Wednesday's girls basketball roundup: No. 1 Dwyer tops No. 4 PB Central

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
by Matt Porter

Top-ranked Dwyer and No. 4 Palm Beach Central have played each other twice this season. It's a good bet they'll face each other again in the District 9-8A tournament final.

"I'm expecting that," Dwyer coach Jeryl Akins said. "We'll be the one (seed), they'll be the two. But Lexus will be back."

Akins was referring to Palm Beach Central's 6-foot-1 senior Lexus Love, who watched last night's game from the stands. Love, who is expected to miss two weeks with a toe injury, left Central with a size deficit it couldn't overcome.

Dwyer (20-3, 8-0) grabbed a 60-50 win and the district's No. 1 seed thanks to sophomore Keyanna Harris, whose triple-double included 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

To start the fourth quarter, the 5-11 wing hit a pair of threes, then made a jumper to put Dwyer up by 12. She also scored the game's final points after a crossover in traffic that would raise Tim Hardaway's eyebrows.

"She can do that," Akins said. "We rely on our big people, but she's proving she's another weapon."

Dwyer's post players also came to play. Junior Samantha Glodis scored a game-high 20 with 12 rebounds. Junior Kai James added 17 and 13.

The Broncos (13-4, 6-2) hung with Dwyer thanks mainly to 6-1 senior Mariah-Caurhyn Smelser (19 points, 7 rebounds) and 5-11 freshman wing Crystal Primm, who put up 12 points and 5 assists while defending James (6-5) and Glodis (6-3).

Playing a focused road game, Central led at the outset by filling passing lanes and hitting open shots. But Dwyer grabbed a four-point lead at the half and kept it up for most of the stretch run.

"We started off kind of slow," said Akins, who added that early nerves played a role. His team hadn't played a home game since before Christmas. "Once we got settled, we were OK."

NO. 7 BOCA RATON 57, OLYMPIC HEIGHTS 33

Kathryn Levy had 11 points and seven rebounds as the host Bobcats (15-6) beat the Lions in Boca Raton. Chloe Van Bourgiden added 10 points and seven rebounds for Boca. Stephanie Kalen led Heights with 14 points.

NO. 9 MARTIN COUNTY 62, FORT PIERCE CENTRAL 57

Taryn Richard has 17 points, six rebounds and five assists to help the Tigers (15-2) defeat the Cobras in Stuart. Asia Dingle added 15 points and six rebounds and Yasmine Queen contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for Martin County. Lasonja Edwards led Fort Pierce Central with 22 points and Martika McDaniel contributed 18.

PARK VISTA 55, ATLANTIC 48

Caitlin Hayes had 17 points and eight rebounds and Emily Lochten added 13 points and eight rebounds to carry the Cobras (11-6) past the Eagles in Boynton Beach. Kayla Thigpen scored 13 points and Deandea Akins contributed 12 for Atlantic.

JUPITER 40, WELLINGTON 8

Carli Homish scored 12 points, Sharonda Thomas added nine and Jamie Ugles had five assists as the Warriors (7-10) cruised past the Wolverines (5-12) in Jupiter.

CLEWISTON 58, GLADES DAY 32

Kiana Hardy had 19 points and nine rebounds and Terri Baker added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists as the Tigers (12-6) handled the Gators in Clewiston. Stephanie Leon scored 18 points for Glades Day.

TREASURE COAST 61, FORT PIERCE WESTWOOD 39

Rosemarie Julien had 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Titans past the Panthers in Port St. Lucie. Trudy Walker scored 18 points for Fort Pierce Westwood.