5 Takeaways: Fort Lauderdale Dillard at Miramar
Class 7A Fort Lauderdale Dillard and Class 9A Miramar met in Miramar on Monday night in a non-district match-up of unbeaten programs.
Dillard used its size and experience to run away from a young, talented group at Miramar, 73-51. The Panthers, now 6-0, led 37-14 by halftime and 49-22 going to the fourth. Miramar falls to 3-1.
Here are 5 Takeaways from the game:
Dillard bigs impress
Dillard’s interior players Makerere Williams (2019), Jalen Haynes (2020) and J’vonni Roblejo (2020) combined for 47 points in the victory.
The 6-foot-6 Williams scored 12 points to get the Panthers off to a good start and finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds. The 6-7 Haynes contributed 16 points/9 rebounds, while Roblejo tacked on 11 points. Williams and Haynes have made excellent progress from 2017-18.
“[The plan was] use our size because they were weak on the inside,” said Williams (pictured). “Stop them from shooting because they are a great jump-shooting team.”
And more length coming
Dillard’s length will only get better down the road. The Panthers hope to get 6-5 junior Kirt Bromley back in January.
Bromley, who transferred from St. John Paul in Palm Beach County, currently has his right foot in a boot.
He said Monday he goes back to the doctor Jan. 10.
New era at Miramar
After making the state basketball tournament a season ago, Miramar is extremely young … but very talented.
You can see why coach Tramaine Stevens is excited about the future.
Monday freshmen Deshawn Jean-Charles (6-6) and Kaleb Walters (6-4) combined for 18 points. Jean-Charles was able to draw several fouls and made eight free throws on the night. Walters connected on two 3-pointers among his 8 points.
“It’s up and down,” Stevens said of his young crew. “Sometimes you see the really young team and then sometimes you see a team of what they can be.
“The freshmen — they are special. They’re going to have people coming to my gym and wanting them right away. Kaleb, he’s super-duper athletic; Deshawn’s IQ is super high; Faheim [Meran], the point guard, he doesn’t play as much but he’s going to be special because he does things for his age level that’s far beyond those other kids.”
Turn up the D
Dillard has not allowed more than 54 points this season.
In fact, Monday was just the second time an opponent hit the 50-point mark vs. the Panthers.
Dillard allowed 32 points to Northeast, 40 to Sagemont, 39 to Piper, 54 to Pines Charter, 49 to Somerset Pines and 51 to Miramar.
“That’s what we’ve been working on,” Williams said. “Coach has been emphasizing that in practice.”
In double figures
Junior guard Brent Davis and sophomore guard Khamaury McMillan hit double figures for Miramar.
Davis scored 9 of his 12 in the second half and McMillan had all 12 of his in the final two periods.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.