Vanguard, All Saints to Clash for Championship

Wed. February 08, 2012 at 1:00 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

By Mike Akins

Ledger Corespondent

Class 2a, District 7 Boys Basketball Tournament

LAKE WALES | Top-seeded Vanguard and All Saints' Academy took two different routes to reach the finals of the Class 2A, District 7 tournament after semifinal wins on Tuesday evening.

The Panthers (19-2) jumped out to an early lead en route to a 75-48 victory over Walker Memorial in the first game. In the nightcap All Saints hit seven key free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off Victory Christian 45-39 to set up Saturday's title game.

There were five lead changes early in the Saints' victory before Reggie Evans gave All Saints (13-12) a lead it would not relinquish with a mid-range jumper to make it 12-11.

"I knew it was going to be this type of game as far as intensity goes," Saints coach Steve Canlon said. "But to beat this team (Vanguard) we had to give a monumental performance with some luck."

Both teams advance to regional play next week with the Saints making their first regional appearance in four years.

In the fourth quarter the Storm used the play of Dylan Sechrest to get within five points but the Saints went 7-for-8 from the line in the final eight minutes.

"The extra reps in practice paid off for us tonight." Canlon added.

Evans led All Saints with 21 points, while Sechrest led both teams with 23 points for the Storm (17-6).

In the opener, the Panthers scored the first 11 points of the game and built their lead to as much as 30 in the fourth quarter.

"We shot the ball well for the most part," Panthers coach Dan Sheppard said. "But we definately have to pick up our game for Saturday."

Vanguard defeated All Saints by 24 and 10 points in their two previous meetings.

Walker Memorial (48): Daniel Leyva 5, Bree Fautheree 8, Johnel Lagabon 19, Nathaniel Gonzalez 1, jokschan branchedor 8, Matthew Palscow 7. Totals: 7 8-15 48.

Vanguard (75): Spencer Tergliafera 6, Shaka McGriff 22, Thierry Frederic 22, Keefe Boys 9, J.R. Esor 14, Katori Smith 2. Totals 30 7-10 75.

Walker Memorial 12 6 15 15 — 48

Vanguard 23 16 11 25 — 75

Halftime: Vanguard 39-18. 3-pointers: Wallker Memorial 4 (Fautheree 3, Leyva 1), Vanguard 5 (McGriff 3, Boys 2).

All Saints (45): Andy Moats 9, Reggie Evans 21, Troy MacNeil 11, Connor Weber 4. Totals: 16 12-17 45.

Victory Christian (39): Raymond Johnson 3 ,Carlos Quiles 5, Dylan Sechrest 23, Michael Morgan 8. Totals: 14 10-18 39.

All Saints 9 8 11 17 — 45

Victory Christian 8 3 10 18 — 39

Halftime: All Saints 17-11. 3-pointers: All Saints 2 (Evans, MacNeil), Victory Christian 1 (Johnson).