Miami Country Day boys advance to first state basketball final
Often when basketball teams take a picture at halfcourt after a victory at the state final four, they pose for their fans sitting on one side of the arena.
On Friday, Miami Country Day’s boys did, then turned around and posed for more of their fans gathered on the other side of UNF Arena.
Spartans supporters turned their boys’ team’s 72-53 victory in a Class 2A state semifinal over Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic into a home away from home.
Many of those fans have become accustomed to seeing the school’s girls’ team dominate the state for over a decade, winning 10 state championships in a 13-year span.
But this weekend in Jacksonville means a little more to Miami Country Day.
While the girls chase championship No. 11, it’s the first time both the boys and girls have a chance to win state titles together - a rare feat in the history of Florida high school basketball.
Led by Jordan Corbitt’s 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Fernando Romero’s 19 points and seven rebounds, the Spartans (24-7) advanced to their first ever state championship game and will take on Jacksonville Providence on Saturday at 7:30.
If they win, and Country Day’s girls also prevail, it will mark only the eighth time that a school has its boys and girls win state titles in the same season. The Spartans’ girls advanced to their 2A final with a win over Jacksonville San Jose Prep on Friday night.
Country Day would be only the fourth Miami-Dade County school to accomplish the feat, joining Miami Northwest Christian, Miami Monsignor Pace and Miami High, the last school to do it in 2005.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas has an opportunity to join the exclusive club next week when both its teams play for the Class 6A championships.
“Watching the girls and all the hard work they put in, they lead the way for us,” Miami Country Day boys coach Ralph Mata said. “This has been a few years in the works, but I think the culture has changed for good now (on the boys’ side). We’re going to finish it. One more.”
The Spartans boys have been building toward this for quite some time.
After coming up short in last year’s regional finals, Country Day scored an impressive victory over three-time state champion Riviera Prep in last week’s regional final to advance to state for the first time since 2021 and only the second time ever.
Like they did against Riviera, Country Day jumped out to a quick lead on Friday against the Hawks (23-8) and never trailed.
A 24-6 surge to open the second half had the Spartans doubling up Santa Fe Catholic early in the fourth quarter and allowing some of their reserves to get some playing time.
Miami Country Day shot 56% from the field (28 for 50) and a staggering 9 of 17 from 3-point range, led by Romero, who went 3 for 6 from long distance.
“This is special because at the beginning of the season there were a lot of doubts about us, but we set a goal and we’re ready to complete it now,” Corbitt said. “We don’t want to get too high on ourselves, because we have more to do.”
Corbitt and his brother Kaleb Corbitt, who had 10 points, each experienced what it’s like to win a state title last season when they led Blanche Ely to the Class 5A state title.
Mata, who coached the Corbitt brothers since the fifth grade on the travel ball circuit, said both have made a huge impact on the squad this season both on and off the court.
“These boys have locked in like I’ve never seen before since the beginning of the season, and it’s been great to see,” Mata said. “We try to get 20 assists per game and Jordan’s been a leader on and off the court, and he’s someone who can change the game at both ends. He’s leading us.”
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 6:23 PM.
