Dr. Phillips opened the new high school basketball season with a dominating 77-45 win over defending Class 6A state champion Miami Coral Reef at the inaugural Hoops Mountain Hoops Feast last Saturday at West Orange High School.

The Panthers cruised behind an all-around effort by Shane Larkin and a persistent defense that helped hold Alabama-recruit Charles Henderson, Jr. to a quiet 26 points and six rebounds.

Shane Larkin (Photo by Windermere Photography at cdsilveira.smugmug.com)

Larkin hardly looked fazed by a lingering injury to his shooting hand as he shot, attacked and passed his way to 31-points (12-of-20), nine steals, five assists and two blocked shots in the win.

He opened the game with a three-pointer from atop the arc then returned down court on the next possession to drain another from long distance while straddling the baseline.

“When he makes his first couple of shots we really feel like we’re getting in a rhythm,” said Dr. Phillips Coach Anthony Long.

And it never subsided. Larkin defied defenders all game by slashing his way through the lane for buckets one moment then joining teammates for the gritty work expected of them the next.

The Panthers used the inexperience of Coral Reef, who graduated nine contributors to college programs from last year’s title team, to take advantage early and often.

“We wanted to really pressure their guards,” said Long. “We knew Hankerson was going to give us fits but we thought if we could really pressure their guards that we could turn them over some.”

Coral Reef turned the ball over 35 times (seven from Hankerson), which Dr. Phillips turned into 51 points on the other end.

Hankerson’s 23-point outburst in the first half helped get the Barracudas to within eight, 40-32, at the break. But Coral Reef could only muster 13 points in the second half.

The hounding on defense by Dr. Phillips was done by the likes of Pat Ryan (12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, seven assists and five steals) and Chris Thomas (12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds and four blocks), among several others. Keenan Green finished with six rebounds and three steals.

“Not to take nothing away from them because they played well, but we just did it to ourselves,” said Coral Reef Coach Gaston Rodriguez. “We played like the young team that we are.”

And that clearly frustrated Hankerson, who early in the opening quarter routinely attempted to take the game over by himself after Dr. Philips jumped out to a 13-2 advantage. But ultimately, the lanes closed around him in the second half, as he was held to just three points in the final two quarters.

Last season Coral Reef defeated Olympia in the state title game thanks to a 27-point, nine rebound outing from Hankerson. Although Dr. Phillips defeated Olympia in the district tournament, the Panthers fell to the Titans in the regional finals and could only watch the final game from afar.

(note – a condensed version of this story ran on Page 2 of the Nov. 29, 2009 Orlando Sentinel sports section)

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In other games, Evans handled Ocala Trinity Catholic, 66-37, as Drekalo Clayton scored 15 points, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Also coming up big was Maurice Turner with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Mike Paramore and Travius Johnson each had three assists to help the Trojans post 50 points from inside the paint.

West Orange got 10 points and four assists from DeAndre Carter in a 60-50 victory against Miami Dr. Krop while Jaylon Bell added 12 points on 4-of-9 shots from beyond arc for the Warriors. Darius Johnson led the team with six rebounds and Dominic Pierre-Lois had five points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists as West Orange got 28 points in all from off the bench.

Orlando Christian Prep led by a 30-6 score at halftime against Plantation American Heritage before cruising to a 58-32 win. Jordan Montgomery scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds while Adonis Burbage contributed 10 points in the win. Orlando Parker had nine rebounds, six points and three assists and two blocks as OCP turned 28 turnovers into 45 points.