Basketball: Westminster (FL) strong early, late in Sugar Bowl first round win over Archbishop Hannan

BOY’S NATIONAL BRACKET – RD1
Final: Westminster (Fla.) 48, Archbishop Hannan 37 #sbprepclassic pic.twitter.com/57TJ0qgPhB

— Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic (@sbprepclassic) January 7, 2022

WESTWEGO – Archbishop Hannan and Westminster (FL) met up Thursday in a game of spurts at the 2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic.

The Hawks had to fight from behind all night but made a strong second half comeback. The out-of-state Lions crashed the boards and made big shots late to put the game away in a 48-37 victory.

Westminster (8-4) started the second half on an 8-0 run to extend to their biggest lead, 34-10.

Hannan head coach Errol Gauff wanted his team to get back up and fight. Semajai McClendan responded with a scoring clinic, posting 12 points in the quarter. The Hawks (9-5) went on an 18-0 run to close out third quarter and draw to within six at 34-28.

It was Drew Timmons turn to continue the comeback for Hannan. He scored nine points in the final quarter including a three-pointer that made it 39-35 with 6:30 remaining.

From there, Westminster re-established their strong defensive identity, outscoring the Hawks 9-2 closing out the game.

Jaylen Carey and Alex Lloyd took charges and scored the final nine points in the strong final stretch for the victorious Lions.

Westminster took command early, quickly building a 12-4 lead. Carey and Lloyd combined for 10 points in the opening quarter. Mason Fuentes made a long three-pointer in the second period, extending the lead to 26-10 at the half.

The Lions had two players that scored in double figures. Carey led Westminster with 17 points and five rebounds. Lloyd finished with 14 points.

Hannan had two players in double figures. Timmons scored a game-high 20 points. McClendan added 12.

“I appreciate the effort our team put on in the second half. We played more like ourselves in the 2nd half than the 1st half,” said Gauff. “Semajai gave us a great game from the perimeter and Drew got things going. They gave us much needed points.”

Westminster advances to the Boys National Bracket Quarterfinals against Math, Civics & Sciences (PA) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Archbishop Hannan will take on St. Augustine in the conciliation bracket Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Thursday, Jan. 6

Boys
Beaumont United (TX) 73, Sophie B. Wright 49
Chalmette 48, McDonogh 35 37
East Jefferson 57, Parkview Baptist 41
Ellender 64, Holy Cross 53
Family Christian 59, Riverside Academy 37
Florida State University High 71, Karr 45
French Settlement 63, Lutcher 53
Jewel Sumner 61, Mount Hermon 24
Lee (AL) 63, Landry 42
Math, Civics & Sciences (PA) 66, St. Augustine 40
Newton (GA) 77, John Curtis Christian 53
Northlake Christian 96, Ascension Catholic 57
Ridge View (SC) 49, Archbishop Shaw 46
St. Mary (AZ) 68, Country Day 34
Westminster (FL) 48, Archbishop Hannan 37

Girls
Amite 58, Mount Carmel Academy 28
Dominican 38, Ben Franklin 36
John Curtis Christian 59, Northshore 30
Karr 48, St. Thomas More 45
Lafayette 63, Ellender 22
McMain 24, Booker T. Washington 23
St. Louis Catholic 58, Ponchatoula 54
Ursuline Academy 44, St. Martin’s Episcopal 38
Walker 52, Lafayette Christian 43