Basketball Recap: Sports Leadership & Management Takes a Tough Playoff Loss

Sports Leadership & Management and Bell Creek Academy squared off in some playoff action on Friday, but Sports Leadership & Management had to settle for second. They fell 73-64 to the Bell Creek Academy Panthers. The defeat continues a trend for the Spartans in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now lost three in a row.

Neomar Flores

Points (Career)

02/07/25 vs Bell Creek Academy	28
12/03/24 @ Northeast	25
01/13/25 @ Mitchell	24
02/05/25 vs Carrollwood Day	21
01/23/25 @ Victory Christian Academy	20

Despite the loss, Sports Leadership & Management still got an impressive performance from Neomar Flores, who posted 28 points. Those 28 points gave Flores a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Reginald Evans Jr, who earned eight points.

Bell Creek Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Lyrique Sartin out in front who almost dropped a double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds. The game was Sartin's 24th in a row with at least 15 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Josiah Payne, who went 7 for 9 en route to 17 points in addition to seven boards and three blocks.

Sports Leadership & Management's loss dropped their record down to 16-10. As for Bell Creek Academy, the victory made it two in a row for them and also bumps their season record up to 16-10.

The two teams are set to take part in some playoff action in their next matches. Sports Leadership & Management will challenge Indian Rocks Christian at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. One thing working in Sports Leadership & Management's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last three matchups. As for Bell Creek Academy, they will take on Clearwater Central Catholic at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Bell Creek Academy knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Clearwater Central Catholic likes a good challenge.