The Ballard boys’ basketball team grabbed a 72-67 victory over Deerfield Beach, the No. 5-ranked Class 8-A team in Florida, to win the Kingdom of the Sun Tournament on Saturday night in Ocala, Fla.

The Bruins, No. 1 in Kentucky in The Courier-Journal preseason poll of coaches, were the first team from the state to win the tournament.

Ballard led 36-32 at halftime and built it to 58-46 early in the fourth quarter. Deerfield Beach cut it to 60-57, but the Bruins “were able to make some plays down the stretch to seal the game,” coach Chris Renner said.

Junior forward Kelan Martin had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Ballard and was named the tournament MVP. Lavonne Holland scored 27 and Quentin Snider 19. All three made the all-tournament team.

“It was great to win the tournament,” Renner said. “It’s one of the more prestigious tournaments in the country. Now we’re looking forward to getting home and playing in-state competition and playing for a state championship.”

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20121229/SPORTS05/312290109/Boys-basketball-roundup-Kelan-Martin-MVP-Ballard-wins-tourney?nclick_check=1

Big Tournament win for Ballard.

 

Ballard is 10-3. All three losses have come to nationally ranked teams.

 

Travis (TX), Cathedral (IN), and Nashville CPA (TN)

Ballard is a very good team.

 

Wish they played a team a little closer to nky. Would really like to see them this year.

Florida has 8 classes (at least) of basketball?!

Florida has 8 classes (at least) of basketball?!

 

Florida has 683 schools that participate in FHSAA competition.

Big Tournament win for Ballard.

 

Ballard is 10-3. All three losses have come to nationally ranked teams.

 

Travis (TX), Cathedral (IN), and Nashville CPA (TN)

The Bruins have put a big target on their back. Kelan Martin with another good game.

Florida has 683 schools that participate in FHSAA competition.

 

Yes we just went to 8 classes last year, and every year it seems we get a number of more schools competing. We will be over 700 by next year I would imagine. Even with that I still think 8 is too many. The private schools have 2 of their own classes and then many private schools still in the upper classes after 2A & 3A which are both fully private.