By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – The final result was a complete shocker.
With a new coach Steph Doctor taking over five games ago the Miami Southridge girls’ basketball team had the improbable task of upsetting four-time defending state champion in St. Thomas Aquinas in a Class 6A regional semifinal on Tuesday night.
Led by sophomore point guard Naya Hardisson’s game-high 21 points the Spartans proved they were a team not to be overlooked following a 52-49 stunning victory.
Southridge (15-10) advances to Friday’s regional final on the road against Nova. The Titans defeated Martin County 63-25 behind 21 points from Jaelynn Housey.
“They were the four-time state champs, and we came out and did what we had to do and came out on top,” said Hardisson. “We have heart, played together and we played as a team and that’s what we did today.”
“We’ve been underdogs everywhere we’ve gone. This game we wanted it more and we got it, she added.”
The victory came off the heels of a loss to Aquinas in last year’s regional semifinal 65-43.
The Spartans defense held Aquinas to only 11 points in each of the first three quarters and led 40-33 entering the decisive fourth quarter. One that the Raiders typically control.
“We needed to make big plays at the right time,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Brandon Stewart. “The ball didn’t go in the basket at certain points into the game. This hurts bad and tough to take this loss right now.”
Nyla McFadden gave the Raiders a 43-42 lead with 5:06 to play and again with 1:50 remaining with a two-point basket for a 48-47 advantage.
Hardisson stepped up big as time was expiring on a Raiders comeback bid with five straight points to help seal the victory.
“We played as a family, played hard and played together,” said Southridge coach Steph Doctor, who took over head coaching duties during the GMAC tournament. “We also played great defense. We communicated on defense well. It was the best defense we’ve played all year.”
In addition to Hardisson’s scoring, freshman guard Sakura Barnes added 12 points and senior forward Emily Jean-Glauded 11 points.
Aquinas was led by McFadden with 15 points and London Thomas with 13 points.
Slow starts for the Aquinas (18-9) offense were increasingly becoming a concern.
They were sluggish for much of the opening half. In addition, the Raiders top two offensive threats in Thomas and McFadden managed only 10 points between them and would trail to the Spartans 26-22 at the break.
Aquinas only led Olympic Heights 12-11 after one quarter of last week’s regional quarterfinal before winning 79-33.
“As coaches we wish we could control everything, but at the end of the day we had to play the game,” said Stewart. “This is very disappointing that we won’t have the opportunity to win a fifth title.
This is going to keep me up tonight.”
PHOTO CAPTION: St. Thomas Aquinas coach Brandon Stewart talks to his team during a time out late in the Class 6A regional semifinal game against Miami Southridge.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – The path for the Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Boca Raton Olympic Heights girls’ basketball programs have been distinctly different.
St. Thomas Aquinas, winners of four consecutive state titles, plays one of the toughest schedules available. Olympic Heights on the other hand came into Thursday’s Class 6A regional quarterfinal with their first winning record since the 2007-08 season.
The Lions surprisingly led STA early until London Thomas scored a two-point basket as the Raiders took their first lead at 10-8 with 1:48 to play in the opening quarter.
At the end the Raiders ousted Olympic Heights from the Class 6A regional tournament 79-33. Aquinas (18-8) will host Miami Southridge in a regional semifinal on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
It was the Raiders 21st consecutive state playoff victory. The complexion of the game changed dramatically at the start of the second quarter as Thomas scored 22 of her game-high 29 points in the middle quarters as the Raiders lead ballooned to 60-29.
“We’ve been in this situation before like down when we shouldn’t have been,” said Thomas. “It like the mindset to play our game. I felt I had to bring more, get to the basket and score points.”
Once Aquinas got rolling, it was a full team contribution as nine players scored.
Freshman Laila Barnett added 10 points, while Sara Lee Blair and Alaira Ferguson each added eight points.
“I talked to the team about the game being four quarters,” said Aquinas coach Branson Stewart at the half. “One quarter won’t define us, neither will two. I should be four. It’s something to build from.”
“We have found some peace with playing close games. Our kids don’t get rattled when the game gets close, he added.”
Senior guard Miley Ruggieri led the Lions (16-3) with a team-high 19 points.
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – It may surprise many sports fans that high school wrestling is perhaps the most attended sport of any championship series events in the state of Florida.
For the past 60 years, high school wrestling has become more and more popular in the Sunshine State – and with the recent state team dual championships in Kissimmee, and the upcoming individual state event in Kissimmee in March, more and more fans are finding out about one of the world’s oldest competitions.
With the girls added to the mix, and college scholarships now being awarded to boys and girls, there is more of a rush to participate in a sport that goes hand-in-hand with self-defense martial arts that many parents have been urging their children to take part in throughout the year.
BCAA ROLLS OUT THE MATS
For the first time ever, the Broward County Athletic headed to Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale for the annual County Meet, and by the end of the two days, over 20 wrestlers, boys and girls, were crowned champions in front of family, friends, administrators and many who were watching the sport for the first time.
With districts coming up in two weeks, it was the perfect way to get everyone excited about the sport.
Led by five individual champions, including Frankie Florio, and brothers Peter and Michael Mocco, the Cardinal Gibbons High boys wrestling teams and head coaches Jamel and Jamal Morris, continued is hold on the BCAA County Championships.
The Chiefs won their eighth consecutive title, scoring 294, outdistancing second place Miramar with 188.5 points. It was Gibbons 21st overall title since the event began in 1965. Their five individual winners improved the school’s tournament record to 113.
They’ve also had at least one individual champion over the past 27 consecutive meets.
The boys’ championship matches were historic in nature.
For the first time two sets of brothers wrestling for the same team won individual titles at the same meet.
It marked the 12th time brothers won championships at a single meet since it first happened in 1970 when Pete and Charles Collins of Stranahan were victorious.
Illia and Ivan Kyryianenk, a freshman and junior from South Broward, who came to the United States from Ukraine around 10 months ago, fit well into the Bulldogs wrestling ending the day as undefeated county champs.
Illia defeated Joseph Scott of Hollywood Hills at 132 pounds with a pin at 3:52. Ivan followed his brothers’ lead with a 14-1 major decision over Famous Nealy of Miramar 14-1.
“It has been hard finding the same level of wrestling as we had in Ukraine,” said Illia Kyryoanenk. “We came to South Broward and liked the wrestling here. It was easy to change the style here from freestyle.”
Said Ivan, “It was difficult coming to the United States, but we like it here. It would feel great if we could win a state title, because our father is still in Ukraine, and he would be happy for us.”
The brothers finished the night undefeated with a combined record of 68-0 on the season.
Peter and Michael Mocco also kept their drive as undefeated state champs.
Peter (40-0), who won the county title as an eighth grader when he was at Coral Springs Charter last year, defeated J’vier Romeus of Coral Springs 20-1 at 190 pounds.
“This feels good,” said Peter about the victory. “I consider my brother as one of the best in the country. Practicing with him motivates me.”
Michael (33-0) won his record tying fourth county title (one at Coral Springs Charter, three at Gibbons) with a technical pin over Jeffery Lujano 20-3.
“I’m going to keep training and working my hardest to get better,” said Michael. “It feels amazing being here with a program that can help us. I can always improve as much as I can.”
The Mocco brothers are following in the rather large footsteps of their father, Steve, who is a world legend in wrestling and mixed martial arts. When Steve Mocco isn't helping coaching the Chiefs at Cardinal Gibbons, he is currently teaching at the popular American Top Team in Coconut Creek.
Florio won his third consecutive county championship when he pinned Noah Catala of Miramar at 3:30. His first two county titles came at 145 and 144 weight classes.
Other winners for the Chiefs were Andrew Isek (37-5) at 144 pounds and Bryan Picallo (24-1) at 150 pounds.
David Leiva of Douglas remained undefeated at 38-0 winning the championship at 126 pounds.
BOYS
Teams scores (Top 5)
1. Cardinal Gibbons 294; 2. Miramar 188.5; 3. South Broward 184.5; 3. Cypress Bay 179.0; 5. South Plantation 178.5
Individual results
106: Jenkins (SP) d. Metellus (MON) 11-3; 113: Duygulu (MSD) p. Saint-fleut (SP) 3:56; 120: Shapiro (CB) d. Derby (SP) 12-9; 126: Leiva (MSD) t.p. Barreto (CB) 20-2; 132: Il. Kyryianenk (SB) p. Scott (HH) 3:52; 138: Iv. Kyryianenk (SB) d. Nealy (MIR) 14-1; 144: Isek (CG) m.d. Lindsay (CSC) 15-5; 150: Picallo (CG) m.d. Harding (MIR) 14-3; 157: Keery (CS) d. Rojas (WEST) 8-2; 165: Florio (CG) p. Catala (MIR) 3:30; 175: Rosenberg (SP) m.d. Ortiz (NOVA) 13-3; 190: P. Mocco (CG) t.p. Romeus (CS) 20-1; 215: M. Mocco (CG) t.p. Lujano (SP) 20-3; HWT: Dickenson (SB) p. Flack (CG) 2:28.
CORAL SPRINGS GIRLS STAND TALL
Coral Springs High with veteran head coach Dan Jacob leading the way, won the second girls BCAA wrestling title with 121 points, a year after Douglas won the inaugural championship.
Six wrestlers advanced to the finals, with Abigail Moyer (18-5) at 130 pounds, Nylah Smith (6-4) at 135 pounds, Maryaliz Bernardina (5-4) at 155 pounds and Arheanna Bryan (11-4) at 190 pounds winning championships for the Colts.
Latoya Sylvestre of South Broward was victorious at 235 pounds after winning at 190 pounds in 2024.
“Winning the title has motivated me to be better,” said Sylvestre.
“They know I’m coming for a state title because they know my name. this is telling me I’m on the right track.”
GIRLS
Teams scores (Top 5)
1. Coral Springs 121; 2. Douglas 113; 3. South Broward 103; 4. Western 76.5; 5. Deerfield Beach 52.0
Individual results
100: Kleine (MON) p. Thomas (COOP) 1:53 105: Francisco (WEST) t.p. Kerber (CB) 18-3; 110: Presser (WEST) d. Vattikuti (MSD) 7-2; 115: Valentine (MIR) p. Harris (CS) 1:51; 120: N. Arroyo (SB) p. Urdaniva (HH) 0:58; 125: Nina (DB) p. Canals (WEST) 3:46; 130: A. Moyer (CS) p. Mashian (WEST) 1:32; 135: Smith (CS) by forfeit over McMahon (MSD); 140: Yelder (EVER) p. Balk (MSD) 4:59; 145: Ross (NOVA) p. A. Arroyo (SB) 1:37; 155: Bernardina (CS) p. Gutierrez (SB) 0:18; 170: Blanc (MSD) p. P. Moyer (CS) 2:27; 190: Bryan (CS) p. Smith (MSD); 235: Sylvestre (SB) p. Gass (DB) 1:43.
HALL OF FAME RECOGNIZED
Each year, wrestlers, referees, coaches and contributors are recognized for elevating the sport in Broward County.
Under the direction of committee members Frank Pettineo, Allen Held and Ron Schultz, the task of picking new members every year keeps wrestling in such a positive spotlight.
This year, Cardinal Gibbons coaching brothers and state champions Jamel and Jamal Morris were joined by Andrew Wisdom (Cardinal Gibbons), Alex Uhre and John Weiss (St. Thomas Aquinas) and longtime Dillard head coach Larry Barnswell.
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – Twenty-three seasons of boy’s high school basketball have passed since St. Thomas Aquinas had the opportunity to play for the BCAA Big 8 Championship.
The wait and drought came to an end on Saturday night at Fort Lauderdale High as the Raiders defeated Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 70-44.
Junior guard Drake Sandi scored 14 of his team-high 20 for Aquinas and was named the Butch Ingram MVP award.
The 26-point margin of victory is the second largest in BCAA Big 8 boys’ history, second only to the inaugural Big 8 in 1998 when Deerfield Beach defeated Hallandale by 37 points 88-51.
Aquinas (23-2) had made only two previous appearances in the finals dating back to 2000 and 2002.
“Honestly we came out here and did what we like to do, and this is defend and share the basketball,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Julius Sandi. “Everything today was about us. I’m very happy we came out on top over a program like Chaminade.”
Four of the starters scored in doubles figures. In addition to Derek Sandi, Clarence Westbrook Jr. had 11 points, while Dwayne Wimbley Jr. and Zane Elliott each and 10 points.
The key to the Raiders victory would be success in defending the Lions backcourt combo of Jasen Lopez and Isaac Mothersil.
Though Lopez scored 55 points to lead the Lions to reach the finals, he scored just seven of his team-high 24 points in the second half.
While the Aquinas defense shut down perhaps the biggest threat to prevent them from at Big 8 title, the offense created separation with a 39-25-point differential in the second half.
“We came here as a team and wanted to make history,” said Derek Sandi. “We did this together and worked hard every day to what led us to what we do on the court.”
In the past 25 seasons, the Raiders 23 victories this season has already equaled a team high set during the 2022-23 campaign.
Aquinas, the states Class 6A ranked No. 1 team now has its sights set on a state title for the first and only time back in 2001 under former coach Steve Strand.
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – The St. Thomas Aquinas girls basketball team entered the BCAA Big 8 championship with seven consecutive appearances in the finals. Oakland Park Northeast was making it’s first in school history.
Experience in the finals didn’t matter as the Hurricanes stunned the four-time defending state champion 42-39 at Fort Lauderdale High School on Saturday.
Senior guard Nykeria Flowers scored nine of her game-high 20 points to help rally Northeast from a 10-point halftime deficit. She was named the MVP of the Tournament, averaging 16 points in three games.
“We never gave up and found a way to win,” said Northeast coach Lawrence Hanna. “It doesn’t matter what type of game it is we still have work to do. We had to credit our defense, and I told them in the locker room at the half to keep fighting.”
The 39 points for the Raiders was the second fewest in their BCAA Big 8 championship history. They scored only 24 in last year’s loss to Blanche Ely. Aquinas (15-8) would go on to win the Class 6A state title.
Northeast (23-2) outscored Aquinas 14-7 in the final quarter between Flowers and Ya’Nitah Young’s five points.
“When we came out in the second half, I already knew we had this in the bag,” said Flowers, who was named the Marcia Pinder MVP Player of the tournament. “We have a lot of confidence and we’re doing something here that hasn’t been done here in a long time.”
Raiders guard London Thomas tied the score at 39-39 with 37.5 seconds left in regulation.
Summer Williams scored her only points of the game for the Hurricanes on a two-point basket with 15.6 remaining. It gave Northeast the lead they never relinquished.
“Today was more about the Northeast defense,” said Aquinas coach Brandon Stewart. “This was a good environment for us to learn in. This will make us better.”
The first half was low on offensive efficiency, high on defensive coverage.
The Raiders used their height both under the basket and perimeter to hold the Hurricanes to four second quarter points for a 25-15 lead at the halftime break.
Fortunately, for Northeast, Aquinas wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard either. That would ultimately cost the Raiders in crunch time.
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