State honors for Latson & coaches. Plus Tyreek Hill and J-Roc in men’s hoops league and more
Ta’Niya Latson of Plantation-American Heritage was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 5A Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.
Latson, a senior, led the Patriots to the Class 5A state title, averaging 27.2 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5.3 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Also named a McDonald’s All-American, she signed with NCAA Division I Florida State University.
She is now eligible for Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball honors, recognizing the overall top girls’ high school basketball player in the state.
Coaches and media will vote for that accomplishment as well.
Here is how more local players finished in the final voting for Player of the Year acknowledgements in their respective classification.
Class 7A: 3. Janay Quinn of Miami Senior. Class 6A: 3. Alancia Ramsey St. Thomas Aquinas. Class 3A: 2. Lena Girardi of Westminster Academy; 3. Kayla Nelms of Miami Country Day. Class 2A: 2. Enjulina Gonzalez of Miami Christian.
Some area girls’ basketball coaches received state Coach of the Year honors in their respective classification under the Florida Dairy Farmers banner.
They are: Oliver Berens, St. Thomas Aquinas, Class 6A Coach of the Year.
In his fifth year as head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, Berens led his team to a 27-4 record and its second consecutive Class 6A state title. He has a record of 102-32 at St. Thomas Aquinas with a state runner-up finish in 2019.
Greg Farias, Plantation-American Heritage, Class 5A Coach of the Year.
Farias led the Patriots to a 25-4 record and a fifth consecutive state championship. In seven years at American Heritage, he has posted a 169-35 record with another Final Four appearance in 2017 and has an overall career mark of 207-47.
Shannon Wallhoff, Westminster Academy, Class 3A Coach of the Year.
Walhoff led the Lions to a 27-5 record and the Class 3A state title. In 13 years at Westminster, she has compiled a 229-82 record.
Chanel Davila, Miami Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year.
In her third year at the school, Davila led her team to a 21-8 record and a second consecutive Class 2A state title. Her three-year record at Miami Christian is 60-22.
Here is how more local coaches finished in the final voting for Coach of the Year acknowledgements.
Class 7A: 2. Sam Baumgarten of Miami Senior. Class 4A: 2. George Adams of Calvary Christian.
Palmer Trinity Volleyball
Palmer Trinity School announces the promotion of Levy Luong as head coach of the varsity volleyball program.
Luong spent the past year as an assistant coach for Palmer Trinity’s girls’ varsity volleyball team.
Levy, an active member of the U.S. Air Force, had the opportunity to continue his playing and coaching career while on tour.
Levy has served as the head coach and director of the Spangdahlem Air Base men’s and women’s volleyball teams in Germany, as well as an assistant coach for Bitburg Air Base High School and Spangdahlem Air Base High School.
Upon returning to the United States, Luong spent one year at Westminster Christian School as an assistant coach and also worked as a club coach for Miami Elite Volleyball.
As a player, Luong competed for Orange Coast College, Spangdahlem Air Base men’s team as well as the Echternach, AIRCOM and Bitburg volleyball clubs in Germany.
Palmer Trinity Director of Athletics David Lanham said in a release: “We look forward to the 2022 volleyball season. Please join us in congratulating Coach Luong as he enters his new role.”
J-Roc, Tyreek Hill Basketball
“J-Roc” Jasen Lopez, an 8th grader who started for the region semifinalist True North boys’ varsity basketball team, was invited to play in a men’s basketball league (Courtside) in Miami against a team with NFL receiver Tyreek Hill of the then Kansas City Chiefs.
J-Roc and Hill each scored 42 points. The 5-foot-10 Hill was doing windmill dunks.
This was a few weeks prior to Hill’s trade to the Miami Dolphins.
Courtside is founded and run by True North Head Basketball Coach Christian Martinez.
Baseball
Belen Jesuit 5, Fort Pierce-John Carroll 3: Matt Huembes 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 K; Mike Cruz 1-3, 2RBI, Run; Carlos Mas 1-2, RBI, Run; Nick Alonso 2-4, Run; Jordan Cordero 1-1, 2B, RBI. BEL (5-4).
Belen Jesuit 4, LaSalle 0: WP Frank Fernandez complete game, 0R, 2H; Nick Alonso top offense; Mike Cruz top offense. BEL (6-4).
Pompano Beach 10, Champagnat 6: Tied at 5 in the sixth, the Golden Tornadoes rallied late for the win, their third consecutive victory. Gio Caffro BB, R; Brady Williams 2 HR; Ryan Ward 3-3, 3 RBI. POMP (7-2).
Western 2, South Dade 1: Tied at 1, the Wildcats scored the winner in the top of the seventh.
WP Jake Butter (5-0) 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K; Enrique Sierra (1st save) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K; Kristian Noriega: 1-2, 3B, 1BB; Tyler Jankins 1-3; Daniel Ortega 1-2, 1 BB. WST (9-2).
Western 13, Nova 3: WP Mason Blocker (1-0) 6 IP, 1R, 4H, 0 BB, 8K; Enrique Sierra 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI; Kristian Noriega 2-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI; Andrew Holt 2-3, 2B, BB, 3 R, 3 RBI; Landin Radul 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI. WST (10-2).
Florida League High School Invitational: Palmetto 9, Killian 2: WP Grant Kavalir (1-1); Blake Brookins 3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 1 Run; Luca Arenado 1-2, RBI, 2 runs; Max Borelli 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 runs. PLM (5-4).
Florida League High School Invitational: Palmetto 7, Southlake Christian-North Carolina 6: Trailing 7-2, Southlake rallied with four runs in the sixth, but it was too little too late. WP Brody Seeds (2-0); Blake Brookins 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 1 Run; Hunter Rebhan 1-2, 2B, 1 RBI. PLM (6-4).
Softball
Carrollton 17, Pace 2: WP M.Althage (2-2); Amalia Neff 2-3, HR, 4 RBI; Elizabeth Alwine 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Grace Diez 3-4, 2 RBI. CARR (2-2-1).
Lourdes 22, LaSalle 11: This matchup featured sisters pitching against each other. Melanie Escobar for Lourdes and Emilie Escobar for Lasalle.
WP Isa Astudillo 2-3, 4R, 3RBI; Gabi Ullivarri 2-3, HR, 5 SB; Anastacia Gonzalez 2-4, 4R, 5RBI; Sophia Pierro 1-2, HR, 4RBI; Katerina Puig 3-3, 2R, 3SB.
Lacrosse
GIRLS: Cardinal Gibbons 17, North Broward Prep 9: Leading 9-8 at halftime, the Chiefs dominated the second half.
Game Ball recipient Victoria James forced 11 turnovers; Emma Neclerio 15 saves (62.5% save percentage); Makenna Conley 6 goals; Destynie Huynh 4 goals, 1 assist (her best performance this season); Audrey Kurdziel 3 goals, 1 assist; Jenna Haupert 3 goals, 1 assist, 6 draw controls; Camryn Fasano 1 goal, 2 assists; Delaney Rockelman 5 assists. CG (8-1).
Boys’ volleyball
Belen Jesuit d. St Brendan 25-9, 25-12, 25-16: Lorenzo Torres 9 kills, 5 digs, 3 aces; Nicholas Hernandez 8 kills, 7 aces, 6 digs; Robert Henao 37 assists, 3 kills, 9 digs, 2 blocks. BEL (9-3).
Scholar Athlete Forms
Nomination forms for Miami Herald Scholar Athletes were sent via email to athletic directors. It includes photo requests of nominees. One boy and one girl per school. Questions, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
Winter All County
April 6 is when the Miami Herald will reveal All County winter sports selections (as well players of the year and coaches of the year) for Broward and Miami Dade counties. They will be listed/photographed in the newspaper and online: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/all-county-sports/.
Submit sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade, 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
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 10:14 PM.
