After a year of perseverance, Riviera Prep boys' basketball etches name in history books

Miami Herald

01-03-2025

The Riviera Prep boys' basketball team's depth was tested long before the 2024-25 season even began.
Soon after celebrating its second consecutive state title last March, the Bulldogs found out 4-star guard and Villanova commit Dante Allen would be transferring to Montverde Academy.
Riviera's resolve was tested again during the regular season when it lost two of its key frontcourt players - 7-foot Gustavo Guimaraes Alves and 6-10 Olisaemeka Williams Itumo - to season-ending injuries.
And it was tested again on Saturday afternoon when the Bulldogs lost one of their top guards Myles Fuentes when he fouled out with just over three minutes left in the Class 2A state championship game at the RP Funding Center.
The Bulldogs did what they've grown accustomed to doing.
They dug deep and found a way to persevere.
After withstanding a 15-2 run, which put their championship hopes briefly in jeopardy, Riviera Prep held off Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic in the closing minutes to secure a 66-54 victory and win its third consecutive state title.
'It's all the hard work we put in,' Fuentes said. 'We just had to dig deep in any situation. Those last seconds in the game, we weren't nervous. We've been through situations like that and we did what we do.'
The Bulldogs (21-10) became the fifth Miami-Dade County boys' basketball program to win three or more state titles in a row, joining Miami Norland (2012-15), Miami High (1954-56 and 1996-98), Miami Northwest Christian (2003-05) and Miami Columbus (2022-24), which is chasing a fourth in a row next week.
'It's amazing and I just have to thank God,' Mason Fuentes said. 'He put me in this position to succeed and I'm just forever grateful.'
Allen, a two-time Miami Herald Player of the Year, spearheaded the Bulldogs' previous two championship runs. But after he announced his departure, the Fuentes brothers knew even more responsibility would fall on them.
Myles Fuentes, a sophomore, and his older brother, Mason, a junior, didn't hesitate according to coach Anthony Shahbaz.
'We lost a big piece in the offseason and everyone counted us out,' Shahbaz said. 'It seemed like every game we had a different person be an X-factor in every game. And the Fuentes brothers, I don't know if there are bigger dawgs in this county. They added so much to their game. When (Allen) left, they told me, 'Coach, we're ready.' I told them it wouldn't be easy. And they never backed off. They stepped up against everyone they went up against.'
Mason finished Saturday's game with 21 points, five steals and four assists. Before he fouled out, Myles totaled 16 points on 7 for 10 shooting.
But they were hardly alone in helping Riviera Prep make history.
Agile 6-9 sophomore forward Jeremy Jenkins continued to dominate in the paint and in the open court as he has since the injuries mounted. Jenkins finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and made 3 of 6 free throws down the stretch, which was enough to hold off the Hawks (23-9) and senior guard Tate Darner, a Chattanooga signee who scored a game-high 27 points on 11 of 14 shooting.
'We knew going into the game he was their guy and we couldn't let him get hot, but we knew he'd score,' Jenkins said. 'I missed a couple of free throws, but I knew I had to hit at least a few to seal the deal.'
Darner and guard Toby Lane (19 points) helped cut Riviera's lead from 21 early in the fourth to 60-52 with 2:04 left.
That's when Riviera reserve senior guard Alonzo Metz made two clutch free throws to stem the tide. Metz, who scored six points, played a critical role on the defensive end with three steals.
Senior 6-8 forward Peter Okechukwu also was key with six points and six rebounds off the bench.
Metz is the nephew of Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who has maintained a strong relationship with the Riviera program in recent years. Spoelstra attends Riviera games when the Heat's schedule allows to watch Metz and, before that, also watch Allen, the son of Heat assistant coach Malik Allen.
The Heat even allowed Riviera Prep to practice last week at their practice facility at Kaseya Center.
'They really hooked us up and gave us a great opportunity to practice on a court like the one we'd play on (in Lakeland),' Shahbaz said.
The Bulldogs don't appear to be done by any stretch as the Fuentes brothers, Jenkins, Williams Itumo and freshman Laron Mack can all return next season to try to make it four in a row.
But due to the extra effort it took to secure, the 2024-25 title is one that everyone involved at Riviera Prep will always cherish.
'I don't know if any championship we've had was more earned than that one because of the injuries and a lot of negativity from outside our program, ' Shahbaz said. 'It's just validation. You could put in the hours and the time and it might not work out. But to see it happen, I'm so proud of these guys. They are a gritty bunch…Banners can never be taken away and they're forever cemented in the history of not just Riviera basketball, but Florida basketball.'