Aquinas boys can’t keep up with powerhouse from New York [The Miami Herald]

Dec. 20--That late game magic St. Thomas Aquinas needed to remain unbeaten and stun Miami Pace in the Hawk Kreul Classic quarterfinals on Saturday disappeared against New York powerhouse Cardinal Hayes at the Coral Springs City Gymnasium on Monday.

Aquinas (8-1) fell behind 12-0, pulled to within 33-30 on a straight-away three-pointer from Steven Haney Jr. with 55 seconds left in the third quarter before Amadou Sidibe got loose for a baseline dunk that helped the Cardinal pull away for a 54-38 victory.

"We had some bad offensive possessions toward the end,'' Aquinas coach Steve Strand said. "We get in a hurry sometimes. It's a young group together. We are getting better but have to play with more intensity and focus, especially early in the game. We got down 12 and couldn't recover."

A more physical and athletic Cardinal backcourt helped shut down the Raiders' perimeter game. Haney finished with eight points to lead the Raiders, and Kendall Roberts, the hero of Aquinas' win over Pace with his basket at the final buzzer, added seven points.

Sidibe led the Cardinal (8-0) into Tuesday's Sweet 16 championship game with a game-high 14 points, including a layup to open the fourth quarter and then a vicious two-handed dunk that sparked the decisive 14-4 run.

With rival New York city schools tracking their play at the Kreul, Sidibe said the Cardinal are treating their trek to Coral Springs as a business trip.

"We got off to a fast start because we brought that New York attitude," said Sidibe, who has committed to Fairfield (Conn.) University. "We kind of let the game go in the third quarter. As soon as the score got closer we composed ourselves. We came here with a message that this isn't a vacation. We're trying to send a message to other teams in New York that we will be ready to play."

SUMMARY

--Cardinal Hayes (NY) 54, st. Thomas 38 -- CH (8-0): Sidibe 14, Jenkins 12, Williams 8, Wilson 8, Nekirk 10, Yacabou 2. STA (8-1): Haney 8, Palov 2, Bombich 7, N'Diaye 6, Hunter 5, Wilkinson 3, Roberts 7. Halftime: CH 25-13. Three-pointers: N. Williams 2, Haney 2, Roberts, N'Diaye.

FOOTBALL

Miramar star cornerback Tracy Howard continues to bring in the accolades this season. Howard was named a first-team selection on the Sports Illustrated High School All-America team that was announced Monday.

Howard is the only South Florida player to earn first-team honors. Howard had 10 interceptions, including one in last weekend's Class 8A state championship game. He helped the Patriots (13-1) advance to the state final for the second time in three seasons.

Howard's teammate and fellow defensive back Marrell Jackson also earned a spot on the team as honorable mention. Jackson had 12 interceptions this season.

MORE HONORS

Howard is also one of five finalists for the 2012 American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Award. The winner of the award will be announced Jan. 6 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl banquet in San Antonio, which precedes the game Jan. 7 in the Alamodome.

Flanagan wide receiver Justin Ferguson has been named to the U.S. national team's Under-19 roster for the upcoming International Bowl that will be played Feb. 1 in Austin, Texas.

Ferguson, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame, caught 29 passes for 527 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

MORE BOYS' BASKETBALL

--Miramar 44, Boyd Anderson 42: MIR: Morency 1, Johnson 12, Tejad 17, Millwood 1, Forbes 5, Henry 8. BA: McDonald 5, Williams 7, Horne 11, Taylor 5, Payne 3, Barnes 11. Three-pointers: Tejad 2, Henry 2, Forbes, McDonald, Williams, Payne, Barnes.

--Deerfield 57, Ridgeview 52: DB: Simpson 10, Powell 9, Owens 17, Johnson 21. RV: Altieri 4, Jones 12, Mitchell 4, Burns 10, Poncy 7, Wetherell 6, Banks 9. Three-pointers: Powell, Owens, Johnson, Mitchell.

--Ransom Everglades 66, St. George (CAN) 41: RAN: Mourning 11, Singer 25, Russin 2, Stern 5, Tomasino 4, Ertel 2, Roach 2, Marx 15. SG: Chamberlain 1, Chung 6, Gill 5, MacFayden 6, Mitrovic 8, Barker 6, Payne 4, Hildebrand 5. Three-pointers: Marx, Chung 2, MacFayden, Mitrovic.

--Hialeah Gardens 64, Pine Crest 63: HG: Fabian 3, Rodriguez 13, Huertas 3, Barrueta 20, Clavel 16, Simoza 9. PC: Cline 11, Henry 19, Crawford 2, Scharf 9, Graf 2, Mondshine 2, Nolting 4, Marcinkewicius 14. Three-pointers: Rodriguez 3, Clavel 2, Barrueta, Fabian, Henry 3, Cline 2, Scharf.

-- Collegiate (NY) 59, Columbus 54: COL: Gwathmey 21, Croak 2, Frankel 13, Frye 4, Huff 19. COL: Minervino 6, Clark 10, Rodriguez 12, Rico -0-2, Chacon 20, Sawyer 2, Lopez 2. Three-pointers: Gwathmey 3, Minervino 2, Clark 2, Rodriguez 2, Chacon.

--Father Carr (CAN) 89, Pines Charter 83 (2 OT): CAR: Samuels 4, Chevannes 2, Lewis 6, Sutherland 34, Dixon 5, Boutilier 26, Bell 12, PCH: Rivera 13, Wilkinson 14, Sactchell 25, Bryant 8, Tesone 4, Willis 9, Meade 10. Three-pointers: Sutherland 4, Bell 2, Sactchell, Bryant.

--Winter Park 58, Coral Springs 55: WP: Laws 5, Klusman 7, Williams 4, Amerson 8, Merlano 6, Ferrell 5, Wimbley 19, McLean 2, Etienne 2. CS: Gordon 8, Irving 2, Lanier 2, Joseph 19, Casmir 12, Charles 6, Altidort 2, Lassiter 4. Three-pointers: Wimbley 2, Ferrell, Klusman, Laws, Joseph 5, Gordon.

--St. Patrick (NJ) 60, Cardinal Gibbons 52: SP: Williams 3, Collins 5, Knight 4, Davis 9, Nickens 15, Bembry 24. CG: Thieme 2, Morales 4, Andino 2, Bradley 1, Neely 19, Moore 24. Three-pointers: Nickens 3, Collins, Neely 2.

-- Champagnat 51, South Broward 50: CHA: Holanda 2, Watson 10, LeBranch 1, Jelkiri 22, Rolle 10, Calife 6. SB: Tracey 10, Robinson 2, Trowell 2, Oltime 16, Lowrie 3, Hernandez 4, Sylvestre 13. Three-pointers: Oltime 2, Sylvestre.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

--Florida Christian 50, Sagemont 49: FCS: Jimenez 10, Saumell 2, Sicre 18, B. Smith 13, J. Smith 8. SS: Black 10, Cole 3, Correa 5, Feig 6, Marshall 5, Pierre 4, K. Smith 5, Turko 9, Pierre 4. Halftime: 25-23 (SS) 3's: Feig 1, K. Smith 1, Sicre 1, Rebounds: J. Smith 8, Assists: Jimenez 6, Steals: Jimenez 6

--Hebrew Academy 52, Hillel 50: HEB (9-4):HEB: Gordon 37, Mond 7, Weiss 3, Dobin 3, Moyal 2. HIL: Zarco 13, Wolf 17, Check 6, Long 8, Brewer 6. Three-pointers: Gordon 4, Wolf 1. Halftime: HIL 25-23. Rebounds: Mond 8. Assists: Masin 5. Steals: Gordon 3.

BOYS' SOCCER

--Westminster Academy 8, Berean Christian 0: Pablo Espindola 3 goals. Brandon Herndon 2 goals. Marco Espindola 2 goals. James Roldan 1 goals.

Austin Guerra (goalie) shutout.

--Late Saturday -- Archbishop Curley 1, Hillel 0: Players: (AC) Di-Stephano Accelien: 1 unassisted goal. (AC) Erick Frischholz: 13 saves, shutout. AC: 3-7-1.

TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Plantation at Miami Beach, 1

WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Plantation at LaSalle, 2:30

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE

BOYS' SOCCER

Westminster Academy at Kings Academy, 4

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