Aquinas erases early deficit, storms past Blanche Ely, plus Heritage back at state
St. Thomas Aquinas never panicked Friday, not even when the Raiders trailed by 18 points in the second quarter of their now-annual postseason showdown with Blanche Ely in Pompano Beach. For two straight years, St. Thomas Aquinas had ended the Tigers’ season in the region playoffs and the recent history of this rivalry suggested something crazy was going to happen.
Across the next 20 or so minutes, it did. Blanche Ely’s lead was down to six points by halftime and gone within the first few minutes of the second quarter. The Raiders stormed all the way back and ran away from the Tigers to win the 73-65 in an emotional Region 4-6A girls’ basketball championship at Blanche Ely High School.
“Obviously, an incredible, great effort of playing 32-minute basketball for us,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Oliver Berens said.
The Raiders and Tigers have combined to win three straight 6A championships, and they’ve played at some point in the region playoffs now for four straight years. After Blanche Ely won the state title in 2020, St. Thomas Aquinas won the last two and is now two wins away from making it three in a row.
The Raiders will travel to Lakeland next week and face Lakeland Lake Gibson in the 6A semifinals Thursday at 6 p.m. at the RP Funding Center.
St. Thomas Aquinas has now won 6 of 7 against the Tigers, starting with a win the Region 4-6A semifinals in 2021 after Blanche Ely won the first three meetings with the Raiders that season.
The frequency of these meetings means there are usually no secrets when these two Broward County powers play. This time, Berens said, was different, though, and it let the Tigers race out to a 28-10 lead in the second quarter.
[Blanche Ely] Coach J.R. McNabb did a really good job of bringing something entirely different to the game this time,” Berens said. “He threw something at us defensively that he had not shown in any of the previous years and it took us a while to get accustomed to it.”
The Raiders also started with a full-court man-to-man look on defense and the Tigers feasted on it, getting easy layups to pour 22 points on St. Thomas Aquinas in the first quarter.
From there, the Raiders switched to a zone defense, seeking out traps near midcourt, and they finally got the turnovers they were looking for. Back-to-back steals started St. Thomas Aquinas’ run and back-to-back three-pointers by Karina Gordon put the Raiders within striking distance, down 34-27.
The St. Thomas Aquinas guard, who signed with the ECU Pirates last year, finished with 20 points to lead all scorers.
“She really maintained her composure and found her way into the game,” Gordon said, “and was a massive spark plug for us.”
The Raiders took the lead for good in the waning moments of the third quarter and led by as much as 14 points in the fourth.
It was a step St. Thomas Aquinas needed to take to try to complete its three-peat, but it was also more: The Raiders were tested once again and they believe it will have them ready to complete the fourth three-peat in Broward history next week.
“We played a lot of tough teams at the national level,” Berens said. “These games are going to prepare us for what we have moving forward in Lakeland.”
▪ Region 4-5A final - American Heritage 58, Miami Norland 40: Most girls basketball teams do some serious celebrating when they clinch a trip to the state final four. But there was very little of that when the clock hit zeroes on Friday night at Heritage.
A few high fives and a hug here or there and that was about it.
After all, when you’ve just clinched your seventh consecutive trip to state and have won the last five state titles, navigating your way to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland is something you could practically do blindfolded.
Heritage will take on Clearwater in a Class 5A state semifinal on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Even though the names and faces have changed with Ta’Niya Latson having moved on and now starring at Florida State, Heritage head coach Greg Farias has kept the train moving. Even though it’s been a little more of a modest season for the Patriots as they improved to 22-7 and are ranked No. 16 in the state regardless of classification, they will still head to Lakeland with a chance to make, or at least match history.
One more title will give them six in a row, matching the state record set by Miami Country Day which did it from 2014-19.
“It’s been a challenge,” said Farias. “People don’t realize that sometimes when they get there, they don’t ever go back. This is my seventh time in row and it’s just unbelievable. Yes, the bar is set high but it only gets done when you have girls that buy into a system that breeds success. We’ve set the bar, and that’s a great thing. Six in row? I don’t think about it, I really don’t. Because I try and do just like the girls and take things day by day, game by game. If it happens, we’re blessed because we work hard and battle everyday. If it happens, it happens.”
Freshman sensation Jasleen Green has been one of those new faces to step up for Farias this year. Averaging 22 points per game, Green already has major interest from schools like Ole Miss, Arizona, Texas, Florida State and the University of Miami. Even though she didn’t hit her average on Friday night, her 17 points were more than anybody else on the floor and more than enough to carry her team.
“This is amazing,” Green said. “During my eighth grade year, I watched them go to states and win it and I so wanted to be a part of that and now I am. This is so exciting. I wouldn’t have ever thought this would’ve happened so fast for me and that I would’ve been able to contribute as much as I have.”
For Norland, more frustration for head coach Carla Harris who once again put together another nice team only to be turned away in another regional final. The Vikings were looking for their first trip to Lakeland since 2015 but instead finished 20-6. Shania Swan led the way for Norland with 14 points.
BILL DALEY
▪ Region 4-7A - Miami High 57, Coral Springs 24: The Stingarees (23-5) secured their sixth consecutive trip to the state semifinals after a dominant victory over the Colts. Sydney Wilson led Miami High with 15 points, eight assists and three steals. Joelle Wilson had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Alexia Sanchez had nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Mia Rowe also had nine points and 10 rebounds. Hazel Hernandez also had 10 points.
Miami High’s streak of five consecutive trips to the state finals will face a major challenge when the Stingarees take on Orlando Dr. Phillips in a Class 7A state semifinal next Friday at 12:30 p.m. in Lakeland. Dr. Phillips is ranked No. 1 in the state overall and 19th nationally by MaxPreps.
▪ Region 4-4A - Cardinal Gibbons 65, North Broward Prep 45: The Chiefs (22-5) advanced to the state final four for the first time since 2020 and will take on Jacksonville Bishop Kenny in a Class 4A state semifinal on Thursday at noon in Lakeland. Konstantina Mantziori led the Chiefs with 21 points while Taylor Williams had 12 points and Brooke Buckman added 11.
▪ Region 4-2A final - Horeb Christian 60, Miami Christian 56: Emely Rodriguez scored 26 points including 10 in the fourth quarter to lead the Mustangs (18-4) to a comeback win over the two-time reigning state champion Victors.
Horeb Christian advanced to its first ever state final four where it will take on Fort Myers Evangelical Christian on Wednesday in a Class 2A semifinal at 4 p.m.
Horeb Christian trailed by 11 in the third quarter before Rodriguez helped it outscore Miami Christian 24-7 in the final period.
Keysi Aybar also had 13 points while Bijoux Lacombe and Allana Davila Pacheco each had nine points.
Madison Aguilera led Miami Christian with 20 points and made four three-pointers.
This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 11:40 PM.
