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