The American Heritage girls’ basketball team advances to the Class 5A state title game

It wasn’t just Tatyana and Taiyah Wyche who did all the damage for American Heritage in its Class 5A state semifinal against Bradenton Southeast.

The influence of Daniella Aronsky’s season-high six three-pointers played a crucial role why the Patriots defeated the Seminoles 67-55 at the RP Funding Center on Thursday.

It was the Patriots’ 14th consecutive playoff win.

Heritage (24-4) will play the Pine Forest/Jones winner for the state championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.

“Making those three-pointers was huge,” American Heritage coach Greg Farias said. “Daniella is the best shooter on the team. Once she got in the rhythm, it did a great job in opening it up for us.”

The Patriots are looking to become the third Broward team to win at least three consecutive championships. Dillard and South Broward each have four consecutive titles to their credit.

Despite the victory, three Heritage starters fouled out.

The Wyche twins combined for 27 points and 17 rebounds, and Aronsky finished with 18 points.

“I’m just happy I was able to help my team get the win,” Aronsky said. “My shots helped stop their run and pushed the game more in our direction. When we start hitting threes, its draining for our opponent.”

As part of a 12-0 run, Southeast (20-9) grabbed its first lead at 15-14 with 5:54 left in the first half.

That may have awakened the beast as American Heritage ended the half on a 19-5 run to go into the break with a 33-22 lead.

Aronsky converted three three-pointers to help fuel the run.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

▪ Ransom Everglades d. Boca Raton 3-0 (25-20, 34-32, 25-22): Will Drody 11 kills, 14 digs, 3 blocks; Stephen Garrett 2 kills, 5 blocks; Gabe Alencar 5 kills, 10 digs; Nick Stone 8 kills, 15 digs. RE: 1-0.

▪ Southwest d. Florida Christian 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-15): Jack Hershman 10 kills, 7aces, 6 digs; Eliezer Gonzalez 5 kills; Erick Pinzon 7assists, 4 digs.

▪ Belen Jesuit d. Pinecrest Prep. 3-0: Mario Cobo 6 kills; Gabriel Suarez 4 assists, 8 digs; Carlos Grundler 5 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces. BEL: 1-0.

▪ Palmetto d. Killian 3-0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-8): Alvaro Grande 11 kills, 5 blocks; Leo Fernandez 9 kills; Zachary Zambrana 7 kills, 3 blocks; Stefan Playa 16 points. PAL: 2-0.

▪ Mourning d. Hialeah Gardens 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22): Ethan Negas 10 kills, 4 digs, 11 service points; Elan Golan 9 kills, 9 digs, 6 blocks; Jared Nae 8 digs, 8 service points, 20 assists.

BASEBALL

▪ Doral Academy 11, South Miami 0: Dominic Pitelli 3-4 2R, 2 2B, RBI, 2SB; Manny Marin 2-2, R, 2RBI; Adrian Figueroa 1-3, R, HR, 4RBI, WP, 4IP; Marcus Franco 2-2 2R, 2RBI, HR; Figueroa and Evan Demurias combined no-hitter.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

▪ Plantation American Heritage d. Cardinal Gibbons 7-0: Natalie Block, Katelyn Gramanzini, Emily Stouch, Grace Odom-Montbrun and Livia Kaufman all singles winners. Block/Gramanzini and Stouch/Odom-Monbrun won in doubles.

▪ Ransom Everglades d. Gulliver Prep. 6-1

BOYS’ TENNIS

▪ Plantation American Heritage d. Cardinal Gibbons 7-0: Arartik Marwah, Elliot Starkman, Luca Benaibbouche, Daniel Naylor and Alex Marzban all won in singles. Marwah/Starkman and Benaibbouche/Naylor won in doubles.

▪ Gulliver Prep. d. Ransom Everglades 5-2

BOYS’ LACROSSE

▪ Ransom Everglades d. University School 9-8

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 4:56 PM.