By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
CORAL SPRINGS – First year Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas girls’ basketball coach Brandon Stewart will be the first to admit his team is a work in progress.
At the completion of the 35th annual Kreul Basketball Classic, following a 70-55 loss to River Ridge (Ga.), in the Gatorade Series, this program realized that one defeat doesn’t shape the outcome of a long season.
Every team, in my opinion, has adversity whether we can see it or not,” said Stewart. “Our progress as I see it is our chemistry. What we are building is important to me. The season is bigger than one game. We’re getting prepared for what’s ahead of us.”
In the last two seasons combined, the Raiders lost 17 games but went on to win state championships. They got there by playing one of toughest schedules possible.
St. Thomas Aquinas (6-6) has been playing without perhaps the team’s best player in 5’10 senior forward Nyla McFadden, who was nursing a left foot injury.
Freshman guard London Thomas scored 57 total points in the three games played at the Kreul. Ronneisha Thomas had 45 points in the two losses, including 28 in the loss on Monday.
Both St. Thomas girls were named to the All-Tournament Team. The senior heavy Raiders’ team last year defeated River Ridge 82-81 in double overtime.
Sophia Pearl and Makayla Roberson each had 15 points in the Knights (12-1) victory.
RIVER RIDGE (GA) 70, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 55
RR (12-1): Pearl 4-6-15, Cantey, Roberson 6-0-15, Parker 5-3-14, Cleveland 6-1-13, Tchambe 1-0-2.
STA (6-6): R. Thomas 6-5-17, L. Thomas 10-5-28, Mori 1-0-2, Blair 4-0-8.
3-Pointers: Pearl, Roberson 3, Parker, L. Thomas 3. Half: RR 37-22.
DORAL ACADEMY 63, KELL (GA) 61: Victoria Valle and Stephanie Vega each scored 18 points to lead the Firebirds (11-2), who overcame an 18-point third quarter deficit for the victory.
Junior guard Ashley Martinez had five 3-pointers for 15 points.
The Longhorns (9-5) were led by Kennedy Deese (27 points) and Asiah Thomas (13 points).
DA (11-2): Velasco 0-1-1, Valle 4-6-18, Figueroa 1-0-2, Myers 2-1-5, Yost 2-0-4, Martinez 5-0-15, Vega 6-6-18.
K (9-5): Thompson 6-1-13, Gilbert 2-0-5, Moss 2-1-6, Watson 2-4-8, Johnson 1-0-2, Deese 13-1-27.
3-Pointers: Valle 4, Martinez 5, Gilbert, Moss. Half: K 34-30.
HOLY INNOCENTS (GA) 66, PAUL VI (VA) 60: Senior guard Hailee Swain, the No. 1 ranked player in Georgia, scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Golden Bears (9-2).
Sophomore Nokhai Worthy added 13 points.
Junior forward Demi Gilliam scored 14 and Amaya Ramey added 14 for the Panthers (7-2).
HI (9-2): Swain 8-5-21, Gluesing 1-0-2, McMasters 2-6-11, Makayla Weaver 1-0-2, Worthy 4-5-13, Branch 5-1-11, Murray 2-2-6.
PVI (7-2): T. Williams 3-0-6, L. Williams 2-2-7, Miller 0-1-1, Gilliam 4-6-14, Gardner 2-0-4, Hamburger 4-3-12, Ramey 5-0-14, Abraham 1-0-2.
Holy Innocents: 12, 16, 22, 16, - 66.
Paul VI: 20, 11, 14, 15, - 60.
3-Pointers: McMasters, L Williams, Hamburger, Ramey 4. Half: PVI 31-28.
SACRED HEART (KY) 71, THE GALLOWAY SCHOOL (GA) 51: Senior ZaKiyah Johnson scored a game-high 33 points, the second most of the tournament, to lead the Valkyries (7-2).
Junior guard Brianna Wilkins added 17 points.
Junior guard Taryn Thompson dropped 31 points for the Scots (6-5).
SH (7-2): Jordan 6-1-13, Johnson 13-4-33, Wilkins 6-4-17, Osting 1-0-2, Frey 3-0-6.
TGS (6-5): P. Diaz-Williams 1-0-3, E. Diaz-Williams 1-0-2, Thompson 12-2-31, Abdur-Rahim 3-1-7, Knott 1-0-2, Louis-Pierre 0-1-1, Stokes 2-1-5.
3-Pointers: Johnson 3, Wilkins, P. Diaz-Williams, Thompson 5. Half: GALL 29-27.
AMERICAN HERITAGE 42, TAMPA CATHOLIC 35: Senior forward Dezuray McGill led the Patriots (8-4) with 18 points in the final game of the 2024 Kreul Classic.
Ashley Know and Khalia Woodley combined for 17 points for the Crusaders (7-5).
AH (8-4): Clark 3-1-7, Smith 1-0-2, Wang 1-0-2, McGill 7-4-18, Thomas 1-0-2, Caratini 2-1-5, Green 2-2-6.
TC (7-5): Green 1-0-2, Butzsky 0-2-2, Knox 4-0-9, Boone 2-1-5, Higgins 1-2-4, Woodley 3-0-8, Arthur 1-0-2, Peron 1-1-3.
3-Pointers: Knox, Woodley 2. Half: AH 18-14.
RECAPPING THE 2024 KREUL TOURNAMENT
DAY 1 - https://larryblustein.com/spotlights/st-thomas-aquinas-rolls-in-day-1-of-the-kreul-classic
DAY 2 - https://larryblustein.com/spotlights/day-2-coral-springs-falls-to-st-andrew-s-at-kreul-classic
DAY 3 - https://larryblustein.com/spotlights/stranahan-aquinas-win-kreul-classic-boys-championships
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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