Florida Air Academy wins 67-59 over Dillard at ANI

Melbourne (FL) Florida Air Academy uses a 14-5 run in the closing minutes to earn a 67-59 victory over Fort Lauderdale (FL) Dillard in consolation play at the Academy National Invitational. The game matched two 2003 Florida state champions as Florida Air Academy won the Class 2A title, while Dillard won the 6A crown.

6-0 junior guard Walter Hodge continued to show that the Falcons are not a one-man team as he led Florida Air Academy with a tournament-high 39 points as he made twelve of 23 shots from the field and five of nine from three-point range. He has scored 60 points in his two games in Houston.

Kansas signee Alexander "Sasha" Kaun started the game slowly for the second straight contest as he has been hobbled by an early season ankle injury. He had just three points in the first half, However, he finished with 14 points and nine caroms as he made five of 13 shots from the field, grabbed twelve rebounds and blocked four shots. Kaun has scored 25 of his 28 points of the tournament in the second half. He admitted to me after the game that he is only about "65%" after missing the first three games of the season with the injury.

The Falcons improved to 6-3 after going 29-0 last season.

6-3 junior transfer Maxwell Dubois from Flanagan led the Panthers, who fell to 6-3, with 15 points. He added five rebounds, five assists and four steals. 6-7 senior Chris Rawls, the team's lone returning starter from a 32-1 team, added nine points and 13 boards.