Boys Basketball: Tampa Classic title stays in Florida

Posted Dec 31, 2009 by Nick Williams

Updated Dec 31, 2009 at 10:19 PM

TAMPA For the third straight year, a Florida team has captured Tampa’s 16-team national boys basketball tournament.  Senior guard Chris Blunt scored a game-high 22 points to lead Jacksonville Arlington Country Day (11-2) over No. 22 nationally-ranked Jersey City St. Anthony, 54-41, in the Third Annual Tampa Hoops Classic championship on Thursday at Plant.

Orlando Olympia won the first two tournament titles.

ACD led 44-34 with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter but St. Anthony (5-1) went on a 7-2 run to make it 46-41 with 1:38 remaining.

St. Bonaventure signee and senior guard Elijah Carter led St. Anthony with 13 points. 

ACD Cincinnati-bound power forward Justin Jackson was named tournament MVP.

Orlando Dr. Phillips finished third and in the seventh place game, Clearwater defeated Tampa Prep, 61-41. Clearwater senior forward Okaro White and Tampa Prep senior forward Jay Bowie were named to the all-tournament team.

Tampa Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team
Arlington Country Day—Justin Jackson (MVP), John Brown, Weslay Blackman; Bartow – Jeremiah Samarrippas; Christian Life (La.) – Langston Galloway; Clearwater – Okaro White; Miami Dr. Krop – Angel Rodriguez; Dr. Phillips – Shane Larkin; Flanagan – Khyle Marshall; Forest Hills (NY) – Maurice Harkless; Grace Prep (Tx) – Isaiah Austin; Lincoln (NY) – Shaquille Stokes; Norfolk Christian. (Va.) – James McAdoo; St. Anthony (NJ) – Elijah Carter, Derrick Williams; Tampa Prep – Jay Bowie; Winter Springs – Luis Jacobo. 

SICKLES WINS SUN INVITE: Sickles (16-1) defeated Class 3A’s No. 2 ranked Ft. Lauderdale University High, 51-42, on Wednesday to win the New Year’s Sun Invitational at University High. Senior point guard Jordan Davis and junior guard Rashawn Rembert led the Gryphons with 18 points apiece. Davis was named tournament MVP while Rembert made the all-tournament team.