What a season for St. Brendan girls’ cross-country team. Plus basketball and soccer results
The St. Brendan girls’ cross-country team completed a historic season at the FHSAA Class 2A State Championships at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.
St. Brendan recorded the best finish of any South Florida girls’ team (all classifications) at state when it secured the runner-up trophy in Class 2A. The Sabres totaled 161 points, only behind state champion Jacksonville Bolles (56 points) to secure their highest team place in school history.
Emma Hencock, a junior, led St. Brendan, placing fifth overall in 18 minutes and 46.2 seconds.
Read more about locals in the Florida girls’ state championships at:
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/article255771291.html#storylink=cpy
St. Brendan’s girls’ postseason run commenced at the district meet at Larry and Penny Thompson Park in Miami. The Sabres faced a strong challenge from defending district champ Gulliver Prep, but St. Brendan prevailed with a solid 39-point margin for the district title.
St. Brendan totaled 24 points and Gulliver Prep 63. The Sabres were led by individual district champ Hencock and runner-up Gabriella Page, a freshman.
At a regional championship in Boca Raton, St. Brendan accomplished its season goal by winning its first region title.
St. Brendan scored an impressive 27-point win over Gulliver Prep. The Sabres totaled 52 points and Gulliver Prep 79. St. Brendan was led by region champ Hencock and Top 15 finishers Page, sophomore Kaycie Aquilino and junior Daniela Alvarez.
At state, powerhouse Bolles won its 13th state title, while St. Brendan proudly earned the state runner-up trophy (and team medals), making the podium.
St. Brendan coach Brandon Williams said: “Through this historic postseason run, the girls really bonded and knew that a podium finish was within their reach in Tallahassee. Despite their youth, the team ran like veterans and held off many challenges to secure the first podium finish in school history by 61 points and finished as the highest South Florida girls’ team across all classifications.”
At state, St. Brendan was again led by Hencock, who earned a second medal for placing fifth. The team also received strong efforts from Page, Aquilino and Alvarez. Rounding out the seven runners in Tallahassee were seniors Andrea Andino, Leila Gonzalez and Rachel Fernandez.
The head coach is Brandon Williams, who ran for Chaminade-Madonna Prep and Florida Southern College, and the volunteer assistant coach is his dad, Mark, a Barry University alum.
Soccer
BOYS: Miami Beach 3, Reagan/Doral 0: Gianluca Calabrese 1 goal; Ryan McQuagge 1 goal; Isrrael Rodriguez 1 goal; Camilo Roldan 2 assists. MB (5-0).
Basketball
GIRLS: Somerset Silver Palms-Homestead 82, Palmer Trinity 76: PT: Montes 28, Leon 14, Alibhai 13, Porto 4, Veloso 2, Deleon 13, Sullivan 2. Half: SSP 41-34. 3-Ptrs: Leon 1, Montes 4, Deleon 4, Alibhai 3. Rebs: Porto 8. Stls: Montes 5. Asts: Montes 5. Blk: Montes 2, Porto 2.
Basketball Classic
The Nike Rose Classic Super Jam Basketball Thanksgiving Classic is Nov. 26 and 27 at Miami Norland Senior High School, 1193 NW 193rd St., Miami Gardens. Basketball is back with an exciting tournament.
Girls: Northeast, Flanagan, Word of Life Christian Academy of Virginia, IMG Academy of Bradenton, Miami Christian School, Next Academy of Canada, Somerset of Homestead, Lourdes, Mater Lakes Academy, Jones of Orlando, Archbishop McCarthy, Norland. Boys: Central, Norland.
Basketball Tournament
The 44th annual Highlands Christian Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament is December 2-4 at 501 NE 48th St., in Pompano Beach.
A tournament running that many years is quite the accomplishment.
This is a winner-advance format with a losers bracket. All teams play three games, establishing first through eighth place.
Games are at 4, 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The 44th version, partially sponsored by Under Armour and BSN Sports, features a solid field, including West Palm Beach-Berean Christian, Cardinal Gibbons, Highlands Christian, Jupiter Christian, Pine Crest, Boca Raton-Saint John Paul II, Boca Raton-St Andrew’s, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Basketball Kreul
The Kreul Showcase, part of the Kreul National High School Basketball Tournament, is Dec. 3-4 at Monarch High School, 5050 Wiles Rd., Coconut Creek.
The Kreul tournament -- with top sponsors Eastbay/Champs, BCAA, Gatorade -- is Dec. 17-22 in Coral Springs, featuring 34 boys’ teams, including 12 teams (many ranked nationally) from out of state. Additionally there will be four top girls’ teams.
This marks the 33rd year for The Kruel, named after longtime local basketball supporter, basketball parent and men’s league player the late Jim Kreul. Three of his kids played basketball for Taravella High School in Coral Springs.
The tournament was started to help the family of Jim Kreul, who died playing men’s league basketball. It has grown into one of the longest running national high school tournaments, generating 110 full tuition scholarships to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Teams competing at the showcase Dec. 3-4 are American Heritage-Plantation, Blanche Ely, Boyd Anderson, Coral Glades, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Dillard, (Palm Beach Gardens) Dwyer, Lake Worth, (Stuart) Martin County, Monarch, Norland, Pembroke Pines Charter, Riviera Prep, Stranahan, (West Palm Beach) King’s Academy, Wellington, Westminster Academy.
Submit sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results, top performers and stats for this column, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
