Port Charlotte, North Port, Lemon Bay, Sarasota win at the Wally Keller Classic
PUNTA GORDA − It was a good evening for the area boys basketball teams at the 17th Annual Wally Keller Classic.
None better than Port Charlotte High, which knocked off rival Charlotte High, 56-47, to cap the two-day festivities at Charlotte High's Wally Keller Gymnasium.
North Port High and Lemon Bay High also recorded victories in the evening, after Sarasota High was the lone area winner early.
In beating the Tarpons for the second time this season, the Pirates pulled away in the fourth quarter, using steady play and the ability to get to the basket in front of a packed house.
Sarasota High was the lone area winner early, beating Cape Coral Mariner, 64-58, for Coach B.J. Ivey's 299th career victory.
Venice and Cardinal Mooney lost close games.
Here is a recap of the action for the area teams:
North Port 62, Fort Myers Myers Gateway 57
TOP PLAYERS: NP, Elijah Lubsey 25 points, Jordan Howell 15 points; G, Colin Alvarez 12 points, Tavian Cook 11 points.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: NP, Lubsey; G, Alvarez
OF NOTE: North Port made 10 straight free throws in the final 63 seconds of the game.
Lemon Bay 61, Fort Myers Evangelical Christian 53
TOP PLAYERS: LB, Lucas Newcomb 21 points, Jace Huber 17 points, Elias Gambrell 12 points; EC, Gavin Williams 24 points.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: LB, Newcomb; EC, Williams
Port Charlotte 56, Charlotte 47
TOP PLAYERS: PC, Bode Stewart 22, Dallas Lambert 11, Calen Campos 11; C, Chris Cornish 12 points, John Gamble 11 points.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: PC, Stewart; C, Cornish.
Fort Myers Canterbury 56, Venice 54
TOP PLAYERS: V, Kade Slaton 20 points, Josh Chaviano 11, Chad Fleming 10; C, Leroy Roker 29 points
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: V, Slaton, C, Roker
RECORD: Venice 10-9.
Sarasota 64, Mariner 57
TOP PLAYERS: S, Oliver Boyle 23 points, Daniel Munn 12 points, Nick Tregembo 12 points, Nate Johnson 11 points; M, Marcus Kelly 16 points, Justin Lewis 14 points.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: S, Boyle, M, Lewis.
OF NOTE: Sarasota outscored Mariner 36-31 in the second half, including 21-13 in the third quarter. … It was Sarasota coach B.J. Ivey’s 299th career victory.
RECORD: Sarasota: 17-4.
Barron Collier 78, Cardinal Mooney 64
TOP PLAYERS: CM, Kevin O’Donoghue 17 points, Dylan Higgins 12 points, Randy Wilson 11 points, Connor Heald 11 points; BC, Noah French 23 points, Mikey Reyes 21 points.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: CM, O’Donoghue; BC, Reyes.
RECORD: Cardinal Mooney (12-7)
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Port Charlotte, North Port, Lemon Bay, Sarasota win at the Wally Keller Classic
