ORANGE PARK-Day one of the inaugural St. Johns River Athletic Conference boys basketball tournament had lots of thrills and chills and even an upset or two as fans were treated to several good games.
The three-day eight team tournament kicked off last night at both Fleming Island and Orange Park, with two games at each venue.
No. 2 Bartram Trail 53, No. 7 St. Augustine 44
Bartram Trail and St. Augustine met for the third time this season in the first quarterfinal game at Orange Park and for the third time this season the Bears got the best of the Yellow Jackets.
Having already beat the Jackets twice this season 55-40 and 67-50 in the most recent meeting, the Bears knew this wouldn’t be as easy and it wasn’t.
Bartram Trail established the early lead thanks to the play of point guard senior Xavier Hutchinson, who nailed four three pointers in the game to lead the Bears in scoring.
However, St. Augustine began chipping away in the second quarter to trail 26-23 at the half thanks to the contribution of Kyrie McMillian, Tyrek Russ, Luca Stauble and Brandon Johnson.
As fast as the Jackets got back in the game, the Bears quickly responded in the third quarter to take a seven point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Again, the Jackets wouldn’t back down tying the game at 46 all late in the fourth quarter, before a key three by Hutchinson and defensive steals and layups by Jake Ridley and post play by both Ryan Colbert and Tim Plish was to much to handle in clutch time.
Bartram Trail (15-5), which has won 13 of its last 14 games, moves on to play host Orange Park (15-6) at 7:30 Thursday in the semifinals, while St. Augustine (8-11) will play Nease (7-14) in the consolation semifinals.
No. 3 Orange Park 55, No. 6 Nease 33
Early on Orange Park set the tone in this one as Raiders worked the ball around evenly to senior Ty McBride, junior John Abate and senior Devontai Crutch taking a 7-1 lead.
However that’s when things quickly changed as Nease coach Joshua Bailey went into a four quarter stall offense and chewed up a lot of time on each possession as Nease was in no hurry to score on its possessions working the ball around the court before finally getting into the hands of its big man 6-7 Aaron Cochran.
Cochran clearly the tallest player on the court dominated the post as Nease went on a 11-0 run to take a 12-7 lead in the second quarter thanks to the stall offense and Cochran dominating the game.
Bailey took Cochran out of the game midway through the second quarter to give Cochran a rest allowing Orange Park to make their move and a long run themselves as a 17-0 run suddenly the Raiders led 24-12 at the half.
With Cochran still out of the game in the third quarter for unknown reasons, the Raiders extended their lead with a 18-6 run in the third quarter to lead 42-18 and put the game out of reach.
Finally Cochran was inserted back in the fourth quarter but it was to little to late as despite outscoring the Raiders 15-13 in the final quarter, the deficit was to much to overcome.
Cochran was the leading scorer for the Panthers with 11 points, joined by Noah Bishop (6 points), Davis Ball (5 points), Corban Anderson (4 points), Max Corsiglia (3 points), Evan Pounder (2 points), Clay McCool (1 point) and Kyle Baidas (1 point).
John Abate led the Raiders with 21 points, while Ty McBride chipped in with 12 points, Devonatai Crutch 7 points, Keneth Monterola 5 points, Dialo Bryant 4 points, D’Maree Craddock 4 points and Julien Bryant 2 points.
Orange Park, which has won 8 of its last 9 games, advances to the semifinals and will play No. 2 Bartram Trail (15-5) Thursday at 7:30, while Nease (7-14) will play St. Augustine (8-11) in the consolation semifinals at 6 p.m. at Orange Park.
Oh, boy, poor Menendez High had to be the team that was next on Palatka's schedule after the Panthers lost their first game of the year Friday night. Oh, boy, oh, boy. Poor Falcons got trampled by PHS, 63-15, in an SJRAC 1st-round game as DeShawn Shaw had 13 pts. to lead the way.
— Mark Blumenthal (@diabolicalmarky) January 31, 2018
No. 1 Palatka 63, No. 8 Pedro Menenendez 15
In the first game at Fleming Island, top seed Palatka had little trouble with Menendez in its quarterfinal game. Its first game since seeing its 19 game winning streak come to abrupt end, the Panthers ran away with it dominating early and quickly establishing itself as the favorites again in the tourney.
According to the Palatka Daily News Mark Bluementhal, DeShawn Shaw led the Panthers with 13 points in the win.
Good win tonight in the First round of the SJRAC Tournament over host Fleming Island 63-59 in overtime. Next game Thursday at 7:30 against Palatka at Fleming Island.
— MHSBASKETBALL (@MHSBasketball00) January 31, 2018
No. 5 Matanzas 63, No. 4 Fleming Island 59 (OT)
In the final game of the night at Fleming Island, fifth seed Matanzas surprised host Fleming Island 63-59 in overtime to advance to the St. Johns River Athletic Conference semifinals.
St. Johns River Athletic Conference Tourney
TUESDAY
at Fleming Island
Game 1: No. 1 Palatka 63, No. 8 Pedro Menendez 15
Game 2: No. 5 Matanzas 63, No. 4 Fleming Island 59 (OT)
at Orange Park
Game 3: No. 2 Bartram Trail 53, No. 7 St. Augustine 44
Game 4: No. 3 Orange Park 55, No. 6 Nease 33
THURSDAY
at Fleming Island
Game 5: No. 4 Fleming Island vs No. 8 Pedro Menendez, 6
Game 6: No. 1 Palatka vs No. 5 Matanzas, 7:30
at Orange Park
Game 7: No. 6 Nease vs No. 7 St. Augustine, 6
Game 8: No. 2 Bartram Trail vs No 3 Orange Park, 7:30
SATURDAY
at Orange Park
Game 9: 7th Place Game, 11 a.m.
Game 10: 5th Place Game, 12:30
Game 11; 3rd Place Game, 2
Game 12: Title Game, 3:30
