Palm Beach Lakes basketball eyeing first district title since FAU stud Giancarlo Rosado's team

RIVIERA BEACH — Hyping up the crowd with cheers and handshakes, Palm Beach Lakes senior Jamar Callum ran down the sideline at Suncoast High.

A raucous crowd in the stacked bleachers had just watched Lakes win it all from the free-throw line and reclaim the Riviera Beach rivalry.

It was the first time since January 2022 that the Rams came out with the win, 50-47, emerging from the point-to-point shootout with another milestone to remember from what has been a transformative season.

Heading into Friday evening, the Florida High School Athletic Association had Lakes ranked No. 36 in the state, 10th in Class 7A, and No. 5 in Region 2 — a position the Rams couldn't quite fathom after last season's 12-11 finish, which was already a turnaround from a 10-12 run the year before.

"This team has grown tremendously day in and day out since I joined my junior year," senior Al'Tavion Hodge said.

"This run as a senior has showed me what it means to hit the court and play like it's my last game."

A solid explanation for why the Rams are 13-5, riding a six-game winning streak that includes victories that snapped 11 straight for defending 6A state champ Dwyer, upset last year's 3A region runner-up King's Academy, and outlasted a gritty Royal Palm Beach.

So, what clicked to return Lakes to glory days that harks back to those when now-Florida Atlantic basketball stud Giancarlo Rosado was on the roster?

Pheinyx Jenkins, the lone junior of Lakes' senior-led starting five, said it's the work that coach MarKee James made the team put in throughout the offseason, and off the court.

"We developed a good bond and trust each other much more as a team," Jenkins said.

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3-point shooters shut it down

Jenkins just so happens to be one of the Rams' most trusted, yet "most underrated," according to Hodge.

Back-to-back 3-pointers and another basket for two. That's how Jenkins, better known as "P10," got things started for Lakes after tipoff. His teammates capitalized, helping Lakes drop five 3-pointers in the first four minutes.

"Honestly, I was glad to get back to doing what I do best," Jenkins said. His shot had "been off" in the past few games, despite Lakes' wild success, but he says making those shots is the expectation he has for himself.

"Making those first three shots did help us get some momentum at the start — I had felt like I had been letting the team down," Jenkins explained. "Hopefully, tonight's performance will get me back on the right track to help us get ready for the postseason."

Although he didn't know it, Jenkins' team had been watching him, and with the furthest thing from disappointment in their eyes.

"I seen him put in countless hours in the gym perfecting his shot and staying locked in and committed to his craft," Hodge said.

Playing bigger than the bill

A "locked in" mentality and staying in constant control of the game were the factors Hodge feels sealed the victory. But it took a little more than that to deny the overwhelming force that is Suncoast's 6-foot-9 forward and center Ian Smikle.

Regardless of whether the three-star Tulsa commit was still accompanied by shifty point guard Stone Bureau, now playing for Calvary Christian Academy, his block is a hard one to beat to the basket. Especially for teams like Lakes that lack lurching heights.

Hodge did on more than one occasion, most notably a tie-breaking shot with just seconds to halftime, although it would be Suncoast which headed into the locker rooms with the lead, up 28-27. It wouldn't last for long, though, as Lakes returned to the floor to allow just seven third-quarter points to the Chargers, taking the game back with 10 of their own.

"The key to stopping Ian was just playing above and beyond his level of basketball," Hodge said.

"During the week of preparation, we practiced fronting and helping on the backside so when it came game time, we knew what to do and how to react to it."

What does this mean for districts?

Only one game remains on the regular season schedule for Lakes. A visit from Palm Beach Gardens. However, Jenkins, Hodge, and friends have plans to play a little bit longer this winter.

Sweet spots in the state and regional standings never hurt those chances. What is helping those chances most is Lakes being a favorite to win its district, thanks to a 10.82-rated schedule.

Class 7A District 7 also encompasses Centennial (15-7), Fort Pierce Central (12-8), Gardens (12-9), Treasure Coast (14-6) and Vero Beach (12-9). Yet, the most likely crew to meet the Rams in the trophy battle is Jupiter, which knocked off Lakes 39-32 on Jan. 10.

In 2023, the Warriors ended Lakes' dreams of a district championship in the first round with a 54-41 defeat.

Should the Rams get revenge this season, it'll be the program's first district championship roster since Rosado's team in 2017 — and first playoff appearance since 2020.

The FHSAA has yet to announce when brackets will be released, but district tournaments are set to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 6, and conclude that Saturday.

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lakes hoops eyeing first district title since team of FAU stud Giancarlo Rosado