St. Thomas Aquinas boys’ basketball remains focused on main goal after comfortable win
St. Thomas Aquinas could have reveled in the experience of being back at the boys’ basketball state final four for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
But for the Raiders, it’s always been about accomplishing the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.
Aquinas demonstrated that with its play on Thursday as it started strong and never let up during a 69-42 blowout win over Punta Gorda Charlotte in a Class 6A state semifinal at the RP Funding Center.
“Our energy was good from the start,” said sophomore wing Clarence Westbrook Jr., who finished with a game-high 19 points as well as five rebounds and three assists. “We were locked in defensively and offensively and never let up and that’s why we got the win.”
In a season of firsts, which included their first championships of the BCAA, Kingdom of the Sun and Kreul Classic tournaments, the Raiders can now collect their greatest prize if they can secure their first state title since 2001.
Aquinas (29-2) will try to accomplish this when they play either Orlando Evans or St. Augustine Tocoi Creek on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the 6A final.
“It’s an honor to make history and something this school hasn’t been able to do for over two decades,” Westbrook said. “We don’t want to let this opportunity go to waste.”
From the way the Raiders opened the game, they didn’t want to let any shot go to waste.
Aquinas shot a staggering 65.9 percent (29 of 44) from the field including 62.5 percent (10 for 16) from 3-point range.
Sophomore KJ Sandi led the barrage, making 6 of 8 triples, which accounted for all 18 of his points.
Sandi helped the Raiders use an early 15-0 surge to run out to a 30-8 lead with 3:22 left in the second quarter and effectively put the game out of reach.
“It was really up to my teammates,” Sandi said. “They trusted me to make shots and they kept finding me and letting me do what I do. It feels great but the job isn’t finished.”
Sandi and his brother, DJ, a junior guard, are sons of Aquinas head coach Julius Sandi, and have formed part of the core of the Raiders’ build up to a potential state championship.
DJ Sandi finished with 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Dwyane Wimbley Jr. finished with 12 points.
Aquinas, which won its lone title in 2001 under former coach Steve Strand who was in attendance on Thursday, has been gradually building to this after making the regional quarterfinals in 2021, the regional semifinals in 2022 and 2023, and the regional finals last season.
“I’m just excited for our kids and the work they’ve put in and their attention to detail,” Julius Sandi said. “We had a week to prepare so we basically didn’t leave any stones unturned and were ready for an environment like this. I wasn’t worried about the moment because they’ve been in big moments all season and were ready to play.”
