Undefeated Lake Worth basketball 'not worried about making statements' in 2024

STUART — Lake Worth basketball isn't out to make any statements in 2024.

Instead, with wins like a 57-38 victory over Martin County on Tuesday, the undefeated Trojans are simply the standard this winter.

A championship-caliber one, to be exact.

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"We aren't worried about making statements," said Lake Worth team captain Hedrens Bartelus.

"We just let our game talk."

Bartelus, a senior, described the successful road trip to Don Wallen Arena as "something we worked for." Still, the small forward is "still looking for better" out of the returning Class 7A region semifinalists.

It seems impossible with an offense commanded by 6-foot-6 Bartelus and 6-foot-8 power forward Jeremy Innocent, quarterbacked by senior co-captain Joseph Rogers.

Or having junior guard and forward Sean Standifer, a new addition from Wellington, all over the court.

Or a defense propelled by blocks and momentum-shifting steals from another 2025 prospect, Chasion Wilson.

With a roster like that, the only way the Trojans can get better — at least by the looks of their dominance against 2022 6A state champ Martin County — is by staying out of foul trouble.

As to be expected in a powerhouse showdown, the first quarter was tight. With a 28-24 halftime scoreboard, the second quarter didn't seem to be any different. At one point, the Trojans had built up a 12-point lead, only for it to be cut into by technical fouls for violations like hanging on the rim, as well as Tigers sophomore Ari Smith.

Coming out of the locker room, tensions were high and teams went scoreless for the first few minutes until Martin County got a foul of its own defending Standifer at the rim after Wilson started the drive with a steal.

In the third quarter, on top of adding Lake Worth's first point from the free-throw line, Standifer netted the final two thanks to a deep lob downcourt by Rogers, which saw the Trojans fired up with a nine-point lead heading into the fourth.

It took no time for Lake Worth to run away in the last period. A basket from Innocent established a 20-point lead.

A 48-45 defeat from Doral Academy stopped Lake Worth from an undefeated start in 2023, but the Trojans won 22 straight, including a win over reigning 6A state champion Dwyer. Then came Oak Ridge, the three-seed which stole a ticket to the region championship that would've seen Lake Worth with a chance to go back to the final four.

Returning Trojans like Bartelus, Innocent, Rogers, Wilson, and more, remember the highs and sold-out shows that came with that electric year. Most of all, the state title denied that once seemed promised to then-impact seniors and program staples Marvin Golf, a forward, and Calvin Sirmans, a point guard and The Post's 2023 Player of the Year.

Looking to make their way back to Lakeland, Lake Worth isn't taking anything for granted this season.

"Being undefeated is great, but we make sure to stay level-headed," Bartelus said.

"We are taking things game by game."

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: Undefeated Lake Worth basketball beats Martin County, setting standard in 2024