Broward girls basketball preview: Dillard eyes return to glory; Sangha leads STA
For over four decades, Fort Lauderdale Dillard’s girls’ basketball teams dominated the state under the late great coach Marcia Pinder.
But since 2019, the Panthers have not hoisted a state championship trophy.
That drought could soon be at an end.
George Adams, one of Pinder’s former assistant coaches for 25 years, and his wife, Tonia Adams, a Dillard alum, have come home with the goal of restoring the Panthers to former glory.
And with an influx of talent, that might just be possible.
George and Tonia spent the past three seasons turning North Lauderdale Somerset Prep into one of the state’s best teams.
Somerset advanced to the regional finals multiple times, but weren’t able to break past perennial powerhouse Miami Country Day.
Adams was on staff for seven of those Dillard championships.
The Panthers haven’t been back to that level in recent years, and did not advance past the district round last season.
But Dillard has six new players, highlighted by Somerset Prep transfer Gabrielle King and St. Thomas Aquinas transfer Jaynae Gilbert.
Azaziah Evans-Blake, a transfer from Fort Lauderdale, Tahlia Doce, a transfer from Piper, and Paris George, a transfer from South Broward, bring scoring punch to the Panthers’ lineup.
ENDING THE DROUGHT
Broward County did not have a girls’ basketball state champion for the first time in eight seasons.
A big reason the county didn’t come up empty-handed during that stretch was the dominance of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Raiders came up painfully short of keeping its state title streak going last spring, but has one of the state’s top prospects leading the effort to get back to the top this season.
After winning the four state championships in its program’s history in consecutive seasons from 2021-2024, the Raiders’ drive for five ended with a heartbreaking loss in the Region 4-6A semifinals at home to eventual state runner-up Miami Southridge.
A major transfer, which already paid dividends during indoor volleyball season, has Aquinas in good shape to restart its dominance.
Senior 6-3 forward Isabella Sangha, a transfer from Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, is a Notre Dame commit for both basketball and volleyball. Sangha recently helped the Raiders’ volleyball team finish state runners-up.
On the basketball court, Sangha averaged 27.5 points and 11.7 rebounds last season, and brings that frontcourt presence to a team already stacked with talented players like sophomore wing London Thomas.
The Raiders figure to be the favorites once again in Class 6A.
MORE OUTLOOKS
American Heritage (21-8, 4A state finalist) returns a young squad hoping to extending the Patriots’ streak of finishing as either a state champion or runner-up to nine consecutive seasons. It won’t be easy after two of their top stars - Arizona signee Jasleen Green (Boca Raton Grandview Prep) and Taniyah Davis (Northeast) transferred. Junior point guard Yinuo Wang and sophomore Isabella Aloisio are two of the team’s more experienced returners while juniors Kristijana Carettini (5-11) and Sarah-Renee Ingraham (6-1) provide size in the frontcourt.
Blanche Ely (17-8, 5A regional finalist) came within a bucket of returning to the state final four last February, and appears primed to make that jump this season. Nine players are back for the Tigers led by 5-6 senior point guard Teriyah McFadden, sophomore guard Aniyah Gooden and senior forward Issys Mims, a transfer from Somerset Prep.
Cardinal Gibbons (16-9, 3A regional semifinalist) is led by junior guard Ellison McKinney, who has drawn interest from multiple college programs. Senior guard Makayla Midgett, a four-year starter, is averaging 11.1 points per game, 5.2 assists per game and 3.0 steals per game.
Coral Springs (6A regional quarterfinalist) is led by junior guard Nethania Noel-June, who averaged 16 points per game last season. The Colts’ lineup will be bolstered by the return of senior guard Janelle Swaby and the addition of South Plantation transfer Catalina Robilio.
Cypress Bay (19-6, 7A regional quarterfinalist) will look to return to the playoffs led by senior guards Sofia Gonano and Nevia Miletti.
Northeast (28-3, 5A state semifinalist) lost a lot from its state final four squad including Miami Herald Player of the Year, Ny’Keria Flowers. But adding American Heritage transfer TiNiyah Davis should keep the Hurricanes in contention.
North Broward Prep (11-15) is entering its first season under coach Orlando Sanchez and will be led by 6-3 junior center Ke’Nyah Clark and 5-8 junior combo guard Ysa Pimentel.
Nova (6A regional finalist) should still be a contender thanks to the return of FAU signee Jaelynn Housey, who is still among the top point guards and scorers in the state.
Pine Crest (20-5, 3A regional semifinalist) is rebuilding after losing multiple key players who transferred, but remains optimistic with a squad led by sophomore guard Maci Nitowski, junior guard Rachel Vainder and senior guard Haiey Holland.
South Broward (15-10 last year) enters its first season under coach Whitney Boddie hoping for a return trip to regionals in Class 6A. The Bulldogs are led by junior wing Kalia Adams, sophomore guards Moriah McCandies and Jornnai Barnett, and senior guard Bianca Torres.
Western (14-10, 7A regional semifinalist) is looking to build on last year’s success led by sophomore 5-10 wing Brianna Jarquin, who has been offered by NSU. A pair of transfers - junior guard Tatum Billie (NSU University School) and senior guard Madison Ojeda (Pembroke Pines Charter), should fortify the Wildcats’ lineup.
Westminster Academy (22-8, 2A regional finalist) has undergone significant changes to its roster including the retirement of longtime coach Shannon Walhoff. One of her assistant coaches, Raquel Rosa, takes over with a young lineup led by 6-2 senior center Aliceson Williams and 5-7 junior point guard Samone Jones-Tynes that will try to extend a streak of advancing to at least the regional semifinals for a 10th consecutive season.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM.
