Beatrice Mompremier will face test vs. Boca Raton as Miami High aims for 8A basketball final

Miami High Stingarees 6-4 senior center Beatrice Mompremier had 30 points in a two-point regional semifinal win over Flanagan on Feb. 10.

Four days later, she had 31 points in a triple-overtime, regional final win over Ferguson as the Stings rallied from a 15-point, third-quarter hole.

The next stop in what has already been a phenomenal career comes on Friday at 11:30 a.m., as Miami High (27-3) takes on Boca Raton (25-3) in a Class 8A state semifinal at the Lakeland Civic Center.

The 8A title game is Saturday at 1:35 p.m. The other semifinal is between Orlando Colonial (24-4) and Flagler Palm Coast (25-4).

Mompremier, a McDonald’s All-American and a Baylor recruit, needs one more win to lead the Stings to the state final for the third year in a row.

With two wins, Miami High would have won consecutive state titles for the first time in a school history that long pre-dates the FHSAA’s first girls’ basketball tournament in 1976.

Miami High coach Sam Baumgarten said Mompremier has worked hard in her role as the team’s focal point, averaging 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists this season.

“Bea will have to ice every joint in her body after her season is done,” Baumgarten said.

One of the biggest improvements for Mompremier has been in her maturity and self-control. Baumgarten said she has not fouled out in any game this season and has not retaliated against foul-prone opponents.

“They have double- and triple-teamed her all season, and players have held her, grabbed her jersey,” said Baumgarten of Mompremier, who is shooting 67 percent on field goals and 63 percent on free throws. “She’s played through everything.”

Mompremier has received good support from several teammates, including 5-10 senior wing Annette Dukes (second on the team in scoring at 11.8) and junior guards Alondra Angulo (9.0 scoring average) and Andrisia Sweeting (first on the team in assists with 6.5).

Boca Raton can play — a 65-62 win over Ferguson proves that. But Boca is very young — there are no seniors on the roster and three sophomores are among its top five scorers — and the program had never gone past the regional semifinals before this season.

Baumgarten believes that the experience of playing in Lakeland will help his team, and the longer court should favor his Stings, too.

“We are hoping the Civic Center will be our sixth man,” Baumgarten said. “We hope the longer floor will speed up the game.”

Baumgarten has watched two Boca Raton games on video, and he believes his team is the deeper club. He also expects Boca to play a lot of “junk” defenses on Mompremier, trying to force other players to shoot.

Counting the teams playing the other semifinal as well, Mompremier is the only remaining player in Class 8A who is taller than 6-2.

All eyes will be on the talented Stings senior as she tries to end her prep career in a championship way.

“She has done so much for us this year,” Baumgarten said. “She has improved by leaps and bounds.”

This story was originally published February 19, 2015 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Beatrice Mompremier will face test vs. Boca Raton as Miami High aims for 8A basketball final."