Miami Country Day’s girls’ basketball became ‘hunters’ again to secure 10th state title
When you spend over a decade winning or at least competing for state championships, you’re the team that everyone is often aiming to beat.
Miami Country Day’s girls’ basketball team didn’t quite feel that way this season.
Sure, the Spartans were still the top seed in their classification, but weren’t even among the top 10 teams in the state overall upon arrival in Lakeland this week.
“I love it, I love it, I love it,” Miami Country Day coach Ochiel Swaby said. “The way we played in the semis, we didn’t look good. We had no real momentum and no confidence to carry us through the game. But what I saw (Saturday) from the kids was them go on the hunt for once. We’ve always been the hunted, but after the semis, I feel like we had to be the hunters again, and we did that.”
The Spartans definitely took that approach again on Saturday and it’s why they emerged with likely their hardest-fought championship in their historic title run following a 47-37 victory over Jacksonville Providence in the Class 2A state final at the RP Funding Center.
Tied at 34 with just under three minutes left, Miami Country Day (19-11) put together a 10-0 run, which sealed the school’s third consecutive state title and 10th overall.
Senior Jada Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give the Spartans the lead for good. After that, it was all clutch free throw shooting.
Sophomore Jalynn Belton, who led Country Day with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, hit 3 of 4 attempts. Freshman Arianna Robinson hit a pair. And junior Kamie Ellis and sophomore Kori Edge each hit one of two for a stretch of 7 out of 10 made free throws after the Spartans had made only 4 of their first 10 attempts earlier in the game.
“We knew we were the underdogs and we took that to heart and we made sure we played our hardest,” Belton said. “It was different. It’s high praise that teams view us so highly, but this year, we were a little younger so I think people thought they could take advantage. We stepped up.”
The Spartans are running out of fingers to wear their rings.
Miami Country Day’s 10th state title ties Fort Lauderdale Dillard for the most by a South Florida team and trails only Jacksonville Ribault’s 12 on the state’s all-time list.
“The expectations have never changed over the years,” Swaby said. “We are fortunate to have talented kids and families that are committed to excellence. Our kids show up to practice, offseason workouts, travel ball. The parents and kids are committed. We’re going to keep showing up as long as that continues, and this is what you get when you do that.”
This year’s celebration felt a little sweeter for the Spartans since this time they were pushed harder than they had been in years past at the state final four.
A tight 37-35 semifinal win over Fort Myers Evangelical Christian on Thursday was Country Day’s narrowest victory during its run of 13 state final four appearances, which began in 2013.
On Saturday, it took another resilient and collective effort to pull out the win.
And unsung heroes such as sophomore Alyssa Hill, who battled through a strained hip flexor and later a strained Achilles tendon this season. Hill scored 10 points including a pair of timely three-pointers in the first half.
“This whole season, I’ve fought a lot, especially on the mental side,” said Hill, who transferred to Country Day from Cardinal Gibbons before this season. “I just wanted to leave it all out there on the court. I pushed through the pain and gave it all I had.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM.
