Dwyer continues title march

Outside of an early-January loss to Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.) that was later forfeited due to the use of an ineligible player, perhaps no high school basketball team in the country has been more dominant this calendar year than Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).

The Panthers – ranked No. 15 nationally by MaxPreps – continued steamrolling toward Florida's Class 5A state title Saturday night by thrashing Palm Bay (Melbourne) 91-55 in a regional final matchup. Dwyer (30-1) will meet Fort Walton Beach in the state semifinals Friday, March 4.

Senior Victor Adams led the Palm Beach County powerhouse with 20 points. Future University of Florida quarterback Jacoby Brissett added 17 points, nine rebounds, nine steals and seven assists.

Dwyer is averaging 83.3 points per game in three 5A state tournament games, winning those by an average margin of 29 points per game.

Under head coach Fred Ross, the Panthers also reached the semifinals a year ago but were upset by eventual champion Bartow. Dwyer won back-to-back state titles under Ross in 2004 and 2005.

Florida Class 6A regional final: Winter Park 63, DeLand 57

Winter Park also punched its ticket to Florida's championship weekend in Lakeland by overcoming an experienced and determined DeLand squad. The Wildcats are the 6A classification's defending champion and also reached the state semifinals in 2009.

Duke signee and national player of the year candidate Austin Rivers scored a game-high 25 points for Winter Park (26-5).

The Wildcats face Columbus (Miami) next Friday in the state semifinals. Dr. Phillips (Orlando) tangles with Miramar on the other side of the 6A bracket.

Texas Class 5A area round: No. 4 Marcus (Flower Mound) 56, Duncanville 50

On a huge weekend for high school hoops in Texas, Marcus meeting Duncanville in area round play – the second round of seven in a grueling 128-team state tournament – was among the most highly-anticipated contests.

Junior guard Phil Forte continued to shine for the nationally-ranked Marauders, scoring a team-high 20 points. Fellow juniors Nick Banyard and Marcus Smart added 12 apiece.

Marcus (33-1) will face Lewisville – a 71-67 winner over Richland (North Richland Hills) – in the regional quarterfinals. Should they survive that test, the Marauders could see 31-5 North Crowley (Fort Worth) in the regional semifinals.