By: Matt Rothman
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas boys’ basketball is back, and they picked up their first win against Cardinal Gibbons High School on Saturday in the Marcus McGhee Thanksgiving Challenge.
This was also the first win for Head Coach Shaune Cannon, who took over for Teddy Lyons this year.
“Feels great, especially because they are underestimating how much I can with what most may consider less, but I feel like I have everyone I need to win,” Cannon said.
Despite coming into the game as underdogs, MSD led until the Chiefs tied it up with 30 seconds left. Ethan Schwartzman, though, made two big free throws for the Eagles to close the game out and secure the win. Jaheen Smith finished with 19 points, while Aydan McClean added 17.
MSD competed in the seventh annual Sunshine State Preseason Classic in the preseason. The Eagles fell in their first game against Boyd H. Anderson 51-32, with Smith scoring eight points. MSD then beat Piper High School 54-49, with Smith scoring 23 points and Brady Kuebler adding 11.
“Struggled offensively against Boyd Anderson, but defensively, we played very well,” Cannon said. “Our second preseason game was against Piper High School, another great defensive showing, and we were to make a second-half push to win.”
The Eagles won 18 games a season ago and reached Regionals but lost against Deerfield Beach High School. The rest of their team this season consists of Nick Gallo, Yousuf Sajil, Ben Rothenberg, Jack Servaites, Jahleel Pinder, Mathieu Thomas, and Marcus Thomas.
Next, MSD will play on Tuesday, November 28, against Cypress Bay High School at 7:30 p.m. The Lighting is 0-1 this year but went 17-8 last season and beat MSD 59-55.
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