By Dave Brousseau

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Class 6A regional semifinals boys’ basketball game between Boyd Anderson and St, Thomas Aquinas was well decided before the first quarter was completed.

Led by the 24 points from Clarence Westbrook Jr., the Raiders took another step closer in defending their state championship with a 63-37 victory over the Cobras on Saturday.

The Raiders (25-4) advance to a regional final on Saturday at 7 p.m. where they will host Miramar, a team they defeated for the BCAA Big Championship several weeks back.

The series is tied 5-5 dating back to 2008, with Aquinas winning the last two meetings.

“We had to adjust to what the referees were calling,” said Aquinas coach Julius Sandi. “We had a couple of guys that picked up early fouls, and I had to make an adjustment based on how they were calling the game.

We went to the zone, though I didn’t care to go to it.”

The defense held the Cobras to six points in the second quarter, while scoring 22 points themselves for a 42-15 lead at the half.

Game over.

The pounding was assisted with 11 points each from Nate Accius and Zane Elliott. KJ Sandi added 10 points. 

BOYS

SATURDAY’S REGIONAL SCORES

Class 7A: Columbus 68, Western 53

Coral Glades 71, Palmetto 64

Class 6A: St. Thomas Aquinas 64, Boyd Anderson 37

Miramar 76, South Plantation 60

Class 5A: Pembroke Pines Charter 84, Atlantic 45

Belen Jesuit 65, Plantation 60

Class 4A: Stranahan 62, Miami Northeastern 48

Class 3A: Cardinal Gibbons 58, Pine Crest 56

SATURDAY’S REGIONAL FINALS

Class 7A: Coral Glades (21-7) at Columbus (23-6) at FIU Arena, 7.

Class 6A: Miramar (21-8) at St. Thomas Aquinas (25-4), 7.

Class 5A: Belen Jesuit (24-5) at Pembroke Pines Charter (19-6), 7

Class 4A: Stranahan (14-13) at Suncoast (22-5),  7

Class 3A: University School (22-5) at Cardinal Gibbons (22-6), 7

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.