Miami High, Miami Country Day remain Miami-Dade County’s top girls’ basketball contenders

The Miami Country Day Spartans and the Miami High Stingarees continue to make strong cases for having the top two girls’ basketball programs in the county.

Country Day has won seven state titles, all of them since 2014 under coach Ochiel Swaby. Only Jacksonville Ribault (13) and Fort Lauderdale Dillard (10) have won more Florida titles in girls’ basketball than the Spartans, who are the reigning champs in Class 3A.

Miami High has won four state titles, all since 2005. The Stings won state in 2020 and finished second in 7A last season. That was the Stings’ fifth second-place finish since 2004.

“You have two programs that work year-round,” Miami High coach Sam Baumgarten said when asked about the successes of the Spartans and Stings. “Swaby and I are also not afraid to go to tournaments and take some regular-season losses against top teams. We know playing tough competition will make us better for the playoff run.”

Beyond the Spartans and Stings, Miami Christian won a 2A state title last season, and Miami Lourdes (6A), Miami Norland (5A) and Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (4A) reached the regional finals. Mater Lakes made it to the 4A regional semifinals, losing by one point.

Lourdes and Norland both lost to the eventual state champ, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Plantation American Heritage, respectively. In the 3A regional semifinals, Miami Palmer Trinity lost to eventual champ Country Day.

This season, Miami High is led by 5-5 senior point guard Janay Quinn, who has an offer from Barry University.

The Stings also have standouts such as 5-9 senior shooting guard Cameron Araujo and 5-10 junior forward Joelle Wilson.

At Country Day, the Spartans suffered a huge loss when 6-1 junior forward Aicha Keita sustained a season-ending knee injury. She had led her elite summer league (16-under EYBL) in blocked shots.

“She got hurt demonstrating something at her little sister’s practice,” Swaby said. “My team is young this season, and injuries are killing us.”

In addition to Keita, MCD’s Jada Johnson, a 5-7 freshman shooting guard, has a knee injury and won’t return until January.

The Spartans do have 6-2 sophomore Kayla Nelms, who made first-team All-Dade last season, averaging 12.2 points.

Kristina Godfrey, a 5-9 junior, is the point guard, and she has offers from FAU and Southern Miss.

Sofia Mendez, a 5-8 sophomore, transferred in from Carrollton, and she’s a scorer. Kaliyah Morales, a 5-8 sophomore, has interest from Temple; and 5-5 junior Isabella Guevara brings toughness on a team that Swaby said lacks that trait.

The Spartans have their graduates all over college basketball, including Andrea Daley at Boston College; Kelsey Marshall (Miami); Koi Love (Arizona); Maria Alvarez (South Florida); Asha Taylor (Vanderbilt); Channise Lewis (Maryland); Michelle Berry (Texas Christian); and Chantell Gonzalez (Siena).

“Daley was our clear leader last season,” Swaby said. “We need that this year. I don’t need rah-rah kids. I need a leader on the court when the game is on the line, and we need a play. When it’s time to go to war, I want soldiers on the court.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ Lourdes is led by 5-11 senior forward Emily Mayor, who made first-team All-Dade last season; 6-0 sophomore forward Luciana Picasso; and 5-4 junior guard Ana Sofia Sanchez.

▪ Palmer Trinity’s Emily Montes, a 5-10 junior point guard, committed to Columbia in the Ivy League. She’s set to became a third-generation collegiate basketball player, including her father, Palmer coach George Montes, who played at Barry University. Emily’s grandfather, Robert Montes, was a walk-on at North Carolina State.

▪ Norland graduated Jaiyah Harris-Smith, who signed with Ole Miss. Ka’zahria Johnson, a 6-2 sophomore forward, is Norland’’s new top player.

▪ Braddock is led by Amaris Gonzalez, a 5-8 senior shooting guard who made third-team All-County in 2021, averaging 13.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals.

▪ Palmetto has a pair of talented junior guards from Georgia: Aisha Bess and Adrianna Gilmore.

▪ Terra’s junior guard Stevie Ricklick has a shot at becoming her school’s second 1,000-point scorer.

▪ Coral Gables is led by 5-9 senior Thais Forbes, who averaged 9.6 points.