Local Sports

Royals roll past Green Dragons

Photos

JIM TAYLOR
Published: November 18, 2012

AVON PARK - What happens when a team that is ranked No. 670 in the state meets a team that ranked in the top 20, excluding fairy tales?

You get what happened to the Lake Placid Green Dragons as they faced The First Academy Royals, from Orlando, in the Avon Park Tip-Off Classic. The result was an 86-27 loss for Lake Placid.

"We knew it was going to be tough coming in," said first-year Lake Placid coach Jon Million. "We wanted to execute a few things, we did not quite get it done. We know where we are at now and some things we can work on."

The Green Dragons busted out the gates to take a quick lead of 5-2 when freshman Justin Mason connected for a 3-point shot at the top of the key.

Reality quickly came into focus as the fantasy of any monumental upset did not have the door slowly close on the Green Dragons. It was slammed shut as the Royals scored the next 20 points to take a 22-5 lead over the Green Dragons.

The Royals would finish the first quarter going on a 25-2 run to hold a 27-7 lead after the first eight minutes of play.

The First Academy continued to pour it on in the second quarter as the Green Dragons had trouble getting the ball past half court without it either being stolen or turned over.

The Royals went on a 22-5 run on their way to outscoring Lake Placid in the second quarter 35-10. The Green Dragons went into the half trailing 62-17.

The First Academy went 27-5 last year and lost in the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals to Tampa Prep, 46-45.

With a continuous running clock in the second half, the Green Dragons held the Royals to 24 second half points while only scoring 10 as they lost the game 86-27.

Despite the lopsided loss, Million saw positives in his team.

"We ran our offense, it worked a few times, we just need to execute it all the time," Million said. "We knew we were outmanned coming in and that is fine."

It was fine because Million was pleased that his team hustled throughout the game.

"As long as we continue to get better, that is all we can ask or do," he said.

Trey Winders scored a game high 17 points for The First Academy.

Heath Harris led the Green Dragons with 6 points on two 3-pointers. Mason and Nick Tuason each added 5 points in the loss.

Lake Placid faced off against Celebration on Saturday. Results were not available at press time.

The Green Dragons will have one more game before the Thanksgiving break when they travel to LaBelle for a game on Monday. Lake Placid will have its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 27, when DeSoto visits.

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