FORT MYERS, Fla. – The State Farm City of Palms Classic was on the verge of becoming the Austin Rivers Classic at halftime of Tuesday's semifinal showdown between No. 22 Winter Park (Fla.) and No. 23 Milton (Ga.).
After a 42-point performance in the quarterfinals, the spectacular future Duke Blue Devil poured in 16 more in the first half against Milton, helping Winter Park build a 33-27 lead.
Shannon Scott, Milton
Photo by Jim Redman
But as the third quarter began, it was Milton point guard
Shannon Scott putting the cape on and carrying his team to Wednesday night's finals against
St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) at Bishop Verot High School with a 63-62 win over heavy crowd favorite Winter Park.
Not a bad way to celebrate your 18th birthday.
"Shannon Scott played like an All-American," Milton head coach David Boyd said. "He's one the best players in the country. He's something, he really is."
Scott finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists while playing all 32 minutes. More importantly, he attacked and penetrated at will in the second half after the Eagles played tight and stagnated offensively in the first 16 minutes.
"It was a fun game to be part of," Boyd said. "I'm really proud of our kids. I'm proud of our guys for staying in there."
Rivers wound up with 25 points but struggled to create space and find looks thanks to the defense of Vanderbilt-bound Eagle guard Dai-Jon Parker, who was benched to start the second half.
"I just didn't feel like we were getting very much out of him in the first half and I wanted him to think about it, get his mind right and come back and play," Boyd said of Parker. "I give him a lot of credit for the way he played in the second half."
Winter Park knocked Milton out of the City of Palms Classic in the quarterfinals last December, so the victory was especially meaningful for Georgia's defending AAAAA state champions.
"We've been trying for this all year," Parker said. "We wanted to get back and get to the finals. Win and advance."
Georgia Tech-bound Julian Royal also stepped up huge for Milton, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Unheralded guard Jordan Loyd added 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
The Eagles have also overcome some adversity this week as assistant coach Nathan Tornow returned to Georgia after a death in the family. He was the only Milton coach in Fort Myers other than Boyd.
"Our parents have really stepped up and helped us out," Boyd said. "They've done a great job. It's been tough. I can't get two technicals, that's for sure."
Winter Park was bidding to become the first Florida school to win the City of Palms Classic since Miami did it in 1996.
Semifinal: No. 2 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 71, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 61
Michael Gilchrist is praised for just about everything – except his offense.
MaxPreps.com's No. 1-ranked senior prospect in the United States showed he is more than just an athletic and defensive marvel Tuesday night in a semifinal win over Mater Dei.
Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick
Photo by Jim Redman
He can fill it up, too.
"We wanted to get the ball to Mike a lot tonight and get the ball to Mike inside a little bit more," St. Patrick head coach Kevin Boyle said. "He is trying to expand his game, trying to get ready for how he is going to play in college and hopefully beyond."
Gilchrist posted the highest point and rebound totals of the day at the Classic with 34 and 13, respectively. His play helped the Celtics blow open a game that was tied at 33 in the third quarter. They led by as many as 20 before Mater Dei narrowed the gap with late threes.
"He is a complete, complete player," Boyle said of his star.
St. Patrick's hero from Saturday night, Western Kentucky-bound senior guard Derrick Gordon, added 17 points and four assists. But it was a reserve that may have had the biggest impact outside of Gilchrist.
Dakari Johnson – a 6-10 freshman – came off the bench to collect 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
"I think he is going to be a handful for most people," Boyle said. "It's scary if he ever goes 7-1, 7-2, which I think he is going to.
"He completely turned the game around. He gets every rebound ... his presence down there, they stopped getting to the rim."
Mater Dei got a big lift from its own star freshman, 6-6 guard Shaqquan Aaron, who drilled six 3-pointers en route to a team-high 24 points. Junior Xavier Johnson scored 18.
St. Patrick has participated in the City of Palms Classic 10 times including this year, but has never claimed the title despite reaching the final five times. That could change against Milton Wednesday night.
"They are obviously very good," Boyle said of Milton. "Donnie Wilkie (tournament vice president) had them the No. 1 seed in this tournament and Donnie usually does a very good job of seeding the teams. But he isn't always right. Let's hope this time he is wrong."
Fifth-place semifinal: Christ School (Arden, N.C.) 73, Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 61
Four Greenies scored in double figures as Christ School pulled away late to improve to 2-1 with a win over Whitney Young.
Brigham Young signee Damarcus Harrison (16 points), Rob Gray (15), Trevonte Dixon (15) and Will Weeks spearheaded the North Carolina school's balanced scoring effort.
Christ School shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half, connecting on 4 of 5 3-point attempts in the process.
Luke Hager was Whitney Young's leading scorer for the second time in three games at the City of Palms, going for 14 points and six rebounds. The Dolphins used six players listed at 6-foot-6 or taller in the game, including 6-10 sophomore Thomas Hamilton (five points, eight rebounds) and 6-9 Jahlil Okafor (eight points, three rebounds).
Fifth-place semifinal: Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) 71, Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.) 68
Dwyer took a 20-point lead into halftime, but future North Carolina Tar Heel James McAdoo helped Norfolk Christian stage a furious rally that fell short as a desperation 3-pointer in the final seconds missed the mark.
McAdoo finished with 24 points – including 18 in the second half – but the Ambassadors weren't able to slow down Dwyer quarterback/guard Jacoby Brissett, who countered with 22 points and eight rebounds of his own.
Victor Adams added 15 points for the Panthers. Joell James – one of the tournament's more intimidating inside players at 6-foot-10 and 280 pounds – pulled down 10 rebounds.
Consolation: Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.) 43, Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.) 41
Tyrone Haughton needed every inch of his 6-foot-9 frame to reach up and stuff an Angel Rodriguez miss as time expired, giving Dr. Krop a last-second win over Melrose.
Rodriguez tried a spectacular up-and-under attempt that bounced off the rim. Haughton's length came in handy as he stretched past several would-be Melrose rebounders for the putback.
Bryan Delancy led the Miami school with 13 points. Cedric McAfee and Telvin Wilkerson paced Melrose with 10 apiece.
The Lightning, who bounced back from a 10-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Golden Wildcats 20-4 in the third quarter, improved to 2-1 in Fort Myers and 11-1 overall. Melrose dropped to 1-2 at the COP and 9-5 overall.
Consolation: Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 70, Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.) 62
The hot shooting of Adonis Burbage (24 points) and Isaac Cohen (21) helped Orlando Christian Prep earn its second win in as many days.
Burbage and Cohen combined to hit on 17 of 22 field goal attempts and the Faith Warriors shot 52 percent as a team.
Riverside Academy's Ricardo Gathers recorded his third double-double in three contests with 17 points and 11 boards.
Consolation: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 77, Fort Myers 60
Bishop Gorman built a 44-23 halftime lead against Fort Myers to finish with a 2-2 record in the event.
The Gaels received scoring from 10 different players, led by 24 from star junior guard Shabazz Muhammad and 16 from 6-9 wing Rosco Allen.
The Nevada school will head to the opposite coast next week to participate in the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore.
Consolation: Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 66, North Port (Fla.) 55
Christ the King guards Omar Calhoun and Isaiah Lewis combined for 41 points to help the Royals earn their first victory in Fort Myers over North Port.
The Bobcats received another big scoring effort from junior guard Larry Taylor, who finished with 27 points for the second-straight game. Central Florida signee Kasey Wilson tallied 18 points and eight rebounds.
Tuesday's statistical leaders
Points
34 – Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick
27 – Larry Taylor, North Port
25 – Austin Rivers, Winter Park
24 – Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman
24 – Evin Graham, Fort Myers
24 – Adonis Burbage, Orlando Christian Prep
24 – James McAdoo, Norfolk Christian
24 – Shaqquan Aaron, Mater Dei
22 – Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer
21 – Isaac Cohen, Orlando Christian Prep
21 – Omar Calhoun, Christ the King
20 – Isaiah Lewis, Christ the King
20 – Julian Royal, Milton
Rebounds
13 – Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick
12 – Dakari Johnson, St. Patrick
11 – Ricardo Gathers, Riverside Academy
11 – Joell James, Dwyer
10 – Julian Royal, Milton
10 – Austin Rivers, Winter Park
9 – Jordan Montgomery, Orlando Christian Prep
9 – Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei
8 – Omar Calhoun, Christ the King
8 – Chris Ortiz, Christ the King
8 – Kasey Wilson, North Port
8 – Ben Carter, Bishop Gorman
8 – Isaac Cohen, Orlando Christian Prep
8 – Thomas Hamilton, Whitney Young
Assists
8 – David Brown, Mater Dei
7 – Gio Guzman, Bishop Gorman
6 – Justice Montgomery, Orlando Christian Prep
6 – T.D. Dixon, Christ School
6 – Shannon Scott, Milton
6 – Brett Comer, Winter Park
5 – T.J. Curry, Christ the King
5 – Lucas Martin-Julien, Riverside Academy
5 – Jarrel Lane, St. Patrick
Wednesday's schedule
8:20 a.m. – Challenge-round game
10 a.m. – Challenge-round game
11:40 a.m. – St. Mark's vs. Westchester Country Day
1:20 p.m. – Dr. Krop vs. Orlando Christian Prep
3 p.m. – Christ School vs. Dwyer
4:40 p.m. – Academy of the New Church vs. Urspring, Germany
7:30 p.m. – Winter Park vs. Mater Dei
9:30 p.m. – Milton vs. St. Patrick
