Belen cross-country perfect again to win regionals. Plus more region results, hoops and soccer
The Miami Belen Jesuit boys’ cross-country team continued its dominance, clinching its 22nd consecutive regional championship in commanding fashion.
With the heat index hovering around 86 degrees at the Region 4-3A Championships at South Fork High School in Stuart, the Wolverines powered through the sweltering conditions to capture the school’s 28th regional title.
Once again Belen posted a perfect score of 15 points, sweeping the top five spots in a field of 110 runners and 16 teams.
Throughout the race, the team remained tightly packed, demonstrating the impressive depth and compression they’ve cultivated. In a thrilling final stretch, sophomore Armando Cruz surged ahead by a single stride to claim the individual title in 16:10, with his teammates right on his heels, finishing within a second of each other.
Senior Joseph Socarras (2nd, 16:10.20), senior Diego Magarino (3rd, 16:10.30), senior Justin Ruiz (4th, 16:10.40) and sophomore Marcelo Mantecon (5th, 16:10.50).
This victory secures the Wolverines’ 52nd consecutive trip to the FHSAA State Championships on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, where they will aim for an eighth consecutive state title -- which would extend their own record for most consecutive team championships in any sport.
BOYS: Region 4-3A: Other top local finishers: 6. Alejandro De Bastos (Pembroke Pines Charter) 16:13.30; 7. Joshua Gammage (Dillard) 16:14.90; 9. Marco Prieguez (Belen) 16:27.60; 11. Michael Brunet (Belen) 16:29.60; 13. Dudley Moise (McArthur) 16:43.80; 17. Adam Stewart (Pembroke Pines Charter) 16:55.90; 19. Aiden Johnson (Pembroke Pines Charter) 16:59; 21. Stefan Lungescu (Plantation American Heritage) 17:00.40; 23. Prince Valbrun (Northeast) 17:15.40; 24. Deshawn Hamilton (Dillard) 17:17.90.
Team: 1. Champion Belen Jesuit 15; 2. Naples 93; 3. Pembroke Pines Charter 98; 4. Palmetto Ridge 130; 5. Plantation American Heritage 154; 6. Dillard 183; 7. Immokalee 219; 8. Northeast 247; 9. Jensen Beach 256; 10. Archbishop McCarthy 269; 11. South Fork 270; 12. McArthur 286; 13. Mater Academy 289; 14. Felix Varela 362; 15. ATM 366; 16. TERRA 469.
Fort Lauderdale Dillard won the girls’ team title with 29 points, 45 points better than runner-up Lourdes.
Eighth grader Shynah Collins led the champion Panthers by winning the individual title, besting a field of 108 runners in 18:53.90. Her teammate Abigail Richards, a junior, was third in 19:19.40.
Sophomore Alessandra Perez topped Lourdes in 19:28.90, good for fifth overall.
GIRLS: Region 4-3A: Other top local finishers: 6. Alexandra Palekar (Plantation American Heritage) 19:40.40; 7. Peyton Williams (Dillard) 19:49.40; 8. Latiah Gore (Dillard) 19:50; 9. Daniella Fraga (Lourdes) 19:50.60; 10. Kelly Greene (Dillard) 19:55.70; 15. Abbigail Lane (TERRA) 20:34.20; 16. Kylie Fernandez (Lourdes) 20:40.10; 20. Cristina Sanchez (Lourdes) 20:54.70; 21. Gabriella Herrera (Mater Academy) 20:55.20; 25. Olivia Rodriguez (Lourdes) 21:16.70.
Team: 1. Champion Dillard 29; 2. Lourdes 74; 3. South Fork 78; 4. Naples 99; 5. Jensen Beach 180; 6. Plantation American Heritage 186; 7. Barron Collier 194; 8. Gulf Coast 195; 9. Archbishop McCarthy 204; 10. Pembroke Pines Charter 260; 11. Mater Academy 303; 12. Dr. Joaquin Garcia 305; 13. TERRA 321; 14. Everglades 435; 15. Northwestern 436; 16. McArthur 466.
More region cross-country
In Region 4-4A at Tropical Park in Miami, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas senior Grace Finneran won the girls’ individual title to help lead the girls’ region champion Raiders. She scaled the 3.1-mile course in 19:00.50, besting a field of 116 runners. Freshman teammate Taylor Gold was fifth in 19:43.30.
Nicole Lewis, a freshman at Miami Doral Academy was runner-up at 19:19.10, followed by junior Avril Donner (19:27) of third place Miami Coral Gables and senior Samantha Ruiz (19:36.40) of Miami Coral Reef. Miami Braddock was the team runner-up.
GIRLS: Region 4-4A: Other top local finishers: 6. Jasmine Trotz (Brd) 20:00.04; 7. Charlotte Lee (STA) 20:21; 8. Carleigh Tripp (Fort Lauderdale) 20:23.80; 9. Madeleine De Lacoste (CCity) 20:35.40; 10. Rebeca Cardenas (STA) 20:35.90; 11. Madison Chin (Brd) 20:39.70; 12. Gabriela Gonzalez-Orbegoso (Dor) 20:50.20; 13. Martina Buitrago (Brd) 20:50.30; 14. Judeny Thomas (SDade) 20:55.90; 15. Yara Korse (CG) 20:57.30; 16. Sharon Contreras (CG) 20:59.50; 17. Kayla Feeney (Brd) 21:01.70; 18. Olivia Higgins (CS) 21:08.20; 19. Tory Gardiner (Wst) 21:09.20; 20. Lauren Puig (CG) 21:16.50.
Team: 1. Champion St. Thomas Aquinas 49; 2. Braddock 64; 3. Coral Gables 83; 4. Doral Academy 100; 5. Coral Reef 169; 6. Cypress Bay 209; 7. Miami Southridge 220; 8. Stoneman Douglas 243; 9. West Broward 279; 10. Flanagan 290; 11. Homestead 329; 12. Western 335; 13. Cooper City 339; 14. Ferguson 341; 15. South Dade 358; 16. Taravella 402.
On the boys’ side, Miami Columbus rebounded from its runner-up finish at districts to Braddock by winning convincingly with 47 points the Region 4-4A title. In a close battle for second, Coral Reef scored 93 points, Braddock 95 and Coral Gables 99.
Coral Reef senior Luis Marti won the individual region championship, topping 114 runners in 16:07.90, and Braddock junior Mauricio Escalona was a close second in 16:09.
Columbus senior Anthony Scarcello was third in 16:23.70, and Davie Western junior Santiago Lara placed fourth in 16:29.30 and Doral Academy senior Sebastian Coraspe fifth in 16:33.90.
BOYS: Region 4-4A: Other top local finishers: 6. Diego Eseverri (Col) 16:36.40; 7. Jeffrey Belizaire (CS) 16:45.10; 8. Steven Lundin (CR) 16:47.20; 9. Alexander Lopez (Col) 16:47.20; 10. Jason Norona (CG) 16:51.30; 11. Anthony Porter (CR) 16:54.10; 12. Jonathan Alvarez (Dor) 16:59.80; 13. Federico Llaguno (Col) 17:09.90; 14. Matiz Thompson (CB) 17:13.80; 15. Luis Rodriguez (CG) 17:15.20; 16. David Lazo (South Plantation) 17:15.60; 17. Noah Gonzalez (Col) 17:18.60; 18. Linus Boettcher (CG) 17:18.70; 19. Liano Lacayo (Brd) 17:19.10; 20. Jacob Castanedo (Brd) 17:19.11.
Team: 1. Champion Columbus 47; 2. Coral Reef 93; 3. Braddock 95; 4. Coral Gables 99; 5. Doral Academy 136; 6. Taravella 161; 7. Western 176; 8. St. Thomas Aquinas 240; 9. Cypress Bay 251; 10. Flanagan 255; 11. Coral Springs 257; 12. South Broward 325; 13. Miami Palmetto 332; 14. West Broward 361; 15. Barbara Goleman 400; 16. South Dade 405.
Other regions
▪ BOYS: Region 4-1A Cross-Country Championships at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton: Individual Champion Jonathan Pena (Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy) 15:58.
Team Champion Westminster Academy (Jonathan Pena 1st 15:58, Tanner Pritchard 6th 16:31.60, Scott Sanok 12th 17:16.30, Lucas Latimore 14th 17:29.20, Wilson Seeman 15th 17:30.10). Runner-up Miami Palmer Trinity (Juan Pablo Bracamontes 5th 16:25.50, Gregorio Ramos 11th 16:59.50, Camilo Herrera 13th 17:20.40, Alejandro Herrera 22nd 18:02.30, Justin Eubanks 31st 18:34.70).
GIRLS: Region 4-1A Cross-Country Championships at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton: Individual Champion Sabrina Martinez (Miami Riviera Prep) 19:50.30. Runner-up Eugenia Fantoni (Westminster Academy) 19:52.70.
Team Champion Westminster Academy (Eugenia Fantoni 2nd 19:52.70, Noelle Richardson 8th 21:25.50, Karlynn Cordano 13th 20:05.20, Annabel Farrar 14th 22:16.70, Annabelle Van Tine 24th 22:53.70). Runner-up Hollywood Sheridan Hills Christian (Grace Dorn 4th 20:54.70, Mireille Gomez 10th 21:36.90, Milan McKenzie 12th 21:58.80, Jaylin Rucker 30th 23:14.40, Melodie Gomez 36th 23:42.80).
▪ BOYS: Region 4-2A Cross-Country Championships at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton: Individual Champion Gabriel Carr (Miami Sunset) 16:24.50.
Team Runner-up Mater Lakes Academy (Kevin Aguilar 3rd 16:27.60, Adrian Ruiz 8th 17:00.20, Joel Gutierrez 13th 17:17.10, Justin Garcia 25th 17:55.90, Jayden Sanchez 29th 18:00.20).
GIRLS: Region 4-2A Cross-Country Championships at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton: Individual Champion Grace Aldrich (Miami Carrollton) 18:30.80. Runner-up Daniela Hernandez (Carrollton) 18:22.80.
Team Champion Carrollton (Grace Aldrich 1st 18:30.80, Daniela Hernandez 2nd, Paola De La Iglesia 17th 20:33.90, Gabriella Bodoh 28th 21:16.20, Veronica Larrea 31st 21:32.30). Runner-up Miami Ransom Everglades (Gillian Carvalho 6th 19:56.10, Sophia Linfield 16th 20:31.80, Adriana Carvalho 26th 21:11.70, Sirja Joeveer 39th 21:56.70, Anna Lavernia 40th 21:58.30).
Soccer
Coral Gables boys and Plantation American Heritage girls are off to very good starts in high school varsity soccer. So are Lourdes girls and NSU University School boys.
▪ GIRLS: Chaminade-Madonna 9, Mater Academy 1: Annabelle Rhodes 3 goals, 2 assists; Sophia Garcia 2 goals; Giada de Luca 1 goal; Emma Mujica 1 goal; Ceili Scope 1 goal; Dani Ibanez 1 goal; Gkp Ayniyah Aspen-March. CM 1-2.
▪ GIRLS: Lourdes 6, TERRA 0: Ceci Rodriguez 1 goal; Natalia Aviles 1 goal; Catherine Esquijerosa 2 goals; Natalia Perez 1 goal; Gianna Gray 1 goal; Veronica Aguilar 1 assist; Cecilia Martinez 1 assist; Jessica Lee 1 assist; Sienna Aviles 2 assists; Andrea Mazin 1 assist; Gkps Chloe Bligh and Lillian Graham combined shutout. Lour 3-0.
▪ GIRLS: Plantation American Heritage 3, Ransom Everglades 0: Emma Torres 2 goals; Samantha Villaverde 1 goal; Juliana Soto 1 assist; Allison Aleman 1 assist; Jordyn Norwood 1 assist; Gkp Jillian Miliffe shutout. AH 4-0.
▪ GIRLS: Plantation American Heritage 3, North Palm Beach Benjamin 0: Allison Aleman 1 goal; Mia Sommers 1 goal; Samantha Villaverde 1 goal; Emma Torres 1 assist; Courtney Caruso 1 assist; Mattie Hall 1 assist; Gkp Jillian Miliffe shutout.
AH 5-0.
▪ GIRLS: Plantation American Heritage 8, Miami Palmetto 0: Samantha Villaverde 3 goals; Courtney Caruso 1 goal; Natalia Dorn 1 goal; Jordan Norwood 1 goal; Arianna Doles 2 goals; Gkp Jillian Miliffe shutout. AH 6-0.
▪ BOYS: Belen Jesuit 4, St. Brendan 0: García-Chacon 2 goals; Fernández 1 goal; López goal; Muelle 2 assists; Fuentes 1 assist. Gkp Mejia shutout. Bel 2-0-1.
▪ BOYS: Columbus 2, SLAM 0: Jaden Glasper 1 goal; Cristian Tamargo 1 goal; Tomas Calonge 1 assist; Santiago Montoya 1 assist; Gkp Juan Audisio 3 saves, shutout. Col 2-1, SLAM 2-2.
▪ BOYS: Coral Gables 6, American 0: Anthony Marrero 2 goals, 2 assists; Lek Yam 1 goal; Thiago Becerra 1 goal; Sky Carrizo 1 goal; Fabricio Cimino 1 goal; Gkp Santiago Lema shutout. CG 2-0.
▪ BOYS: Coral Gables 3, Krop 0: CG: Anthony Marrero 1 goal, 2 assists; Sky Carrizo 1 goal, 1 assist; Victor Fialho Ribeiro 1 goal; Gkp Santiago Lema shutout. K: Gkp Tiago Latorre 4 saves. CG 3-0, K 0-1.
▪ BOYS: NSU University School 4, West Boca 1: Julius Bullock 1 goal; Raul Leyva 1 goal; Nicholas Marques 1 goal; Matias Winterman 1 goal. Univ 3-0.
▪ BOYS: South Florida Champions League: Gulliver Prep 3, Cardinal Gibbons 2: CG: Deven Garcia 1 goal; Eugene Gibbons 1 goal; Brennan Flagg 1 assist; Brandon McBean 1 assist. CG 0-2.
▪ BOYS: South Florida Champions League: Miami Beach 1, Pembroke Pines Charter 1: MB: Valentino Levy 1 goal; Kai Somoano 1 assist. MB 2-0-1.
Basketball
Some of the country’s best prep basketball players and teams are playing in Miami this weekend.
The Grind Session, a winter circuit of high school basketball events featuring top boys and girls hoops prospects in the United States and Canada., will host a three-day showcase at Miami Senior High School (2450 SW 1st St.) and SLAM Miami (542 NW 12th Ave.) from Friday through Sunday.
The event will feature 26 teams from eight states and Canada, 28 games, seven ESPN top-rated prospects, and three of the nation’s Top 10 teams entering the 2024-25 season.
To put into perspective how good this circuit is: the Grind Session has produced nearly 3,000 players who have played collegiate or professional basketball, including more than 20 first-round NBA draft picks. That list includes Miami Heat center Thomas Bryant, as well as Boston Celtics star and reigning NBA champion Jayson Tatum.
“The Grind Session has taken high school basketball to new heights, becoming the home and proving ground for the nation’s best prospects and teams. College coaches are looking for players that are ready, seasoned and developed to play college basketball and our level of competition is just that,” Grind Session co-founder and CEO Scott Waldrop said via press release. “We’re excited about bringing the action to Miami and look forward to an exciting weekend of elite prep basketball.”
The showcase opens with four games on Friday starting at 3:15 p.m., continues with 13 games on Saturday starting at 10 a.m., and concludes with 10 games on Sunday starting at 10 a.m.
Among the 22 boys’ teams competing in the showcase are three of the Top 10 teams in the MaxPreps National Preseason Basketball Rankings – No. 3 Prolific Prep (California), No. 6 Utah Prep (Utah), and No. 10 Dream City Christian (Arizona). Ten Florida-based programs, including perennial powerhouses DME Academy and Balboa School, will take to the court during the three-day event.
The event will also feature four girls’ teams, including Florida’s DME Academy and Academy of Central Florida, Oklahoma’s Grind Prep and Canada’s Bond Academy.
Featured among the athletes playing are a handful of ESPN’s Top 100-rated prospects.
Boys:
- Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep – Class of 2025 #3 prospect
- Mikel Brown, Jr., DME Academy – Class of 2025 #12 prospect
- Niko Bundalo, Prolific Prep – Class of 2025 #25 prospect
- Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian – Class of 2026 #12 prospect
- Gabe Nesmith, Prolific Prep – Class of 2027 #6 prospect
- Martay Barnes, Academy of Central Florida – Class of 2027 #12 prospect
- Obinna Ekezie, Prolific Prep – Class of 2027 #19 prospect
Girls
- Sania Richardson | Grind Prep | Class of 2025 | ESPN #86
- De’Andra Minor | Grind Prep | Class of 2027 | ESPN #10
Here’s the full schedule:
At Miami Senior High School
FRIDAY, NOV. 15
3:15 p.m. – Royal Crown (ON, CAN) vs. Academy of Central Florida (FL)
5:00 p.m. – DME Academy (FL) vs. Bond Academy (ON, CAN) women
6:45 p.m. – Prolific Prep (CA) vs. Balboa School (FL)
8:30 p.m. – DME Academy (FL) vs. Dream City Christian (AZ)
SATURDAY, NOV. 16
10:00 a.m. – Wilson Academy (GA) vs. Skyline Prep (AZ)
11:45 a.m. – Bond Academy (ON, CAN) vs. Grind Prep (OK) women
1:30 p.m. – Academy of Central Florida (FL) vs. DME Academy women
3:15 p.m. – Dream City Christian (AZ) vs. Royal Crown (ON, CAN)
5:00 p.m. – Balboa School (FL) vs. DME Academy (FL)
6:45 p.m. – West Oaks (FL) vs. Prolific Prep (CA)
8:30 p.m. – Miami Senior (FL) vs. MN Prep (MN)
SUNDAY, NOV. 17
10:00 a.m. – Quality Education (NC) vs. Southeastern Prep (FL)
11:45 a.m. – Skyline Prep (AZ) vs. Grind Prep (OK)
1:30 p.m. – Royal Crown (ON, CAN) vs. Balboa School (FL)
3:15 p.m. – MN Prep (MN) vs. Victory Rock Prep (FL)
5:00 p.m. – Grind Prep (OK) vs. Academy of Central Florida (FL) women
6:45 p.m. – Academy of Central Florida (FL) vs. West Oaks (FL)
8:30 p.m. – Chi Prep (IL) vs. Southern Coast (FL)
At SLAM Miami
SATURDAY, NOV. 16
10:15 a.m. – Tri-City Prep (ON, CAN) vs. Florida Coastal Prep (FL)
12:00 p.m. – Academy of Central Florida (FL) vs. Quality Education (NC)
1:45 p.m. – Grind Prep (OK) vs. Southeastern Prep (FL)
3:30 p.m. – Victory Rock Prep (FL) vs. Tri-City Prep (ON, CAN)
5:15 p.m. – Downey Christian (FL) vs. PDI prep (OH)
7:00 p.m. – Southern Coast (FL) vs. Wilson Academy (GA)
8:30 p.m. – Chi Prep (IL) vs. SFA Academy (FL)
SUNDAY, NOV. 17
10:15 a.m. – SFA Academy (FL) vs. Academy of Central Florida (FL)
12:00 p.m. – PDI Prep (OH) vs. Florida Coastal Prep (FL)
1:45 p.m. – Downey Christian (FL) vs. Tri-City Prep (ON, CAN)
Admission is $15/day. Children 6 and under are free.
About the Grind Session
Formed in 2014, the Grind Session is the first and longest-running winter circuit of high school basketball events from late November until early March that consists of elite teams from all over North America. To put into perspective how good this circuit is: the Grind Session has produced nearly 3,000 players who have advanced to play collegiate or professional basketball, including more than 20 first-round NBA draft picks. Some of the circuit’s more notable alumni include Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), DeAndre Ayton (Portland Trail Blazers), Paolo Banchero (Orlando magic), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), just to name a few.
For more information, visit www.thegrindsession.com.
Send high school sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), 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 November 14, 2024 at 12:48 AM.
