Leadership & Role Players Are Key to Vanguard Knights Victory Over Hurricanes
- By: Hayward Miller
- Feb 22, 2017
- 3 min read

OCALA, FL --- The rematch between the Gainesville Hurricanes and Vanguard Knights in the Class 7A Regional Semifinals was a game for the record books.
History has not always been on the Knights’ side against the Hurricanes late in the postseason. Despite history, Vanguard found a way to change history with a 76-62 win and advances to Friday’s Regional Final.
For the Knights, its been a long time since they been in the Regional Final. To be exact, it hasn’t happened since 1994. None of the players, from both squads, were born.
The Hurricanes came in determined and displayed a competitive attitude, showing they didn’t forget the District Championship game against the Knights which resulted in an overtime loss at home.
It became clear early in the first quarter that Knights senior guard Quez Clayton was going to be aggressor for his team. Clayton put the Knights on the scoreboard first by driving hard to the paint and hitting a spin move that froze the defender, allowing him to score a crafty layup.
Big players make big plays, and that statement held true for Vanguard’s Travis Tucker, a role player stepped up and made big buckets in the first quarter.
“I want to give a shout out Trevor and Travis, the twins on our team. They played their hearts out tonight,” Clayton said.
The first quarter was all Clayton’s. He made baskets, came away with steals and showed his playmaking ability. For GHS, the offense struggled. Their defense kept the game, close. The score at the end of the first quarter was 13-5.
At the start of second, the Knights caught fire behind the three-point line.
Vanguard senior guard Devontae Bynes hit a long-range bomb, bringing the crowd to their feet. The Hurricanes took over in the second quarter as the offense became steady and fluent. Isaiah Wilson continued his offensive performance as he finished off put-backs and senior guard Kaijon Scott fed him the ball.
Junior forward Christian Miller-Cardwell got it going, making some shots and getting to the free-throw line. He set up junior guard Dallas Tealer to hit a big three-pointer to bring the team within two late in the second.
Knights senior guard Chris Perry played like a mad man on offense. He sparked his team with an offensive explosion, giving his squad a two-point lead at the half. Perry & Wilson both eight points at the half.
Gainesville’s big three—Wilson, Scott and Miller-Cardwell— stepped up big in the third quarter. Scott delivered a highlight basket on the break, drawing contact for an and-one, which gave GHS a temporary edge.
As they got hot, so did Knights guard Bynes who delivered a long-range bomb to retake the lead. Miller-Cardwell played huge down the stretch as he hit from three-range and delivered a close basket to take the lead back for GHS.
Almost midway in the third quarter, Knights freshman Leonard Manuel checks in for the first time. Head coach Phillip Small stated that it was internal issue but all is well with Leonard and the team.
Scott and Wilson ran a perfect pick-and-roll for the score increasing GHS lead in the third quarter. Wilson and Manuel handed ferocious blocks on both ends of the court as each team fought on defense.
Manuel and teammates took the message to heart on defense during the week.
“Coach emphasized that they just go downhill, so we know they got a couple of shooters. But we locked-in defensively, they turned the ball over and we got the W,” stated Manuel.
As soon as the game started to slip away from the Knights, Manuel and Bynes put on a show to bring the Knights to 44-43 lead over the Hurricanes going into the fourth. Bynes started to bomb threes back-to-back. When he caught fire, everyone else around him did.
Clayton and Manuel teamed-up for points down-low, while Bynes and Jalen Scott got off some jumpers behind the three-point line. Bynes created a highlight play throwing a deep pass from out-of-bounds to Manuel who made the catch in-stride to make the layup.
With a fresh Leonard and hot shooting by Bynes, GHS was not able to stop the Knights.
“It keeps us alive, and there’s practice tomorrow, which is good,” coach Small said as his team prepares for Friday matchup at home against Choctawhatchee in the Class 7A Regional Final at 7 pm.
Top Scoring Performers
Gainesville Hurricanes Isaiah Wilson 19 points Christian Miller-Cardwell 16 points Kaijon Scott 9 points
Vanguard Knights Devontae Bynes 21 points Leonard Manuel 16 points Quez Clayton 13
A special thanks to Coach Ed Hall and Nike Team Florida!
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