Rumble in Hialeah championship: Mater has Riviera Prep’s number
Mater Academy made a major statement Friday night, winning its fourth high school team camp championship in the month of June. Mater nipped Miami Riviera Prep, 46-45, in the finals of the Rumble in Hialeah Florida National University Team Camp…
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Continue ReadingMater Academy made a major statement Friday night, winning its fourth high school team camp championship in the month of June.
Mater nipped Miami Riviera Prep, 46-45, in the finals of the Rumble in Hialeah Florida National University Team Camp at Bucky Dent Gym. Here are the top 5 Takeaways from Hialeah:
3-ball does it
What Michael Bradley lacks in size he makes up for with heart … and accuracy. The diminutive 2023 shooting guard drilled a 3-pointer — his fourth 3 of the game — with 17 seconds remaining to give Mater Academy the lead for good. Riviera Prep 2022 guard Esteban Lluberes brought the ball down, and with Ryan Sanchez (2021) guarding him, attempted a step-back 3-pointer but it was off to the right. There was a mad scramble for the rebound and the Bulldogs would not get another shot off.
No stopping Mater
Mater Academy, which lost to eventual state champion Pompano Beach Blanche Ely in the Class 8A regional finals last March, has to vault to No. 1 in the Miami-Dade County power rankings based on its play through June. Mater has won four team camps this month: two at Barry University, the HoopMIA/Junior Orange Bowl and the Rumble in Hialeah. Mater has gone 3-1 against Riviera Prep in the past two weeks.
Damage from outside
You might think it was Mater do-everything-2022 Malik Reneau who did the major damage Friday. And, yes, he had a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. But it was Bradley and Sanchez who bombed in a combined six 3-pointers that hurt Riviera Prep. Both finished with 12 points and junior Torence Shelman added 8 points. That is 32 of Mater’s 46 points between those three players. Mater defeated Coral Park, 58-46, in its semifinal contest.
Quite the turnaround
The championship game was quite the turnaround from when the two squads met two days ago. In that one, Mater crushed Riviera Prep, 83-46. Bulldogs coach Anthony Shahbaz was not happy with the team’s effort Wednesday. Friday night, despite the loss, he knows his squad gave everything it had. Riviera Prep took down Dr. Krop, 53-49 in overtime, to get to the final.
Impressive 2023
Riviera Prep rising freshman Osmar Garcia Araujo is making a major name for himself. The 6-6 big connected on nine field goals against Reneau & Co. in a 19-point performance. Thirteen of the points came in the second half. He was also a major factor on the boards. Garcia Araujo carries himself very well for someone just coming out of the eighth grade. He runs the court, has an excellent handle, good footwork and can pass. 2020 guard David Perez was held to 6 points.
If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via Twitter at @PLamRecruiting or through e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com