5 Takeaways: Blanche Ely at St. Thomas Aquinas
Defending Class 8A state champion Pompano Beach Blanche Ely traveled south to face St. Thomas Aquinas in a 8A-District 14 contest. Here are 5 Takeaways from Fort Lauderdale: Two big runs key Ely Blanche Ely used two first-half runs to…
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Continue ReadingDefending Class 8A state champion Pompano Beach Blanche Ely traveled south to face St. Thomas Aquinas in a 8A-District 14 contest.
Here are 5 Takeaways from Fort Lauderdale:
Two big runs key Ely
Blanche Ely used two first-half runs to take command. The Tigers had a 16-2 run in the first quarter and then a 14-0 burst in the second period to lead, 39-16, by halftime, en route to the 63-40 victory.
Since falling to Tampa Hillsborough, 64-47, at the Charger Classic on Jan. 5, Ely has won four straight — including a victory over Dillard — to up its record to 11-6 overall. The Tigers are a perfect 5-0 in the district. STA fell to 8-9.
Evans hits from outside
Lamont Evans IV led Blanche Ely offensively with 19 points. The 5-foot-11 junior connected on four 3-pointers. 2019 guard R.J. Taylor led St. Thomas with 10.
“We’re at 75 percent … we’re progressing,” veteran Ely coach Melvin Randall said. “We’re getting to where we need to be. But we’re not there yet.”
Randall wants his Tigers to pick up their defense and let defense create offense.
Randall has won a record eight FHSAA state championships. He won two at Deerfield Beach and six now at Ely.
Raiders lose point guard
St. Thomas Aquinas 6-3 point guard Lenny Ricca went down with a right foot injury in the first half and did not return.
It was later diagnosed Ricca suffered a Lisfranc injury and he will have an MRI to determine the severity.
Ricca is scheduled to take a visit to Flagler College in St. Augustine in the coming days. The senior has scholarship offers from Oglethorpe University and Berry College in Georgia and Hampden-Sydney in Virginia. He also has interest from five others.
“I will be up at Flagler [College in St. Augustine on a visit], so we’ll see how that goes,” Ricca said. “And then Palm Beach Atlantic has been talking to me. Barry has been talking to me. Nebraska Western, and then Stetson is talking to me about walking on.”
PBA assistant on hand
Palm Beach Atlantic assistant Evan Sizemore was also in attendance to see Ely 2019 forward Joshua Scott.
The 6-5 Scott has an offer from the West Palm Beach program.
Scott has had a very inconsistent senior season but was active on both ends vs. St. Thomas Aquinas. He finished second on the club with 14 points.
Hazelton starts
2020 Malachi Hazelton was in the starting lineup for Ely. Hazelton provides nice size and quickness inside to pair with Scott.
“He’s been coming along,” Randall said. “He’s still is a little wild. Gotta get that wildness out of him. Once he eliminates that, he’ll turn out to be a great ball player.”
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.