| Sports

Bengals fall in county final

Posted on 17 February 2011 by LeslieM

By Gary Curreri

For a while it appeared Pompano Middle School would end the 23-game winning streak of Silver Trail, and in the process win its first girls’ basketball county championship in seven years.

That was until the undefeated Mustangs flexed its muscle and rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter and pulled out a 51-47 victory for its second consecutive county championship. Led by Shanell Atkins, who was named MVP after a 19-point, 16-rebound effort, they throttled the undefeated aspirations of the Bengals, who finished the season 11-1.

Pompano High Middle School girls’ coach Carolyn Hickson said it was a difficult defeat.

“It was real hard,” Hickson said. “We started with nothing but seventh graders, and we will be back next year. Some of them have never played before.”

“To end up here was a blessing,” Hickson added. “Destiny Frazier did a tremendous job. I couldn’t ask any more of her. Skaydrah Woods played great defense. The whole team stepped up. I have three eighth graders, but my whole starting lineup is seventh graders.”

When the season started, Hickson admitted she had her doubts.

“I didn’t think they would come this far,” Hickson said. “They improved every game. By the third game of the year, I started to think they might get here because they were improving with every game.”

Silver Trail opened the game on a 4-0 run before Pompano rallied for a 7-4 lead. After Silver Trail was able to battle back and take a 14-12 lead with 5:30 in the second quarter on a basket by Danielle Antieau, Pompano went on a 13-0 run to take a 25-14 lead on a 3-point play by Frazier with 2:30 left.

Samantha Provenzano stole and went in for a layup to trim the lead to 25-16 at halftime. Shanell Akins opened the second half with a bucket before the Bengals’ Skaydrah Woods hit back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to 29-18 with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Silver trail closed out the period on a 14-4 run, including 5-0 down the stretch to pull to within 33-32. Provenzano’s bank shot at the buzzer gave Silver Trail the momentum entering the final stanza.

The teams traded leads in the fourth quarter with neither team holding more than a 3-point advantage.

Silver Trail took a 46-43 lead with 1:45 left in the game on a basket by Zebegret, before Frazier hit a 3-pointer with 1:28 left to tie the contest at 46-46.

Silver Trail’s Atkins and Pompano’s Woods traded free throws before Atkins hit a short jumper with 34.5 remaining and added two free throws with seven seconds remaining for the 51-47 victory. Atkins finished with 11 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Frazier paced Pompano with 18 points, while Woods had 13 points, and Kiyana Jones added 12 points. Allison Jordan and Danielle Carr each hit baskets.

Bucks, Knights win

Bendly Valdor had a game-high 13 points and 11 rebounds as Deerfield Beach defeated Boyd Anderson 45-42 to win the District 10-6A boys basketball championship.

Andrew Smith had a game-high 28 points to lead four players in double figures
as Highlands Christian downed Florida Bible, 89-69 for the District 14-1A title. Gabe Gabe Hantsbarger added 21 points.

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