PALM BEACH GARDENS – As widely predicted, the team with the better group effort would win last night’s (Feb. 23) playoff game between Dwyer and Wellington.
In front of a sold-out crowd at home, the Panthers (12-3) outlasted the Wolverines (12-3 final record) in their Class 7A-Region 3 semifinal game by a score of 52-46. They did it with key contributions from both their starters and bench players.
The underclassmen came through in a big way, as junior forward Juwan Dawes led his team with 16 points and sophomore guard Kyle McNeal added 11 points to make up a little more than half of Dwyer’s scoring in this one.
Dawes hit a corner three late in the fourth quarter to help his team out in a big way. His dunk on the next possession may have sealed it for Dwyer.
“I was locked in and ready for this game the whole night,” Dawes said.
It proved to be a defensive battle for both teams, as each bucket made was accounted for in more ways than one. With points having to be earned the hard way, Dwyer was simply the more physical team that wanted this game more.
Longtime head coach Fred Ross gave his assessment of how the game turned out.
“In the first half, we kinda slacked off on the defensive boards,” Ross said. “We gave them second and third opportunities at baskets. We had a 12-point lead cut down to three, I think. So at halftime, we made that adjustment to block out and go get rebounds.”
Sure enough, it was chippy and pretty close for much of the game. Dwyer’s 22-19 halftime lead expanded further in the second half, even as Wellington tried to rally during the game’s final minutes.
“We’re a total team,” Ross said. “That’s how we play.”
The next game for Dwyer will be Friday night (Feb. 26; 7 p.m. tip-off) against Coral Springs, which scored a 58-55 win last night over Monarch on a buzzer-beating three-pointer in its own 7A-Region 3 semifinal game.
Dwyer will be on the road against Coral Springs (8-5) in the 7A-Region 3 final.
“We have to stay grounded,” Ross said. “We gotta stay focused and try to get the job done.”
CLASS 3A – REGION 3 SEMIFINAL: Calvary Christian 61, St. Andrew’s 58
The Scots (11-6) did their best to hang with the Eagles (15-7), but it was not enough as their season ended in Fort Lauderdale.
Senior team leader Josh Minott led all scores with 31 points, while fellow senior Devin Hines added 16 in last night’s road game. Junior standout Anquan Boldin Jr. added 7 points, including the game’s final bucket with 6.5 seconds left.
PHOTO CREDITS: Ronaldo Garcia
