By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
LAKELAND – The Fort Lauderdale Stranahan boys’ basketball team now can join what only two other Broward public schools have done before.
That’s winning four state championships.
The Dragons closed in on that opportunity with a 72-55 victory over Jacksonville Ribault in a Class 4A state semifinal on Tuesday at the RP Funding Center.
Stranahan (24-7) advances to the state championship on Thursday against St. Petersburg Gibbs at 7 p.m.
Stranahan has three titles to its credit. The first in school history came in 2019 (6A), following that with the 4A title in 2020 and a 5A title in 2022.
The combination of a stingy defense and scoring from Esron Simeon and Christian Yeargon was plenty enough to end the Trojans season.
“We came out in a zone, they got hot, and we switched to man-to man,” said head coach Edward Schuler. “We’re going to enjoy the next 24 hours and get back to it tomorrow.”
“We knew they had four left handers so out mission was to push them right they whole game and to stay on your man,” Schuler continued. “Off the rebound we played Stranahan basketball, staying in your lane and get the ball. We’re young and if this team wins, we have a chance to go back-to-back and do something special.”
When Damari Foster scored late in the second quarter for a 29-28 lead, the Dragons never trailed again. By the second half the lead ballooned into double-digits as the Trojans never threatened again especially them being held to 37-percent shooting from the field.
“It was defense playing Stranahan basketball,” said Simeon, who led the team with 21 points. “That’s all it was. That’s just us playing our game in doing what we do.”
With the Dragons defense doing its job, the offense took advantage of converting on 8 of 19 three-point attempts. Ribault made only three baskets from long-range, giving Stranahan plus 15 in scoring.
“This feels great,” said Yeargin, who had 20 points. “We’ve been here three times before. We want to build a legacy. We’re coming back to get our rings.”
Foster added 15 points, while David Nealy added 12 points.
If Stranahan comes home with a fourth state championship, they will join Pompano Beach Blanche Ely and Fort Lauderdale Dillard with at least four state championships.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
OAKLAND PARK – For the first time in the history of Oakland Paek Northeast High girls’ basketball, dating back to 1974, the Hurricanes are advancing the state tournament.
Led by senior guard Nykeria Flowers’ 26 points, the Canes’ held on to defeat Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 56-54 in a Class 5A regional final on Friday at a sold-out gymnasium at Northeast High.
The Hurricanes (28-2), winners of 12 consecutive games, will play their semifinal game on March 5 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
The final minute was frantic as Ely led 54-52 with 1:25 to play. Junior guard Jazmine Jones tied the score on a short jumper. The Hurricanes got the ball back on a rebound in which freshman Shanesha Johnson’s layup was good for the final points of the game at 56-54.
The two-point margin of victory was the smallest of the season having previously won four other games by single digits.
“Nykeria is the leader of our team,” said Northeast coach Lawrence Hanna. “She told the girls at the half that the game isn’t over. She went out after halftime and showed everybody.
“We’re so happy for the opportunity to play at the state tournament. We’re going to make the most of it. On our first day of practice, I told the girls we would be going to state. We planted that seed, and we let them see the benefits.”
After years of struggling for victories, the 2024-25 team’s 28 wins equaled the total amount of wins through nine seasons ranging 1996-97 through 2006-07.
Friday’s win gave the Hurricanes their second win of the year over Ely. Their previous four losses to the Tigers from 2017-21, they were outscored 325-64.
“I’m so glad we did this in my senior year,” said Flowers. “This season has been a blessing. “We won the BCAA, the district and regional and now we’re going to Lakeland. This feels great to have the opportunity to win a state title.”
Flowers aggressive moves to the basket were crucial for her team as she had 13 third quarter points that helped tie the score to 44-44 entering the final quarter.
A key element that helped determine the final margin of victory was the difference at the free throw line for both teams.
The Hurricanes were 16 of 23 from the line with Flowers making 9 of her 10 attempts. The Tigers made 12 of 23 attempts. The differential helped determine the outcome of the game
“Our team fought through adversity but came up short down the stretch,” said first year Ely coach James Green. “Northeast is a good team and is well coached.”
Jones and Brainna Lovett each scored 10 points to support Flowers performance. The Tigers got 17 points from junior guard Teriyah McFadden and 12 more from Amari Johnson.
Ely (17-8) was seeking to win the school’s third state girls basketball championship.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Raiders defeat Coral Springs 62-54 in 6A regional final
By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE - The twenty-two year wait to play at the boys high school state basketball final four is finally over.
Led by senior forward Dwayne Wimbley’s 24 points, St. Thomas Aquinas overcame an early 15-point deficit to defeat Coral Springs 62-54 in a Class 6A regional final at home on Thursday.
The Raiders (28-2) advance to the state tournament for the time since losing to Winter Haven in a semifinal game 50-49 in 2003. They haven’t won a state championship since 2001.
St. Thomas Aquinas will play in a state semifinal on Thursday, Mar. 6 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
“After the first quarter we told we have 24 minutes and there’s was a lot of basketball left,” said Aquinas coach Julius Sandi. “The guys stuck to the plan and listened.”
We’ve been in all types of games this season, and this was one of them. We never panicked.
Wimbley was huge and it came at the right time to get us back in the game. This is amazing.”
Wimbley led the first half rally for Aquinas after they trailed by 15 points at one point 17-2. Springs had opened the game on a 13-0 run.
The Raiders defense got in order and the offense responded, as they outscored the Colts 23-9 in the second quarter as Wimbley scored 12 points, nine coming on a trio of 3-pointers.
Aquinas went into the half with a 30-28 lead following a 3-pointer by Nate Accius at the buzzer.
Wimbley, who scored 12 second quarter points, helped the Raiders fight back giving them their first lead at 27-26 on a three-point basket with 1:19 left in the second quarter.
“This is my last year, and I couldn’t go out without a fight,” said Wimbley. “I did everything I could to get my team back in the game. The school last own a state title in 2001 and its time to win another one.”
The Raiders’ largest lead was eight points at 37-29 every in the third quarter. The Colts (18-10) found a way to stay within striking distance and close to within 55-52 on a pair of free throws by freshman Jahmai Henry with 1:23 to play.
They never got any closer.
The Colts opened with a 13-0 run and led midway through the second quarter 26-13. At the end of the half, Aquinas went into the break with a 30-28 lead on a Nate Accius 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“Make no doubt about it, St. Thomas is a team that is very good,” said Coral Springs coach Devin Barta. “They have very little weaknesses.
We played ahead this time instead of behind, but Aquinas is a hell of basketball team. We knew they would make a run, and we just couldn’t hold on.”
Sophomore guard Clarence Westbrook had a solid second half, scoring 11 of 13 points as the Raiders kept a tight hold of the lead.
“We had homecourt advantage and we had to accomplish something that hadn’t been done in over 20 years,” said Westbrook. “We had to fight back to get our minds right mentally and physically.
We had to hold ourselves accountable because it was win or go home.”
Aquinas defeated Coral Springs three times this season, the previous two by a combined 40 points. The Colts have lost five straight games to the Raiders and eight overall dating back to 2006.
Henry led Coral Springs with 16 points, while Joshua Pierre added 15 points.
PHOTO CAPTION: The St. Thomas Aquinas boys basketball celebrate Class 6A regional final win over Coral Springs.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.