jerry 4, McNair 4, Bartley 4, Keller 2.Half: SM 18-17; Three-pointers: Dawson 5, Castro 1, Chandler 1.
▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal — Miami Central 70, Nova 40: The Central Rockets boys’ basketball team advances with the help of their long athletic backcourt and a stout defense.
The Rockets pulled away with a 12-point lead early in the game, keeping Nova to only four points in the first quarter.
The Rockets’ effective defense was anchored by the backcourt duo of Deandre Wynn and Ira McFadden, who in a tandem led the team in blocks and key defensive stops.
Central took advantage of their defensive stops by pushing the tempo and getting multiple key fast-break points.
The leading scorer for the Rockets was Anton Wilkerson with 19 points, most effective in the paint.
RUSSELL QUINOA
CEN: Saunders 7, Turner 14, Nunnally 9, Thomas 2, Wilson 4, Wilkerson 19, Occi 5, Wynn 2, McFadden 2. NOV: Griffin 2, Walker 2, Similen 6, William 6 Coddington 2, Thompson 11. Halftime MC 34-20. Rebounds: Wilkerson 10. Assist: McFadden 7. Steals: Wilson 6. Blocks: Wynn 4. CEN 20-4. NOV 14-3.
▪ Region 4-2A quarterfinal — Deerfield Beach Zion Lutheran 81, Champagnat Catholic 43: Zion didn’t waste any time jumping all over the Lions (26-2), who entered the game ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A by FABC/Source Hoops.
Zion (21-6), ranked No. 4 in the state, will travel to play Boca Raton Grandview Prep, the team it lost to in last week’s District 13-2A final, at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
▪ Region 4-3A quarterfinal — Westminster Christian 56, International School of Broward 45: ISB: J. Issac 15, A. Munnings 11, C. Pierre 10, J. Anderson 5, B. Perez 2, C. Burton 2 7 WCS: J. Raine 1, T. Halfaker 4, K. Paicely 4, J. Velazquez 9, J. Brown 23, J. Rivera 3, J. Avery 13.Half: 29-21WCS. Three- Pointers ISB: J. Issac 3, A. Munnings 1, J. Anderson 1. WCS: J. Velazquez 2, J. Avery 1. Rebounds: J. Avery 8. Assists: Paicely 5. Steals: Velazquez 3. WCS: 24-4.
▪ Region 4-4A quarterfinal — Coral Springs Charter 66, St. Andrews 53: CSC (18-6): Kinsey 15, Lee 16, Borders 10, Vaughn 18, Hylton 7. SA: Bargas 10, Fishman 9, Haeffner 6, Neugebower 2, Polite 26. Rebounds: Lee 10, Vaughn 9. Half: 35-21 CSC.
SOFTBALL
▪ Reagan 21, North Miami Beach 6: WP: Melanie Isaza 8 K’s, 1-1. Top Performers: Ariana Bueno 2-3. Claudia Pareja 3-4. Gabrielle Cutie 1-2. Ayleen Pardo 2-2. Monica Perez 2 PO.
▪ Lourdes 14, Coral Park 4: WP: Natasha Gonzalez. Top Performers: Alexis Gimbel 3-4, single, 2 doubles, 5 RBI. B. Emalie Hernandez 2-4, 2 singles, RBI. Cynthia Morera 2-2, 2 singles, RBI.
▪ Monarch 4, Coral Glades 2: WP: Estroff 4-0, 6 K’s, 4 BB, 5 hits, 7 IP. LP: Osteen. Top Performers: Goldman 3 RBI, 2 hits, single, tripple. MON 5-0. CG 1-3.
▪ Chaminade Madonna 8, St. Brendan 0: WP: Lexi Patalano (1-0). LP: Perez (0-1). Top Performers: Mariah Aponte 2-2, BB, run, 2 RBI, SB. Cecilia Siegel 2-3, BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Bridgette Tuxbury 2-3, BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2B. CM 2-0. SB 1-1.
▪ Krop 12, Miami Beach 2: WP: Karina Delarosa. LP: O. Sechrist. Top Performers: Taylor Coachman 3-4, 3B, HR, 3 RBI. Karina Delarosa 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI. Yuria Kusatake 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI.
▪ Mourning 17, Norland 2: WP: Alicia Bowen. V. Davidson 1-1, 4 RBI. C. Dorlean 1-1, 3 RBI. A. Bowen 1-1, 3 RBI.
▪ Pines Charter 15, Boynton Beach 0: WP: Gonzalez (1-0). LP: Tee. Top Performers: Devesa 3-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs. Gomez 2-2, 2 RBI, 3 runs. PC 4-0.
▪ American 16, Westland 0: WP: Alexis Castroman (3-0) 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB. LP: A. Santana. Top Performers: Kayleen Romero 2-3, HR, 2 B, 4 RBI. Yanelys Fernandez 2-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI. Alexis Guzman 3-4, 3 RBI.
▪ Ransom Everglades 4, Archbishop Carroll 4: H. Holle 2-4, 4 RBI. A. Hyde 2-4, 2 runs.
▪ Late Wednesday — Coral Reef 6, Southridge 0: WP: Michelle Mesa 2-0, 4K's. Top performers: Carsyn Gordon 2-3. Michelle Ryan 2-3. Kylan Becker 1-3, 3B, RBI. CR 3-0.
BASEBALL
▪ Belen 3, Pine Crest 1: WP: Pablo Arevalo. LP: Sam Worth. Top Performers: Christian Del Castillo double, 2 RBI. Alex Novoa SV.
▪ Killian 5, Calusa Prep 2: WP: Vladimir Nunez. LP: Carlos Morieta. Top Performers: Herbert Iser 2-4, double. Eddie Demuries 2-3, double. Freddie Zamora 2-4, double. KIL 2-0.
▪ Miami Beach 7, Sunset 0: WP: Blake Brattain CG shutout, 5 K’s 2 H. Top Performers: Trent Bryan 2-4, 3B, 3 RBI. Themi Pineda 2-4, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI. Jonathan Varela 1-3, 2B.
▪ Mourning 10, Central 0: Top Performers: Alex Perez 2-3, 4 RBI. Edward Alvarez 2-2, 3 runs. Jim Varona 3 IP’s 7 K's, 1-2, 2 RBI, 3 Runs. ATM 2-0.
▪ Late Wednesday — Pines Charter 12, South Broward 1: WP: Brett Alayon 1-0, 4 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER. Top Performers: Trent Herzog 2-2, RBI. Matthew Rondon 2-2. Anthony Nogueiras 2-4, 2 RBI.
▪ Late Wednesday — Miami Christian 5, Westland 4: WP: Chris Ortero 5 IP, 5 K’s. Top Performers: Sebastian Dayoub 1-2, 2 R. Aldo Ripley 2-2, 2 B, SB. Laz Gonzalez 2-2, HR, 5 RBI.
▪ Late Wednesday — Southridge 6, Southwest 0: WP: Ryan Margolis 5 IP, 0R, 3H, 6K (1-0). LP: Grana. Top Performers: Nick Deegan 2-2, double, 3 RBI. Arlain Sesin 2-4. SR 1-0, SW 0-2.
▪ Late Wednesday — Somerset Academy 10, SLAM 7: WP: Phillip Ximinies. LP:Arturo Sardina. SV: Brandon Valentin. Top Performers: Kenny Moreno-Costa 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI. Mark Bejar double. Brandon Valentin 3K’s.
BOYS’ TENNIS
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 4, Douglas 3: Ernewein (CG) 8-4. Soong (CG) 9-7. Levine 8-3. Marnell 8-4. Kurtz 8-1. Doubles: Ernewein/Soong (CG) 8-1. Gagne/Wich 8-1.
▪ TERRA 4, Miami Springs 3: Derek Rasmussen (8-7). Gary Yeung (8-2). Jaime Danies (8-5). TER 1-2.
▪ Columbus 5, Palmetto 2: Thomas Mccoy (COL) 8-3. Willie Yang (PAL) 9-8 (8-6). Jake Guttentag (PAL) 8-1. Garrett Huber (PAL) 8-1. Luis Hines (PAL) 8-5. Doubles: Mccoy/Fernandez (COL) 8-2. Hines/Woodbury (PAL) 8-4. COL 3-0.
▪ Mourning 7, Reagan 0: Tom Jaworski 8-0. Aziz Abydou 8-0. Edward Luca 8-0. ATM 3-0.
▪ Monarch 6, Plantation 0: Tyler Kruger 6-4. Eric Phan 6-0. Doubles: Phan/Kruger 6-1.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
▪ Monarch 4, Plantation 3: Mariela Declet (PLA) 6-1. Jessica Diez (MON) 6-2. Maria Baglieri (MON) 6-0. Lun Cing (PLA) (6-0). Doubles: Mantilla/Nguyen 6-1. Diez/Baglieri 6-0.
▪ Krop 5, North Miami Beach 2: Denisse Gampel 8-0. Alexa Roth 8-5. Amanda Berman 8-0. KRO 3-0.
▪ Douglas 8, Cardinal Gibbons 0: Abbanat 8-0. Bynoe 8-0. Giorgione 8-6. Schreiber 8-5. Bennin 8-6. Doubles: Abbanat/Bynoe 8-0. Giorgione/Schreiber 8-5.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
▪ Cardinal Gibbons 13, North broward Prep 3: Trent Motta 4 goals, assist. RJ Breton 5 goals, assist. Luke Motta 3 assists. James Foster 2 goals. Cole OHallaron 2 goals, assist. Joe Maguire 8 SV.
▪ Late Wednesday — Archbishop McCarthy 13, Flanagan 7: Ty Espada-Murtha 4 goals, assist. Kyle Noble 3 goals, assist. Ryan Marek 19 face off wins. Michael Mancini 5 groundballs, goal.
▪ Late Wednesday — Cardinal Gibbons 13, Coral Springs Charter 2: Luke Motta 4 goals, 3 assists. Cole OHallaron 2 goals, 2assists. RJ Breton 2 goals, assist.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
▪ Douglas 10, West Broward 8: Juliette Cusano 5 goals, 6 draw controls. Lauren O'Connell 6 draw controls, 5 forced turnovers, 6 ground balls, goal, assist. WB 1-1.
▪ American Heritage Delray 17, University School 7: Jada Preston 3 goals. Caroline Kapp 3 goals, assist. Peru Schectman goal. Sydney Soltau 12 saves.
▪ Late Wednesday — Cardinal Newman 10, Cardinal Gibbons 9: Michelle Miggins 3 goals. Susanne Seiler 2 goals. Paige Dudziak 2 goals. CG 0-1.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
▪ Westminster Academy 23, Cardinal Gibbons 6: Mary Elizabeth Mahoney 5 goals. Naomi Sandets 5 goals. Koral LaStella 4 goals. CG: M. Gest 3 goals.
BOYS’ WATER POLO
▪ Westminster Academy 18, Cardinal Gibbons 9: Jason Woodburn 9 goals. Will Scasserra 5 goals. F.Crist 7 goals.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Region 4-4A final: West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman at Monsignor Pace, 7
Region 4-3A final: West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy at Miami Country Day, 7
Region 4-2A final: Calusa Prep at Boca Grandview Prep, 7
BOYS’ SOCCER
Class 5A state semifinal at Eastern State College in Melbourne: Cypress Bay vs. Haines City, 5:30
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