By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The St. Martin boys basketball team enjoyed a successful three day trip to the Sunshine State of Florida this week.
The Yellow Jackets brought home the title at The 2025 Northwest Florida Shootout at Choctawahchee High in Pensacola, Fla, with two wins in three games.
St. Martin ended the action Wednesday afternoon with a close 48-45 win over Helena (Ala.) High.

“Every player contributed and helped us achieve this goal!” veteran St. Martin head coach Charlie Pavlus said. “What a way to end 2025.”
Junior point guard R.J. Keys poured in 24 points, thanks in part to four 3-pointers, to lead the Yellow Jackets to the win. Markel Simmons had eight points and four stealsw, while George Norman added seven points and seven rebounds to the winning effort.
On Tuesday, St. Martin defeated the host Choctawhatchee team 47-37. Keys again led the winning attack with a game-high 22 points and he grabbed five rebounds, while Elias Duncan had six points and five boards. The Yellow Jackets were without the Gulfport transfer Simmons in that game because of an injury.

St. Martin’s only close in the three day annual affair came on Monday, St. as Navarre (Fla.) High nipped the Yellow Jackets 60-58.
Keys tipped off the tourney in fine form as he tallied 25 points to lead the way, while Simmons chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds to the winning effort just missing a double-double. Also, Norman added 9 points and a game-high 11 boards for SMHS, also just missing a double-double.

Keys was named the Most Valuable Player in the tourney for his impressive three game stretch, while Norman joined him on the All-Tournament Team.

St. Martin stands 11-7 overall as it heads into the second half of the schedule in the current campaign.