Bethel Academy vs JFK (Kennedy)

Recap

By Darius Gordon

The final matchup of the day featured Bethel Academy looking to bounce back after a close loss, facing off against JFK in what turned into a one-sided affair. All eyes were on Bethel’s Andrew Maria, who came in averaging 34 points on 63% shooting. But by the end of the night, it was clear Bethel had more than just one star ready to shine. From the opening tip, Bethel Academy set the tone with high energy and relentless pace. Robin Casapao made an immediate impact, scoring 10 quick points to help Bethel build an 11–7 lead with 10:47 left in the first half. The lead quickly ballooned to 19–9, as Bethel’s ball movement and suffocating defense left JFK scrambling to find rhythm. By the 4-minute mark, Bethel had blown the game open, leading 34–11 with complete control on both ends of the floor. Their unselfish play was on full display — multiple players scoring, constant movement, and suffocating defensive pressure. At the break, Bethel held a commanding 40–14 lead. Andrew Maria led all scorers at the half with 16 points, showing once again why he’s one of the top players in the tournament. The second half was more of the same. Bethel’s pace overwhelmed JFK, and the scoreboard reflected their dominance: 62–33 early in the half, then 75–43 with just over four minutes remaining. Colby Murphy exploded in the second half with a breakout performance, pouring in 30 points to help put the game out of reach. JFK simply couldn’t keep up.

Notable Performances:

• Colby Murphy (Bethel Academy): 30 points, 2 assists – breakout performance

• Andrew Maria (Bethel Academy): 26 points, 4 assists – efficient and dominant

Bethel Academy finally gets into the win column in style, with a complete team performance and their top players delivering in big moments. JFK will need to regroup as they look to find their footing moving forward.