In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, FloridaProspects.com held its annual MKL Classic at Orlando Jones High School this past weekend.  There were eight games spread over Friday and Saturday evenings.  Other commitments kept us away from Friday night’s action but we had circled this event on our calendars several months ago and made sure that we were there on Saturday.

Gainesville The Rock vs. West Orange

The Rock played well at Jim Haley’s Kingdom of the Sun event over the holidays while West Orange win over Winter Park had the Warriors feeling confident about themselves.  The Rock opened the scoring with a tip slam by 6’5 junior Patrick Konan.  West Orange’s highly touted sophomore Dwayne Gallimore responded with a quick transition basket to know the score at two apiece.  At that point, The Rock broke out on a 9-0 run as 6’8 senior Vlad Kondratyev scored in transition, 6’2 sophomore Scottie Wilbekin hit a pull up jumper and Konan hit a driving layup and a three to make the score 11-2 with just under three and a half minutes left in the first.  Sophomore guard Matt Hardy of West Orange stopped the drought with a stick back and 6’2 senior guard Aaron Richards scored on a drive to get the margin to five, 11-6 at the end of the quarter.

Konan once again opened the scoring for The Rock in the second quarter on an offensive rebound.  Junior forward Darius Johnson responded with two free throws after being fouled on an offensive rebound.  The Rock would maintain a three to six point lead for much of the quarter.  When Wilbekin hit a three with 2:20 remaining in the half, The Rock had its biggest lead at 21-14.  West Orange didn’t fold and rattled off six straight points.  6’8 freshman Owen Perez scored inside with at right handed jump hook, Richards scored on a drive, and Johnson knocked down two free throws with eight seconds remaining.  At half-time, The Rock held a slim 21-20 advantage.

Wilbekin of The Rock scored the first basket in the third, using a nice head fake to get his man out of position and scoring a layup.  Johnson of West Orange hit a floater in the lane and the back and forth affair continued.  After another exchange of buckets, The Rock went on a 6-0 run to get some cushion.  6’5 senior Zygimantas Kairys scored on a drive and then in transition while 6’5 junior Rey Velez cleaned up a miss for another bucket.  Senior forward Malcolm Anderson got West Orange back on the board, first with a score inside and then a mid-range jumper.  But Konan scored on a lob and at the end of three quarters The Rock led 35-28.

The Rock’s run continued into the fourth, opening up with an 11-2 run.  Vlad scored twice inside, while Velez hit two free throws, Konan scored on the break and 5’9 seventh graded Mitchell Wilbekin knocked down a three.  Gallimore of West Orange was the only Warrior to score during this run, blowing past a defender and finishing in traffic.  With three minutes left in the contest, The Rock lead was 46-30.  Hardy of West Orange hit a trio of threes in the final two minutes but the Warriors could never completely close the gap and The Rock headed back to Gainesville with a 53-40 victory.

South Dade vs. Lyman

It’s a long ride from Homestead, but South Dade brought a tall and tough team to take on Lyman.  The bus ride must have gotten to South Dade as Lyman started the game with a 9-0 run as 6’4 senior Mike Bukowski scored inside and then in transition.  6’2 junior Ryan Kidd hit a three and Bukowski scored again, this time two free throws.  6’0 junior guard Vince Williams of South Dade got them on the board with a transition basket and then 5’10 junior guard Brandon Wilcox stole a lazy Lyman pass and scored at the other end.  With four minutes left in the quarter Lyman held 9-4 advantage.  6’1 senior forward Andre Robinson would score twice in the quarter and 6’2 junior forward Gregg Floyd would contribute an offensive rebound for Lyman to round out the half.  6’3 senior Dontravious Floyd of South Dade scored inside on a pass from Williams and Williams hit a triple with ten seconds left in the quarter and after one period of play, Lyman held a 15-9 lead.

Both teams would struggle to score at the outset of the second quarter.  Not until with five minutes remaining did Lyman’s Kidd score.  From there turnovers and missed buckets by Lyman led to an 8-0 run by South Dade to tie the score at seventeen with two minutes left to play before the half.  Williams scored the first four points in the run, hitting two free throws and then a mid-range jumper off the dribble.  6’1 senior guard Adrian Brown and 6’6 sophomore forward Michael Birts each scored a bucket inside.  Lyman bounced back and scored the next five points as Siler and 5’8 junior guard Isaiah Roux scored on the break.  Roux hit one of two free throws and Lyman led by five with just over a minute and a half to go.  South Dade responded with a flourish as Brown hit a free throw, Williams scored two baskets and Wilcox scored off the pick and roll.  At the horn, South Dade had come all the way back to take a 24-22 lead into the locker room.

Both teams scored quickly after the break.  Bukowski hit one of two free throws for Lyman while Williams scored in transition for South Dade.  From there, play got very ragged.  6’6 senior Ed Stinson hit one of two free throws after being fouled inside and 6’7 senior forward Joe Newton put back a missed shot and South Dade had a 29-23 lead with over four minutes remaining.  But that would be all they would score for the remainder of the third.  Bukowski of Lyman would score inside and knock down one of two free throws and 6’2 junior guard Chris Atkins put back an offensive rebound and then hit a free throw.  With one quarter left to play, both teams had 29 points on the scoreboard.

South Dade would take control with a 6-0 run to start the fourth.  Williams hit a floater in the lane, Brown stole the ball and scored and then Williams rung the bell again with a mid-range jumper.  With five and a half minutes to play, South Dade now had a 35-29 margin.  6’8 sophomore Daniel Schardin scored inside and then hit one of two free throws to get the deficit to three.  However, Williams would hit another three and 5’10 junior guard Demetrius Montes stole the ball and scored to get the margin back to seven.  Lyman would get no closer and South Dade could enjoy the long ride back to Homestead with a 46-40 victory.

Miami Norland vs. Orlando Evans

Defending 6A state champs Miami Norland came calling on Orlando Evans in the next game.  Norland had played Friday night in Port Charlotte and rolled into town in time for the game.  Norland’s 6’7 junior forward Marvin Baynham opened the contest with two free throws after being fouled inside.  Evans’ 6’2 senior guard Kevin Harden answered with a bucket inside.  The teams would trade buckets for much of the quarter until a three by Norland’s 6’4 senior Patrick Brown gave the Vikings a 10-7 lead with 2:20 remaining.  At that point, Evans would go on a 6-0 run to end the quarter with Harden scoring on a quick drive and 5’8 sophomore guard Greg Nobles hit in transition.  After one period of play, Evans led 13-10.

Baynham scored twice for Norland early in the second quarter while Nobles finished a drive in traffic to score for Evans.  With a 15-14 Evans lead, Norland went on a missed three/turnover binge and Evans took advantage, scoring six unanswered points.  6’8 junior Brian Patterson put back an offensive rebound, Harden hit a post up basket inside and Nobles hit two free throws.  With four minutes left in the quarter, Evans held a 21-14 lead.  Norland finally got back on track with a transition basket by Brown.  Both teams could only manage one basket the rest of the way in the half and Evans went to the locker room with a 23-18 advantage.

Norland scored the opening basket of the third quarter, a transition basket by 5’7 junior guard Jerome Lynch.  Evans answered with a transition basket by Nobles.  Norland would get within one at 25-24 as senior 5’10 guard Tony Mincy and Lynch each scored on the break.  And this would be how it would go for the third quarter.  Each time Norland looked ready to take a lead, Evans would answer.  Scoring wasn’t easy for either team and Norland looked to Baynham inside for buckets and Evans countered with Harden’s quickness in getting to the basket.  Each player produced a couple of buckets in the last two minutes of the period and with one quarter to play Evans was holding on to a 31-30 advantage.

Norland took its first lead at 33-31 after Mincy hit a three.  From that point it would be all Evans, as the Trojans went on a 16-2 run.  During this time, Harden scored six points, Nobles scored seven, and 6’3 junior forward Terrell Christian and Patterson hit one of two free throws.  Turnovers and missed threes doomed Norland and with three minutes remaining in the contest Evans held a 47-35 margin.  After a basket by Norland’s Brown, Evans continued to build their lead with another bucket by Patterson, a free throw by 5’10 senior Koral Harris and a three point play by Patterson inside.  Evans’ lead was now 53-37.  A quick six points by Norland, a three by 6’0 sophomore guard Alton Roberts and three free throws by Lynch couldn’t prevent the inevitable.  Evans tacked on a meaningless basket near the buzzer and earned a 55-43 victory.

Boyd Anderson vs. Winter Park

This was pretty much the matchup everyone had come to see.  Boyd Anderson stood atop the state 6A poll with an undefeated record.  Winter Park defeated three nationally ranked teams at the loaded City of Palms in Fort Myers before Christmas and each has spent time in the national rankings.  It was also a possible preview of a game for the state title.  Needless to say, there was a lot of people and a lot of energy in the Jones gym at tipoff.

Winter Park scored first as 6’3 sophomore guard Austin Rivers put back an offensive rebound.  BA’s 6’1 senior guard Martavous Irving scored inside to tie up the game.  After 6’8 junior Adam Jones of Winter Park scored inside, the BA barrage of threes began.  6’3 senior Cedric Smith-Flood and Irving each connected on two triples and with four minutes remaining, BA held a 15-5 advantage.  Winter Park struck right back with a drive by 6’4 junior Robert Lovaglio, a cut to the basket by Rivers and a three by 6’0 junior Isaac Turner.  Winter Park had scored seven points in under a minute to get back to within three, 15-12.  But Rivers was whistled for a technical foul and Irving hit two free throws and on the ensuing possession, Flood hit another three and BA’s lead was now eight, 20-12.  Rivers hit one of two free throws before the end of the quarter and BA held a 20-13 lead.

BA’s quick strike attack hit again to open the second quarter.  5’10 junior guard Marvin Metellus hit a three and then put back a teammate’s miss and 6’8 junior Travis Elliott scored inside.  With six and a half minutes left before the half, BA held a 27-13 lead.  Rivers finally broke the drought for Winter Park, hitting a two on a cut to the basket and then Jones scored inside to get the lead down to ten.  A free throw by BA was met with a driving floater by Rivers to cut the deficit to nine.  However, 6’3 senior Bryan Bynes knocked down a three and at the half, BA led Winter Park by a score of 31-19.

Both teams came out of the half time locker room and cranked it up a couple of notches.  Flood hit a three for BA and it was answered by a 9-2 by Winter Park.  Rivers and seven of those while Lovaglio scored in transition.  The BA lead had been cut to 36-28 with just under six minutes left in the quarter.  Flood answered with a three to which Rivers responded with a three of his own.  At this point, BA would outscore Winter Park 13-4 over the rest of the quarter.  Bynes hit a three and then threw one down in transition, Flood hit a driving basket as did Irving and 5’8 junior guard P’Vaughn Ferguson hit a floater.  Winter Park was only able to respond with a bucket by Rivers and a driving basket by Lovaglio.  With one quarter remaining, BA held a 52-35 lead over Winter Park.

The lead got as high as 19 in the final quarter after Irving scored on a strong drive to put BA up 58-39 with just under six minutes to play.  However, at this point, BA seemed to believe the game was over and stepped off the gas.  Winter Park took advantage of this mental mistake.  5’10 senior guard Kyle Schneider scored eight straight points including two threes to cut the lead to thirteen.  BA’s 5’5 senior guard Tyrone Davis hit two free throws and then a drive after spreading the floor.  With three minutes remaining, BA’s lead was still fifteen, 62-47.  That type of lead is never enough when Austin Rivers is on the floor.  He hit four straight points, while sophomore guard James Ferrall scored in transition and Lovaglio hit a mid-range jumper.  With just under a minute remaining, the lead was down to seven, 62-55.  However, Winter Park was forced to foul and while they weren’t perfect from the free throw line, BA was able to hold off Winter Park.  A three by Jones at the buzzer made the final score 66-60 in favor of Boyd Anderson.

Jacksonville Jackson vs. Orlando Jones

The final game of the event featured Jacksonville Jackson against the home team, Orlando Jones.  Jackson opened up the scoring with a transition basket by 6’1 senior guard Bernard Nugent.  Jones’ 6’2 sophomore Angelo Warner would respond with a three.  In fact, Jones’ first four baskets would be threes; another by Warner, one by 6’4 senior Alden Byrom, and one by 6’3 senior Jonathan Thompson.  Jackson continued to score as well, just only two pointers.  6’5 junior Stacey Poole flushed one in transition, 6’6 junior John Brown did the same with an offensive rebound, and 6’2 junior Marquel Wade scored on the break.  With a little over five minutes remaining, Jones held a 12-8 lead.  Jones would continue to hold a lead for the quarter, leading by as much as nine, 25-16 after a three by 6’1 senior Reginald Hollinger.  At that point, Jackson ripped off eight straight points, highlighted by a slam from Wade and after one quarter, Jones led Jackson 25-24.

It would have been unreasonable to expect the teams to continue their torrid pace in the second quarter.  However, it looked like it would continue that way as Jackson scored the first six points of the period.  Nugent hit a floater in the lane, Brown put back a teammates’ miss and Poole hit two free throws.  Jackson now had a 30-25 lead only a minute and a half into the quarter.  Jones answered with a 6-0 run of their own as Thompson hit a driving floater, 6’5 senior Stacey Robinson dunked one on the break and 6’3 senior Willie Scott scored a put back.  Now Jones led 31-30 with four minutes remaining.  Jackson came back with a mid-range jumper by Wade and was answered by a transition basket by Hollinger of Jones.  Brown put back another offensive rebound and Jackson led by one, 34-33 with two minutes remaining.  The teams failed to score the remainder of the quarter so Jackson led by one at the break.

Jones took a three point lead quickly in the third.  Thompson hit a basket and Hollinger knocked down two free throws.  Then Jackson went crazy, going on an 11-0 run.  Wade started it with a bucket inside.  It was followed by a mid-range jumper from Poole, and floater and a three by 6’1 senior Anthony Palmer, and finished with a transition basket by Poole.  Now with under four minutes remaining in the quarter, Jackson had a 45-37 lead.  Jones would get back to within four after buckets by Byrom, Robinson, and Hollinger to make it 47-43 with 2:35 left in the quarter.  But Jackson would again respond with a run as Nugent scored an offensive rebound, and Poole scored on the break and hit two free throws.  The lead was back to ten and would ultimately by eleven, 55-44 in favor of Jackson with one quarter left to play.

The lead would stay that way for much of fourth quarter.  A three by Byrom made it 58-51 with 5:40 to play but then Jackson got the runs again, going on an 8-0 run as Brown and Poole scored offensive rebounds and Wade scored twice in transition.  With just under three minutes to play, Jackson held a 66-51 advantage.  The closest Jones would be able to get at that point would be nine after two free throws by Warner with 1:42 left to play.  Jackson would hit their free throws toward the end and went back to Duval County with a 75-63 victory.