There's no place like home for The First Academy Royals, who bounced back after a tough loss on the road last Monday. They were the clear victor by a 74-53 margin over Melbourne. Given The First Academy's advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 142nd, while the Bulldogs are ranked 407th), the result on Wednesday wasn't entirely unexpected.
The First Academy's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Lorenzo De jesus led the charge by scoring 30 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points De jesus has scored all season. Max Simmons was another key contributor, scoring ten points along with seven assists and six rebounds.
The First Academy pushed their record up to 14-10 with that win, which was their third straight at home. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 71.7 points per game. As for Melbourne, they are on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 8-14.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. The First Academy will take on the Spartans at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Sports Leadership & Management has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 561 points over their last seven contests. As for Melbourne, they and the Eagles will face off at 7:30 p.m. on February 1st without much rest after finishing up games yesterday. Centennial is strutting with some offensive muscle, as they've averaged 65.5 points per game this season.
