Belen cross-country wins Southeast title 2 days after state win. Plus football, hoops, soccer
Just 48 hours after winning its record-setting seventh consecutive state championship, the Belen boys’ cross-country team won the Nike NXR Southeast Regional Championship in Cary, North Carolina.
The top teams in the Southeast from 12 states competed for two spots, which earn an all-expenses paid trip to Nike NXN Nationals in Portland, Oregon.
The Wolverines scored 84 points with a team average time of 15:30 to take one of those Southeast spots for nationals. They were led by senior Joshua Ruiz, who ran the 5K course in 15:09, good for 15th of 260 runners. Montgomery Bell Academy-Nashville (Wallace) totaled 211 points for runner-up honors, giving Belen a comfortable winning margin.
Vestavia Hills of Alabama was third at 241, and Trinity School of Louisville, Kentucky (Shamrock) fourth at 247.
Belen will compete at the national championship in Portland, Oregon on Dec. 2. This is the second consecutive time that the Wolverines qualified for the national meet and third time in program history.
For the 51st consecutive season, Belen advanced to the FHSAA State Cross-Country Championship, which was Friday, Nov. 17 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. By winning their seventh consecutive state title, Belen improved on its own state mark for most consecutive team titles. Also, Belen has totaled 15 state championships, the most of any high school cross-country team in Florida history.
Nike NXR Southeast Regional Championship: Belen finishers: 15. Joshua Ruiz (Sr.) 15:09; 20. Joseph Ruiz (Sr.) 15:15; 41. Justin Ruiz (Jr.) 15:31; 48. Marcelo Mantecon (Fr.) 15:35; 95. Evan Torres (Sr.) 15:57; 205. Joseph Socarras (Jr.) 16:54; 207. Diego Magarino (Jr.) 16:55. The coaches are Carlos Jimenez, Carlos Flores, Juan Rodriguez and Frankie Ruiz.
Football
In a Class 1M Region 4 semifinal, Archbishop Carroll football defeated visiting Palmer Trinity 35-6 with the offense rushing for 392 yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries.
Ryan Gonzalez, who paced the Bulldogs’ ground attack with two long touchdown runs (40 and 58 yards), finished with 105 yards on four carries. Alejandro Isaza led all rushers with 13 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Sylus Villanueva added a touchdown.
Ivan Quesada and Kevin Dominguez led the Carroll defense, combining on three sacks. The Bulldogs advance to the Class 1M Region 4 Championship on Friday against True North.
Soccer
Brothers Dylan and Deven Garcia led the Cardinal Gibbons boys’ soccer team over FAU-Boca Raton 3-1.
Dylan scored twice and Deven once for the Chiefs (2-2-1). Brandon McBean, Julian Crousillet and Noah Dahswani had assists.
Basketball
Lourdes Academy girls’ basketball opened the season with two wins, thanks in part to Luciana Picasso and Sophia Sandoval.
GIRLS: Lourdes 61, Somerset Academy South-Homestead 48: Lour: Sophie Llevat 12 pts, 2-3 3-ptrs, 5 asts, 11 stls; Luciana Picasso 16 pts, 13 rebs; Sophia Sandoval 30 pts, 5-10 3-ptrs; Michelle Falero 3, 5 asts; Micaela Perez 4 asts, 3 stls. Som: Sakura Barnes 17 pts, 11 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls, 3 blks; Liah Da Costa 12 pts; Justice Sheppard 11 pts, 5 asts, 4 rebs. Lour 2-0.
GIRLS: Lourdes 62, Mater Academy Charter 27: Sophie Llevat 2 pts, 7 asts, 5 stls; Micaela Perez 2 pts, 3 asts; Luciana Picasso 17 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts; Sophia Sandoval 26 pts, 3 stls; Michelle Falero 15 pts, 5-8 3-ptrs. Lour 1-0.
GIRLS: St. Brendan 56, Westminster Christian 35: StB Castro 20 pts, Toro 18, Vindigni 8, Caballero 4, Garcia 2, Luis 2, Velez 2. WC: Stewart 11 pts, Lesman 9, Kennen 6, Palczynsky 6, Dyer 2, Guzman 1. 3-ptrs: Castro 5, Toro 4, Lesman Half: StB 29-20. StB 1-0, WC 0-1.
BOYS: St. Brendan 85, Southwest 43: StB: Duque 22 pts, Varela 14, Alicea 9, Viegas 9, Saroza 8, Villalba 7, Jimenez 7, Lentz 5, Martinez 2, Valdez 2. SW: Diaz 15 pts, Jaxon 14, Paz 6, Fonseca 2, Castillo 2, St Prix 2, Bourrou 2. 3-ptrs: Duque 6, Varela 4, Viegas 3, Saroza 2, Jimenez 1, Alicea 1, Lentz 1, Villalba 1. StB 1-0.
BOYS: Westminster Christian 74, Archbishop Carroll 24: C.Whitby 15 pts, J.Crespo 16, S.Sanchez 19, J.Roberts 7, B.Hendrikse 4, D.Wadskier 3, K.Suarez 5, E.Pereda 6, C.Miller 2. 3-ptrs: C.Whitby 2, J.Crespo 1, S.Sanchez 5, J.Roberts 1, E.Pereda 2. Asts: K.Suarez 5. Rebs: K.Suarez 6. WC 1-0.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published November 24, 2023 at 1:55 AM.
