The Mandeville Skippers basketball made a triumphant trip to Florida over the Christmas holiday winning the 32nd annual Fort Walton Beach Playground Area Shootout with a 4-0 record.

MHS senior point guard Josh Priola was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, while senior teammate Jordane Ganapamo and junior Zach Adema were selected to the All-Tournament team.

Mandeville (14-6) captured the championship Tuesday Dec. 30 defeating East Hall from Georgia 65-58. Ganapamo, the Skippers’ leading scorer on the season, dropped in 16 points followed by Chad Alfaro with 13. Priola, the Skippers’ floor general and son of the head coach, contributed 10 points, while dishing out seven assists.

Mandeville'€™s Skippers captured the 32nd annual Fort Walton Beach Playground Area Shootout held over the Christmas holidays in Choctawhatchee, Fla., posting a 4-0 record. Pictured from left, first row kneeling: Richard Ford, Josh Priola (Most Outstanding Player), Josh D'€™arcangelo, Zach Adema (all-tournament), Ryan Detillieu and Chad Pickett; second row standing: assistant coach Brandon Goubler, Neal Apetrei, Jordane Ganapamo (all-tournament), Blake Kelley, Evans Ganapamo, Timmy Tryforos, Chad Alfaro, Brandon Weeden, Logan Sharp, assistant coach Paul Paille and head coach John Priola. (Photo Courtesy of Kim Priola)

The 5-foot-7 guard said it was a great team championship.

“It was a good honor to get the MVP. Everybody contributed to the title. It was a good feeling to go that far away and come home with the championship. Winning it all was special,” the senior said.

MHS’ four tournament victories gave the Skippers their eighth consecutive win.

Mandeville opened the tournament Friday Dec. 26, taking a 65-60 victory in double overtime over Fairfield, Ala. Ganapamo poured in 24 points followed by Priola with eight points and seven assists.

Adema drained a clutch three-pointer with just two seconds left in regulation play to tie the game to send it into overtime.

In Saturday’s game, MHS eased past Starsmill, Ga., 46-35 behind Ganapamo’s 11 points with Alfaro netting 10. On Monday, Mandeville cruised past the host Choctawhatchee High School squad 59-41. Ganapamo sparked the Skippers’ victory with 18 points followed by Brandon Weeden with 10.

Priola chipped in with eight points and ran the Skippers’ offense in an effective manner, totaling 10 assists.

Head coach John Priola said he was proud of the way his team handled the defensive pressure in the Florida tournament.

“We are playing our best ball as we get ready to start district play,” coach Priola said. “We played some teams with aggressive pressure defense during the tournament. They had a lot of athletic, pressing teams. Our guards did a good job handling and distributing the ball.”

When asked about the play of his son (Josh) being named the Most Outstanding Player, he said he is playing with extreme confidence.

“He is the heart and soul of the team. He is scrappy. He knows his role and does a good job getting us into our offense,” coach Priola said.

Adema said the Skippers are playing good basketball.

“We were well prepared going into the tournament. We have good ball handlers with Jordane (Ganapamo) and Josh (Priola) running things. We also had good play from Chad (Alfaro) and Brandon (Weeden) on the inside,” Adema said.

“I was surprised that I was named to the all-tournament team. We had a really good team performance and any of my other teammates could have been recognized.”

Ganapamo said the Skippers are giving good effort, playing solid basketball.

“It was good to keep the record going. We did a good job finding the open man during the tournament. We were able to hit the open shots,” Ganapamo said.

Ganapamo credited Weeden with an outstanding effort, highlighting his strong rebounding and scoring inside as being instrumental in the Skippers’ victory.

MHS opens District 7-5A action Tuesday night on the road against St. Paul’s in the Wolves’ den (Gene Bennett Sports Complex).