By Alex Kushel
Sun Sentinel Correspondent
Aug 12, 2021 4:16 PM
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The Boynton Heat travel basketball organization won the Battle of the Beaches youth basketball tournament at the Ezell Hester Jr. Community Center in Boynton Beach. (Boynton Heat / Courtesy)
The Boynton Heat travel basketball organization recently had a strong performance on the hardwood as it captured the championship at the third annual Battle of the Beaches youth basketball tournament at the Ezell Hester Jr. Community Center in Boynton Beach.
The city of Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Department put on the double-elimination tournament for high school travel basketball programs, which featured ninth- and 10th-graders.
The Boynton Heat 10th-grade team, which is based out of the Ezell Hester Jr. Community Center, finished 3-1 and won the Battle of the Beaches Tournament for the first time. The squad consists of ninth- and 10th-graders and includes participants from high school basketball teams at schools throughout Palm Beach County, including several players from Boynton Beach and Atlantic high schools.
The Boynton Heat tournament championship group included Decarious Jenkins Jr., Par’qaveun Andrews, Clarence Mosley, Josiah Owens, Dimansky Jean-Claude, Sandley Bertrand, Alix Dieudonne, Laury Jean, Ricardy Renard, Zane Ousley, Tyrone Smith Jr. and Christian Macklin. Head coach Horace “Bobby” Smith was joined by assistant coaches Decarious “Chip” Jenkins and April Ousley as well as team manager Christy Shade.
The Boynton Heat 10th-grade team finished 3-1 and won the Battle of the Beaches Tournament for the first time. (Boynton Heat / Courtesy)
The Boynton Heat 10th-grade team had several impact players and received contributions from the entire squad during the championship contest. Jean-Claude scored a team-high 16 points and Jenkins Jr. registered 13 points to lift the offense. Smith Jr. had nine points and Renard and Ousley both contributed eight points apiece. Christian Macklin added seven points while Owens and Jean both chipped in with six points apiece. Andrews, Bertrand, Dieudonne and Mosley combined to score 10 points to help the offense in the victory.
The Boynton Heat travel basketball organization enjoyed success while participating in several tournaments throughout the summer against strong competition. It had an 18-11 overall record and also finished in second place as the runner-up in multiple tournaments. The team entered the Amateur Athletic Union Cinco de Mayo Tournament as well as the Memorial Day Madness during May. It traveled to play in the 11th annual Jacksonville Magic Summer Classic as well as the LakerCats Invitational in Valdosta, Georgia during June. The team also participated in the Tampa Live Tournament during July.
“We did well this year and we had some new kids on the team who helped us have a better season,” Smith said. “We had a more balanced team.”
The Boynton Heat 10th-grade team will return to the court for tournaments beginning in September and will continue to compete during the fall before the start of the high school basketball season.
The Boynton Heat organization welcomes community sponsors and donations to support the basketball program toward traveling costs and other expenses.
“We hold fundraisers and yard sales during the year and all of our volunteers are great,” Smith said.
