Ely and St. Thomas advance to final of girls’ Big 8 basketball

For the first time since 2002 there will be a first-time girls’ BCAA Big 8 champion.

Blanche Ely and St. Thomas Aquinas secured their spot in Monday’s 6 p.m. finale at South Plantation High following semifinal victories on Saturday.

St. Thomas defeated Dillard 62-51, and Ely got past Nova 53-42. It will be the Tigers’ first appearance in the Big 8 championship in the 23 years of the tournament.

“This is why we play,” Ely coach Henry McNabb said. “This environment is what these girls work hard for. We’re waiting for the opportunity and hoping we can come out on top.”

Aquinas lead just 22-20 at the half and exploded for 22 points in the third quarter with Jada Green dropping eight of her 13 points in the quarter.

The Raiders (19-5) needed a good scoring night to offset the 23 points from Dillard (16-7) freshman forward Khyala Ngodu.

Breanna Gustave also had a strong game for the Raiders as she finished with a team-high 19 points.

“I thought offensively we played with a much better pact in the second half,” Aquinas coach Oliver Berens said. “I thought Jada played a great second half for us. She really starting to come around for us.”

Ja’Leah Williams scored 17 points and Jaylen Ponder 13 points as Ely held on against a tough Nova team for a hard-fought 43-42 victory.

The Tigers (19-6), who trailed at half, outscored the Titans 30-18 to earn the win. Ponder scored all her 13 points in the second half.

“I told the girls at the half to be patient and calm down,” McNabb said. “We normally play aggressively on defense so it’s not in our favor if the game is called tight.”

It was Ely’s second win of the season over Nova (22-4), winning the first meeting 59-52.

Blanch Ely got off to a good start and led 13-7 after the first quarter.

Then Nova found its offensive and defensive groove in the second quarter, while taking its first lead at 16-15 with 5:20 left in the first half on a Sarei McGill basket,

The Tigers didn’t earn their first basket of the quarter until a Williams’ layup with 4:14 left.