FT. MYERS, FL. (April 1, 2022) – The DME Girls Basketball dream season came to an end Friday as they lost 67-54 to Montverde in the Geico Nationals semifinals.
DME trailed by 13 at the half and used a strong shooting performance in the next 12 minutes to get back into the game, cutting the lead to 4 with 4:18 to play at 58-54. Montverde upped their defensive pressure from that point and held DME scoreless the remainder of the contest to register the win.
DME made only one of its last 11 field goal attempts and finished the game shooting 39% for the contest. DME negated much of the height advantage Montverde entered the game with, as they won the rebound battle 36-32. However, Montverde did outscore DME 32-24 on points in the paint.
Junior Chole Kitts led DME with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Sydney Shaw added 12 points and Amiya Evans scored 9 of her 11 points in the second half to help DME get back in the game.
Kitts made 10-16 from the field and was 5-7 at the foul line as she played all 32 minutes. Shaw also played the entire game and led the team with 4 assists and made 2-5 3-point attempts.
Mjarcle Sheppard led Montverde with 18 points as they never trailed in the game.
Turnovers played a part in the game as DME had as many of those in the first half - 9 - as they had field goals. Taking care of the ball better in the second half allowed them to cut into the Montverde lead and they committed just 4 in the final 16 minutes.
Montverde jumped out to a quick start, leading by as much as 11 in the first quarter, shooting 53 percent from the field. Kitts scored 10 of her 25 points in the first 8 minutes.
DME finishes the season with a record of 25-4.
Learn more about our DME Academy Basketball programs here.
Our skills & drills will focus on the following; Competitive Mindset, Core Fundamentals, Pivot Series, Man-to-Man Principles. Skills & Drills is open to boys & girls from K-11th Grade.
Participants are split by age and skill level. each participant will receive a DME T-shirt as well.
One Session For All Ages: 5:30-7:00pm
Our elite field house is home to our basketball, volleyball and performance training areas. With more than 47,000 square feet our professionally maintained facility has the latest training equipment and technology for athletes. Our facility boasts 2 full NBA courts, 5 youth courts, 7 regulation volleyball courts, a performance center, athletic training rooms and a spa.
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March 31-April 2, 2022, the top thirteen teams from around the country will compete at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida at the 14th Annual GEICO High School National Championship and DME Girls Basketball is one of them! This will be their first appearance at the GEICO High School National Championship with ESPNW Ranked Players Sydney Shaw, Amiya Evans, and Chloe Kitts leading the way.
This event will feature 11 games and will be single-elimination, all hosted on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN+. The girls’ first round kicks off on Thursday, March 31, at 10am, followed by the semifinals on Friday at 10:30am and wraps up on April 2 for the championship game at 10am.
“Our girls have worked hard this year.” Says Michael Panaggio, Director of Girls Basketball at DME. “Between early morning practices and late night games, they’ve put in the time and effort to make this season so successful. I’m incredibly proud of our girls and are excited to coach them at this next level."
The countdown to the showdown between top, nationally ranked talent in the country is on. The competition featured in this year’s tournament is among the best we’ve ever seen and the talent of each athlete is unmatched. We know where we’ll be March 31-April 2, 2022. Will you be there to celebrate with us?
“We know the level of talent we’ll be competing against, but we’re confident in what we bring to the table. It’s going to be a fight all the way to the finish!”
Stay up to date on when the DME Girls Basketball team will be competing for the National Championship and learn more information about how to attend.
To learn more about our girls basketball program click here.
Join us for our DME Girls Team Camp Tournament! This tournament for high school females will be played on June 17th - 19th, 2022.
Friday, the 17th: 12pm-8pm
Saturday, the 18th: 8am-8pm
Sunday, the 19th: 8am-6pm
Our elite field house is home to our basketball, volleyball and performance training areas. With more than 47,000 square feet our professionally maintained facility has the latest training equipment and technology for athletes. Our facility boasts 2 full NBA courts, 5 youth courts, 7 regulation volleyball courts, a performance center, athletic training rooms and a spa.
DME athletes and families, join Stacey Scrabis as she teaches the tips and tricks to maximizing your nutrition for winning results.
this event is in partnership with our partner, Halifax Health
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This camp focuses on instruction of all basketball skills. Campers will enhance their game through skill development both with drills and through competitive play.
Our brand new 18,000 square feet, 80-bed dormitory hosts two student lounges, a fully equipped kitchen, an onsite laundry facility, and more.
Our performance programs cover everything. This includes speed, agility, endurance, mental & nutritional programming, proper rest & recovery methods, and injury prevention.
Made famous for its wide beach and smooth, hard-packed sands, our beaches always get noticed. Beyond that, our boardwalk with shopping, dining, and International Speedway are must-see locations!
With more than 47,000 square feet our professionally maintained facility has the latest training equipment and technology for athletes. Our facility boasts 2 full NBA courts & 5 youth courts.
Dan is the Co-Founder of DME Academy and head of all basketball operations. He has coached two NBA teams as well as a trio of the most prestigious NCAA Division I programs including Oklahoma, Indiana and Marquette.
Director of High School Basketball and Head Coach
Assistant Coach for the High School Blue & Middle School boys teams
Head Coach of the Post Graduate White Team & Assistant Coach for the Post Graduate Blue Team
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Amiya Evans, Sydney Shaw, and Niccolo Moretti were nominated to compete on the biggest stage in high school hoops, the McDonald’s All American Game. The three DME seniors each competed for 1 of 24 respective roster spots against a pool of over 760 players from across the country.
"It has been a pleasure to coach and work with this team, specifically Amiya and Sydney,” said Wesley Arocho, Head Coach of the girls program. “What an honor for these two young ladies to even be considered for such a prestigious opportunity. They both deserved to be considered in elite company as candidates for the McDonald's All American Game." The pair of hoopers are both DI bound next fall, as Amiya has committed to the University of Central Florida, while Sydney has committed to Auburn University.
“We’re extremely proud of Niccolo for receiving a nomination,” said Matt Panaggio, Head Coach of the boy’s team. “The roster for the 2022 McDonald’s All American Game is loaded with talent, and it’s a great honor to be in the same conversation as those student athletes.” The 6’2 point guard joined the squad at DME Academy after a run with Italy’s Edilnol Biella professional team. His nomination for the game is another feather in his cap as he gears up to make his next move.
DME Academy has quickly asserted itself as a premier program in the high school basketball landscape, and these three nominations are a major testament to each program’s strength. Put yourself in a position to earn All American honors, click here to learn more about basketball programs at DME Academy.
Whether on the court, in the classroom, or in daily life, hard work and never giving up always pay off. These guiding principles have helped propel the DME Academy Girls’ High School Basketball program to 8th in the country, according to a recent ESPN article.
A recent, hard fought victory over Lake Highland, previously ranked 7th, rocketed them into the top 10. The combination of Chloe Kitts leading the charge with 20 points, and Amiya Evans scoring 15 points, drove the offense in this ‘nail-biter’ that saw DME pull out a tight 49 to 48 victory. This was unusual territory for DME as they trailed at halftime, for the first time all season long, but rallied together; earning an enormous road victory in Orlando, Florida. DME’s head coach, Wesley Arocho, credited the second half comeback to the defense, moments after the huge victory. Arocho went on to state “we did a better job guarding their shooters and picked up our energy on defense”. With a perfect record thus far, the DME Academy Girls’ High School Basketball squad is showcasing their ability to play fundamentally sound, confident and aggressive basketball.
Chosen as a pre-season favorite to compete for the championship, the DME Academy Girls’ High School Basketball program has consistently been a top-tier team, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The nationally admired program success is due in large part to Dan Panaggio and his previous NBA coaching experience. Dan and his staff have uniquely formed a core foundation of community; mentoring and encouraging DME student-athletes to be the best version of themselves. No matter if it is in the classroom, weight room, or on the court, the DME Academy Girls’ High School Basketball team is committed to excellence.
Learn more on all things pertaining to DME Academy Girls’ Basketball programs, here. Follow the team on their pursuit of a championship, here.
