Palmer Trinity wins tournament. Plus Junior Orange Bowl hoops, state awards and more
The Palmer Trinity girls’ basketball team won the Braddock Holiday Tournament in Miami.
The Falcons (11-2) edged Mater Academy 67-63 in the finals. Junior Emma Esparza, the tournament MVP, scored 16 points with 11 assists, five stelas and one 3-pointer.
Palmer Trinity opened the tournament, defeating Lourdes 59-21 and then beating Varela 68-17.
Championship: Palmer Trinity 67, Mater Academy 63: Pts: Esparza 16, Nieves 21, Laria 11, Wright 11, Sullivan 1, Dawson 3, Rivero 4. 3-Ptrs: Esparza 1, Nieves 5, Dawson 1, Wright 1, Laria 1. Rebs: Wright 14. Stls: Esparza 5. Asts: Esparza 11. Blks: Sullivan 1, Wright 1. PT 11-2, MA 10-5.
Game 2: Palmer Trinity 68, Varela 17: Pts: Esparza 4, Nieves 10, S. Laria 13, Wright 15, Sullivan 2, Dawson 18, Rivero 4, Poux 2. 3-Ptrs: Dawson 1. Rebs: Wright 7, N. Laria 7. Stls: Nieves 8. Asts: Esparza 4. Blks: Sullivan 4. PT 10-2, Var 3-5.
Game 1: Palmer Trinity 59, Lourdes 21: Pts: Esparza 17, Nieves 8, Laria 14, Wright 9, Sullivan 2, Dawson 5, Rivero 4. 3-Ptrs: Esparza 1, Nieves 2, 1 Dawson. Rebs: Laria 11. Stls: Esparza 8. Asts: Esparza 4. Blks: Sullivan 1, Wright 1. PT 9-2, Lour 10-5.
Junior Orange Bowl basketball
The annual Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic is at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami.
The three-day event features eight teams in the boys’ division and eight teams in the girls’ division.
Boys: Belen Jesuit, Florida Christian, Lakota West (Ohio), Mater Lakes Academy, Bonner Prendie (Pennsylvania), Palmetto, St. John’s College School (Washington D.C.), Westminster Christian.
Girls: American Heritage Plantation, Doral Academy, George Rogers Clark (Kentucky), Keys Gate Charter, Omsted Falls (Ohio), Purcell Marian (Ohio), SLAM Charter, St. John’s College School (Washington D.C.).
Here are some results.
BOYS: St. John’s College 76, Florida Christian 54: SJC (9-2): GEREMY CLARK 3-5 2-2 9, KJ LITTLE 0-1 0-0 0, JERRAMIAH WALKER 2-3 0-1 4, KAIDEN ARGUETA 3-3 0-0 8, KAREEM SMITH-BEY 7-8 1-2 17, JYMIN VENEY 7-13 0-0 14, ZYION CHASE 2-5 0-2 5, JORDAN TAYLOR 4-9 0-0 8, JON LARRANAGA 1-2 0-0 3, JAMES DIBITETTO 4-7 0-0 8. Totals 33-56 3-7 76.
FC (8-4): TAVARUS GREENE 3-7 2-3 8, JASON PADRON 2-7 2-2 8, SERGIO MURTINHO 4-4 0-0 8, JERMAINE AGYEMAN 2-3 0-0 4, RASMUS OLOP 9-14 4-4 26, JONATHAN WEIR 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-35 8-9 54.
FG%: SJC .589, FC .571. 3-pt FG: SJC 7-13 (CLARK 1-3, ARGUETA 2-2, SMITH-BEY 2-3, VENEY 0-2, CHASE 1-1, TAYLOR 0-1, LARRANAGA 1-1), FC 6-13 (GREENE 0-1, PADRON 2-6, OLOP 4-6). Rebounds: SJC 16 (VENEY 4), FC 8 (AGYEMAN 3, OLOP 3). Fouls SJC 0, FC 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: TAYLOR. Assists: SJC 18 (SMITH-BEY 5), FC 10 (PADRON 4). Steals: SJC 11 (CHASE 3), FC 3 (OLOP 2). Blocked shots: SJC 4 (SMITH-BEY 2), FC 1 (AGYEMAN 1). Turnovers: SJC 7, FC 16.
BOYS: Palmetto 71, Bonner Prendie 63: Plm (11-2): RAFAEL DIAZ 9-20 0-0 21, COREY GELLINEAU 2-6 0-0 4, ANTHONY PHILLIP 0-2 0-0 0, JAIDE NHORTON 4-9 2-3 13, SEBASTIAN MADERA 8-9 3-5 19, SAMFREE SARANTE 2-9 3-4 7, JUNIOUS SARANTE 0-1 0-0 0, DYLAN JAXON 1-1 0-0 2, GAGE MARIMON 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 28-59 8-12 71.
BP (4-2): TARIQ WARNER 1-3 0-0 2, KOREY FRANCIS 5-16 4-9 17, KAM JACKSON 6-11 2-2 16, DASHAU NHOLDEN 4-7 3-3 12, JAKEEM CARROLL 2-3 0-0 6, AYDIN SCOTT 2-4 1-2 5, JAVON BANNER 0-0 2-2 2, MASEN PRICE 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 21-46 13-20 63.
FG%: BP .457, Plm .475. 3-pt FG: BP 8-17 (WARNER 0-2, FRANCI S3-5, JACKSON 2-4, HOLDEN 1-2, CARROLL 2-3, PRICE 0-1), Plm 7-25 (DIAZ 3-10, PHILLIP 0-1 ,HORTON 3-6, MADERA 0-1, SARANTE 0-5, SARANTE 0-1, MARIMON 1-1). Rebounds: BP 20 (FRANCIS 11), Plm 29 (HORTON 9). Fouls BP 0, Plm 0. Foule dout: none. Technical: none. Assists: BP 10 (JACKSON 4), Plm 16 (GELLINEA U10). Steals: BP 5 (FRANCIS 2), Plm 5 (HORTON 2). Blocked shots: BP 5 (FRANCIS 2, PRICE 2), Plm 3 (GELLINEAU 1, MADERA 1, SARANTE 1). Turnovers: BP 12, Plm 10.
BOYS: Belen Jesuit 88, Westminster Christian 64: Bel (11-1): ORLANDO ROCHE 10-16 3-3 25, LUCAS DIAZ 7-11 1-1 17, ALEC ARNHOLT 5-10 0-0 10, RICHARD BLANCO 2-4 0-2 4, JEEVAN NAVARRO 0-1 0-0 0, LUCAS HERNANDEZ 0-0 0-0 0, FELIPE ARIZA 3-5 0-2 7, ALEJANDRO BIRD-BELTRAN 4-8 0-0 9, LUCAS BALDOR 1-1 1-2 3, SAMUEL HINCAPIE 0-0 0-0 0, LUKE LEON 1-1 0-0 2, ADRIAN DIAZ DE VILLEGAS 4-5 1-3 9, BRYAN CABBALLERO 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 38-64 6-13 88.
WC (5-10): BRENDAN FRAGELA 4-9 5-5 15, CHRISTOPHER CUETO 3-8 5-6 12, MARCOS ESCOBAR 3-7 1-2 8, LUCAS CRESPO 5-8 3-4 15, SHANVAUGHN BULLARD 1-4 2-2 4, JUSTIN RUIZ 1-2 2-2 5, SHANDON BULLARD 2-6 0-1 5, KINGSTON BANAS 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-45 18-22 64.
FG%: WC .422, Bel .594. 3-pt FG: WC 8-28 (FRAGELA 2-5, CUETO 1-4, ESCOBAR 1-5, CRESPO 2-5, BULLARD 0-2, RUIZ 1-2, BULLARD 1-4, BANAS 0-1), Bel 6-22 (ROCHE 2-6, DIAZ 2-5, ARNHOLT 0-4, BLANCO 0-1, ARIZA 1-3, BIRD-BELTRAN 1-2, CABBALLERO 0-1). Rebounds: WC 34 (CUETO 9), Bel 22 (DIAZ DE VILLEGAS 6). Fouls WC 0, Bel 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: WC 11 (CRESPO 5), Bel 25 (DIAZ 6). Steals: WC 3 (FRAGELA 2), Bel 14 (ROCHE 3, ARNHOLT 3). Blocked shots: WC 1 (CUETO 1), Bel 4 (ROCHE 2). Turnovers: WC 16, Bel 8.
BOYS: Lakota West 78, Mater Lakes 48: LW (7-0): BRYCE CURRY 6-11 0-0 13, TZ MAMUTSE 0-0 2-2 2, JOSHUA TYSON 9-11 1-1 20, TYSON DAVIS 2-2 0-0 4, PARKER ROBINSON 2-4 0-0 4, ANDRE RICHARDSON 0-2 0-0 0, COHEN BRANDENBURG 0-1 2-2 2, CODY CRAWFORD 1-1 0-0 2, ROMAN COMBS 4-5 2-2 10, JORDAN NARVAEZ 3-5 0-0 6, ELIJAH DUNN 6-10 0-0 13, GRIFFIN LONG 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 34-53 7-7 78.
ML (10-3): AIDAN SPENKUCH 2-5 0-0 6, JULIAN PEREZ 2-10 0-0 5, KHAMANI PESSOA 2-5 0-0 4, KHANYE MOSS 5-19 5-5 18, BRANDON BLOCH 1-2 3-5 5, RICARDO DIAZ 2-10 0-0 5, ANTHONY TORRES 0-0 0-0 0, CAIO LEOPOLDO 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 16-56 8-10 48.
FG%: LW .642, ML .286. 3-pt FG: Lakota West 3-9 (CURRY 1-2, TYSON 1-2, ROBINSON 0-2, RICHARDSON 0-1, DUNN 1-2), ML 8-40 (SPENKUCH 2-4, PEREZ 1-7, PESSOA 0-1, MOSS 3-16, BLOCH 0-1, DIAZ 1-7, LEOPOLDO 1-4). Rebounds: LW 30 (COMBS 9), ML 19 (PEREZ 5). Fouls LW 0, ML 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: TYSON. Assists: LW 24 (RICHARDSON 5, COMBS 5), ML 9 (PESSOA 4). Steals: LW 9 (TYSON 4), ML 6 (SPENKUCH 2, MOSS 2). Blocked shots: LW 3 (CURRY 1, TYSON 1, COMBS 1), ML 3 (BLOCH 2). Turnovers: LW 12, ML 13.
GIRLS: Olmsted Falls 41, American Heritage Plantation 38: OF (7-1): AVERY DELISIO 2-4 0-0 5, REESE TIMURA 0-4 0-0 0, LILY KRALL 1-1 0-0 3, JESSE SIMON 3-10 2- 49, KAYLEIGH SCHAEFER 0-2 0-0 0, EMMA SCHAEFER 4-8 5-8 14, GRACE LARGENT 3-6 4-4 10, CARLI NAGY 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-35 11-16 41.
AH (7-5): ZOE ROWE 2-5 0-0 5, ISABELLA ALOISIO 2-9 3-5 8, KAYLA SMITH 0-1 0-0 0, SARA-RENE EINGRAHAM 2-4 0-0 4, YINUO WANG 3-11 1-1 7, DAIJA THOMAS 0-0 0-0 0, KRISTIJANA CARRATINI 5-7 4-4 14. Totals 14-37 8-10 38.
FG%: OF .371, AH .378. 3-pt FG: OF 4-14 (DELISIO 1-3 ,TIMURA 0-3, KRALL 1-1, SIMON 1-4, SCHAEFER 1-2, LARGENT 0-1), AH 2-1 3(ROWE 1-5, ALOISIO 1-4, SMITH 0-1, WANG 0-3). Rebounds: OF 18 (SIMON 6 ,SCHAEFER 6), AH 28 (CARRATINI 13). Fouls OF 0, AH 0 .Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: OF 9 (SCHAEFER 4), AH 8 (WANG 4). Steals: OF 9 (SIMON 3, SCHAEFER 3), AH 4 (ALOISIO 1 ,SMITH 1, WANG 1, THOMAS 1). Blocked shots: OF 0, AH 2 (ROWE 1 ,CARRATINI 1). Turnovers: OF 7, AH 13.
GIRLS: St. John’s College 76, SLAM 19: SJC (8-2) STEVIE HARLEY 2-5 0-0 4, LOGAN MILLER 0-1 0-0 0, ZOE CONNER 0-0 0-0 0, MCKENZIE SMALL 1-2 2-2 4, GISELLE GRANT 2-5 2-4 7, ZOE BROWN 3-5 0-0 6, SAMANTHA ELLER 2-3 0-0 6, CAMILLE NESMITH 3-8 6-6 12, SLOAN BUCKNER 2-3 1-2 7, LAILA JACKSON 1-3 0-0 2, CADENCE HARRIOTT 3-6 0-0 6, ANAIAH PELT 2-3 0-0 5, MORGAN STEWART 6-8 2-2 15, CECILIA WANSLEY 1-2 0-2 2. Totals 28-54 13-18 76.
SLAM (3-7): DANIELLA PUJADAS 2-13 7-8 12, DEMI PUJADAS 0-1 0-2 0, BROOKLYN DEAL 1-4 0-0 3, ISABELLA OSORNO 0-1 0-1 0, VERNIYA SANDS 0-1 0-0 0, APRIL RIZO 1-2 0-0 2, CARLA CANSECO 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 5-27 7-11 19.
FG%: SJC .519, SLAM .185. 3-pt FG: SJC 7-14 (HARLEY 0-1, GRANT 1-3, ELLER 2-3, BUCKNER 2-2, JACKSON 0-2, PELT 1-1, STEWART 1-2), SLAM 2-10 (PUJADAS 1-6, PUJADAS 0-1, DEAL 1-2, CANSECO 0-1). Rebounds: SJC 33 (NESMITH 9), SLAM 10 (RIZO 4). Fouls SJC 0, SLAM 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: SJC 23 (GRANT 4), SLAM 1 (CANSECO 1). Steals: SJC 14 (STEWART 5), SLAM 3 (DEAL 1, RIZO 1, CANSECO 1). Blocked shots: SJC 5 (NESMITH 2), SLAM 3 (PUJADAS 1, DEAL 1, RIZO 1). Turnovers: SJC 5, SLAM 20.
GIRLS: Purcell Marian 79, Keys Gate 62: PM (7-1): LYLAH BROWN 0-7 0-0 0, CEIYRA HICKS 2-3 0-0 6, KANIAH ROYLES 0-1 0-0 0, KAILYN SCOTT 3-5 0-4 8, LAURYN BROWN 3-4 0-0 8, LAYLA CLAXTON 6-12 1-3 15, KOURTNEY PETERSON 5-10 0-2 13, ARYSS DAY 0-1 0-0 0, SAMAYA WILKINS 9-17 7-10 26, GENAYIA WILBURN 0-1 0-0 0, NAKIAH MEJIA 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 29-65 8-19 79.
KG (5-6): NAYA HARDISSON 6-16 0-4 14, ESSENCE GIBBS 11-19 3-6 28, LUCIANNA GARCIA 2-9 0-0 6, DESTINY BEARD 1-3 0-0 3, EMILIA MARQUEZ 2-8 0-0 5, KENNEDI GYMBS 0-1 0-0 0, ZHARIANNA GUION 3-5 0-2 6. Totals 25-61 3-12 62.
FG%: PM .446, KG .410. 3-pt FG: PM 13-32 (BROWN 0-3, HICKS 2-3, ROYLES 0-1, SCOTT 2-5, BROWN 2-2, CLAXTON 2-5, PETERSON 3-4, DAY 0-1, WILKINS 1-5, MEJIA 1-3), KG 9-27 (HARDISSON 2-8, GIBBS 3-5, GARCIA 2-6, BEARD 1-3, MARQUEZ 1-5). Rebounds: PM 38 (WILKINS 11), KG 15 (GUION 7). Fouls PM 0, KG 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: PM 18 (CLAXTON 5), KG 11 (HARDISSON 5). Steals: PM 4 (HICKS 2), KG 10 (HARDISSON 5). Blocked shots: PM 1 (WILKINS 1), KG 3 (GUION 3). Turnovers: PM 17, KG 9.
GIRLS: Doral Academy 62, George Rogers Clark 58: Dor (10-4): MADISON LONDONO 0-1 0-0 0, CAMILA VELASCO 3-4 2-4 8, GABRIELLA O’REILLY 0-1 0-0 0, NINA ACOSTA 0-0 0-0 0, LEILA FIGUEROA 3-8 1-2 7, D’NAELA MYERS 7-10 5-6 19, KARLA STIVEN 0-1 0-0 0, ASHLEY MARTINEZ 6-12 4-4 19, STEPHANIE VEGA 3-7 3-4 9. Totals 22-44 15-20 62.
GRC (5-1): KENNEDY STAMPER 3-13 1-2 7, KYLEIGH CHESTNUT 2-5 2-2 7, TEIGH YEAST 8-15 2-3 19, JAYLYNN GOODWIN 2-2 0-0 4, KYLEIGH STAKELIN 4-7 0-0 9, ELYIAH STRODE 2-6 2-3 6, ANAYA CHESTNUT 2-3 0-0 6, ANNETTE MILLER 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-51 7-10 58.
FG%: GRC .451, Dor .500. 3-pt FG: GRC 5-16 (STAMPER 0-5, CHESTNUT 1-2, YEAST 1-3, STAKELIN 1-4, CHESTNUT 2-2), Dor 3-12 (LONDONO 0-1, FIGUEROA 0-1, MYERS 0-1, MARTINEZ 3-7, VEGA 0-2). Rebounds: GRC 18 (STRODE 4), Dor 22 (MYERS 9). Fouls GRC 0, Dor 0. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: GRC 15 (GOODWIN 4), Dor 11 (MYERS 3, MARTINEZ 3, VEGA 3). Steals: GRC 6 (YEAST 3), Dor 5 (MARTINEZ 2). Blocked shots: GRC 0, Dor 6 (MYERS 6). Turnovers: GRC 7, Dor 9.
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More basketball
BOYS: Miami Holiday Invitational at Mater Academy Charter School: Westwood Christian 59, Elite Academy 42: Zamari Dewberry 13 pts, 9 asts, 3 rebs; Mayar Dhieu 20 pts, 10 rebs, 1 blk, 3 asts; Jason Martinez 13 pts, 5 rebs; Danny Cabello 8 pts, 3 stls, 5 asts. WC 7-4, EA 6-9.
Football honors
The state finalists for the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football and Football Coach of the Year have been announced, following balloting by a statewide panel of high school football coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in his classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in his class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
The list includes:
Mason Mallory, Senior, Quarterback, St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida Class 5A Player of the Year: Led his team to a 14-1 record and the Class 5A state title by completing 163-of-244 passes for 2,057 yards with 23 TDs and 6 interceptions. Also rushed for 654 yards on 75 carries (8.7 avg.) and 9 TDs.
Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida Class 5A Coach of the Year: Led his team to a 14-1 record and the Class 5A state title, his seventh consecutive championship. In 11 years at Aquinas, Harriott has posted a 138-15 record with nine state titles and two state runner-up finishes.
Locals who placed in the classification voting: 7A: 4. Coach Mike Manasco (Miami Palmetto). 6A: 3. Brandin Mincy (West Broward); 2. Coach Brian McCartney (West Broward). 4A: 3. Jamar Denson (State Champion Plantation American Heritage); 2. Coach Mike Smith (State Champion Plantation American Heritage). 3A: 4. Calvin Russell (Northwestern); 2. Coach Jaquatin Victrum (Northwestern). 2A: 4. Jayden Torres (Cardinal Gibbons). 1A: 2. Derrek Cooper (Chaminade Madonna); 3. Coach Dameon Jones (Chaminade-Madonna).
Swimming honors
Giola Balzano of the Miami Beach girls’ swim team was named the Florida Dairy Farmers State’s Class 3A Girls’ Swimmer of the Year and was a finalist for the state’s Miss Swimming honors.
Balzano, a senior who transferred from Braddock, won two individual state titles during the FHSAA State Championships at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training in Ocala.
She swam 1:46.11 to win the 200 free at state for her first individual title after being part of three relay state champion groups as a freshman and sophomore with South Florida HEAT. She swam 54.21 seconds in the 100 fly for her second individual state title.
Mater Lakes Academy girls’ swim coach Sarah Smith received Florida Dairy Farmers State’s Class 2A Girls Swimming Coach of the Year accolades and was a finalist for the state’s overall girls’ coach of the year award. She guided the Bears to their first state team title in program history.
Senior Rylee Erisman of Windermere HS and senior Bogdan Zverev of Sarasota HS were named the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss and Mr. Swimming, respectively, following voting by a statewide panel of prep swim coaches.
In addition, Robbie Shaffer of Tampa Jesuit HS and Kyle Goller of Windermere HS were the state boys’ and girls’ swimming coaches of the year, respectively.
Submit sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity sports results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. You will be alerted when it will appear.
Also, some will be considered athlete of the week nominations.
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM.
