American Heritage, with retooled roster, chasing sixth consecutive girls’ basketball state title
The first quarter came to an end on Saturday, and Plantation American Heritage girls’ basketball coach Greg Farias did not like what he was seeing from his team against North Broward Prep.
“The intensity wasn’t there,” Farias said.
During the brief intermission before play resumed, Farias made an adjustment. He had his team focus on a full-court defense. He emphasized forcing turnovers and scrappy play with the hope of defensive success carrying over into the offense.
It worked.
American Heritage dominated from that point forward to beat North Broward Prep 75-48 at their home gym.
On paper, it’s just another win for an American Heritage team that has been among the state’s best for the past half-decade.
For Farias, it’s a needed building block with his program on the verge of making history.
American Heritage has won five consecutive state titles, which is the longest active streak among Florida schools. A sixth in a row would tie the state record set by Miami Country Day, which accomplished that feat with state titles every year from 2014-2019.
It’s a monumental accomplishment should the Patriots get there, but Farias isn’t focusing on that just yet.
He still needs to make sure his team is prepared for that moment should it arise.
Farias came into this season understanding that his team would have its share of growing pains. That comes with the territory of replacing three stalwarts from the latest of those five title runs.
With about a month left in the regular season, Farias is starting to see glimpses of what the final product could look like.
The Patriots are 14-4 on the season. Their four losses include a pair of defeats to top state contenders in Miami Country Day and Winter Haven as well as two losses to out-of-state opponents at national tournaments.
“The group is coming together,” Farias said. “We’re going to have our bumps and we’re going to learn as we go, but we’re molding. They’re understanding that Heritage basketball is about defense and being tough. They’re buying in.”
That buy-in is needed to replace a hefty amount of talent from last season’s team.
American Heritage graduated three players from last season in McDonald’s All-American Ta’Niya Latson and fellow seniors Joey Delancy and Emani Theodule — a trio that led the Patriots and is continuing its success at the collegiate level. Latson, the Miami Herald’s Broward 7A-5A girls’ basketball player of the year last season, is dominating at Florida State as a freshman. Delancy is starting in the junior college ranks for Santa Fe College and Theodule is also getting steady playing time as a freshman at NAIA Warner University.
Two seniors, wing Sydni Studesville and point guard Gaby Dumas, return from last season’s starting lineup. Farias has leaned on the duo, along with fellow senior and South Broward transfer Mariah McKenzie, to set the standard for the rest of the roster.
Two freshman guards in Jasleen Green and Teriyah McFadden are being relied on heavily as starters in their first year with the program. Sophomore center Dezuray McGill and junior guard Arielle Facyson are also taking on key roles to help replace the production lost by Latson, Delancy and Theodule.
In Saturday’s win against North Broward Prep, American Heritage had four players score in double figures. Green scoring a game-high 21, with 17 of those points coming in the second half. Studesville chipped in 15 points, while McKenzie added 13 and Facyson 11.
“Any of our girls can score in double figures in a hurry,” Farias said. “We have more balance and no team can focus on just one player and I think that’s what makes us just a tad better all around as a team.”
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