Broward 5A-1A boys basketball co-players of the year: Alexander Lloyd, Westminster Academy junior, and Alex Constanza, Westminster Academy sophomore
Westminster Academy junior Alexander Lloyd and sophomore Alex Constanza knew they had to step up after graduating a couple of seniors from last year’s team.
They still delivered and helped the Lions reach the regional championship game for a third straight season.
Westminster Academy, however, was stymied by powerhouse Miami Riviera Prep for the third consecutive time. Riviera has gone on to win the past two 3A state titles.
“We lost a couple of pieces from last year and we had to step up and have a bigger role,” Constanza, a guard, said. “I didn’t mind. I like the pressure.
“Riviera is a good team, but that game will make us come back even hungrier,” he added. “We played a lot of good teams and good tournaments. Coach (Ehren Wallhoff) wanted to put us to the test to see if we could handle it and we showed we could. We are going to come back next year and get the win.”
Westminster Academy (23-6) finished ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A and 79th overall, according to MaxPreps.
Constanza scored his 1,000th career point this season and had a 15-game stretch where he scored over 22 points and more than 10 rebounds per game during the key part of the season. The guard had more than 600 points and 250 rebounds for the season. Constanza averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1,8 blocks per game for the year.
Lloyd, a combo guard, averaged 20.5 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, topped 30 points four times, and scored more than 550 points, and dished out 100 assists just this year alone. He’s eclipsed 1,750 points in his three years on the varsity and a two-year captain.
Lloyd, the school-record holder for most points scored, said his season highlight was going on the road and beating top-20 nationally ranked teams and setting multiple school records.
“This year we came with a different mindset,” Lloyd said. “We wanted to show teams we could compete at the highest level. In the first game of the season, we beat nationally ranked Oak Ridge and beat them at their house. We proved we could compete with anybody. We had that work ethic.
“We are still young, and I think we are going to be good for years to come,” he continued. “With us losing in the regionals three years in a row makes us hungrier. I think we are going to shock people.”
Wallhoff marveled at what the duo brought to the team this year. He said they are two “high major” kids.
“They don’t shy away from leadership roles whether that’s in the locker room or on the court,” Wallhoff said. “Both guys put the work in and as a result, you saw the fruits of their labor come to fruition — both average over 20 points and 5 assists per game.
“Being just a sophomore and junior, these kids are special and ranked top in the country and their play this year proved exactly that,” Wallhoff continued. “Both had multiple games of 30 points-plus in the biggest tournaments of the year (City of Palms, King Cotton, Iverson Classic).”