By Dave Brousseau - BCAA  Writer

FORT  LAUDERDALE – Over the years when the St. Thomas Aquinas and Blanche Ely boys’ basketball teams met on the hardcourt, it was typically worth the price of admission.

Last Tuesday’s game at St. Thomas Aquinas was no different.

As the teams ventured into a second overtime, the Raiders trio of Dwayne Wimbley, Derek Sandi and Clarence Westbrook Jr. shared the responsibility of leading Aquinas to a 79-77 victory.

They combined to score 17 of the team’s 18 points in the two overtimes in leading the Raiders to their third straight victory over the Tigers. Ely had won 19 of the previous 21 meetings between the teams dating back to Jan. 2007.

St. Thomas (15-1), the state’s top ranked team in Class 6A, has won 14 consecutive games.

“We knew how to keep our composure when things weren’t going our way,” said Westbrook. “Coach always tells us about the next play mentality, and we had that in the two overtimes. We didn’t have that in the first half.”

Trailing 31-26 at that half, Westbrook scored eight of his 16 points in the third quarter to help put Aquinas up by five after three quarters.

“It’s huge win,” said Aquinas coach Julius Sandi. “We came into the game with a 13-game winning streak, and we were down two of our key guys.

We put ourselves in a hole with more turnovers than assists. I told the guys we had to take care of the basketball. I was happy that we did enough to get over the top.”

Senior guard Dylon Hanna, who had six of his team’s 11 three-pointers, led the Tigers with 26 points, helping them stay withing striking distance of the lead.

Jayden McNabb, Justin Snell and Kaleb Corbitt each had 10 for Ely (9-7).

“Obviously a great game and was good for the game of basketball,” said Ely coach Henry McNabb.

 “We would have liked to be on the winning side of it. Our guys kept fighting and competing and that’s all I can ask.”

Aquinas also had balance with its scoring.

Sandi led the Raiders with 20 points, eight coming in overtime, while Kellson Sando added 18 points and Wimbley with 16 points.

GIRLS

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 47, BLANCHE ELY 39: Freshman London Thomas scored a team-high 14 points to lead the Raiders. Sara Blair added 13 points and Nyla McFadden points.

Aquinas outscored Ely 18-2 in the fourth quarter.

Teriyah McFadden led the Tigers with 18 points

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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