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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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – The finals of the today’s 2025 boys and girls BCAA Big 8 basketball tournament at Fort Lauderdale High School are set to be intriguing.
St. Thomas Aquinas boys and girls team have each played for the championship, while the Northeast girls and Chaminade-Madonna boys will be making their first championship appearance.
The girls game will tip-off at 5 p.m., while boys game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Regardless, all four teams are talented with the potential to earn title.
The St. Thomas Aquinas girls (15-7) are making their seventh consecutive appearance in the final, winning championships 2022-23.
Key players to watch for Raiders, who have won four consecutive states title, are freshman London Thomas and senior.
Northeast (22-2) is clearly having one of the best programs in school history. They’ll be facing Aquinas for the first time since 2011 and are 0-5 against them dating back 2008.
Key players for the Hurricanes will be Nykeria Flowers and Yaniyah Young.
The Aquinas boys played in the 2000 and 2002 Big 8 finals, falling short in both by a combined total of 10 points
The Raiders (22-2) are loaded with talent among the starting five. That included Dwayne Wimbley, Drake and Kellson Sandi. Clarence Westbrook Jr. and Zane Elliott.
Chaminade-Madonna (20-4) is also very talented.
They are led by guards Jasen Lopez and Isaac Mothersil, who combined are averaging 40.1 points per game.
The Lions reached the title game for the first time after defeating Stranahan on Friday.
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – Stranahan, got a pair of strong second half scoring performances from Damari Foster and Isiah Brown to lead the Dragons to a 62-56 victory over Cardinal Gibbons in a quarterfinal game of the BCAA Big 8 Boys Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Fort Lauderdale High.
Brown, a 6-9 junior center, had five slam dunks for a game-high 21 points to lead the Dragons.
Foster had 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, while David Neely also had 14 points.
Stranahan (18-6) advances to a semifinal game on Friday against the Western/Chaminade-Madonna winner at 5:30 p.m. The Dragons are still seeking their first Big 8 title, losing in the finals in 2018 and 2020.
“We had to change up the defense a little bit in the second half,” said Stranahan coach Edward Shuler. “We change to man coverage to put more pressure on Gibbons.
Brown is fully healthy now. He’s playing at a high level now to help us get where we need to get and that’s Lakeland.”
Down by three at the half, Stranahan held the Chiefs to six points in the third quarter to take a 39-35 lead heading into the final frame.
Gibbons (20-4) never led again.
“Our main focus coming out after the half was defense,” said Brown. “We focused first on defense and that helped us move the ball on offense. We just locked in.”
Senior guard Tao Schrieber scored a team-high 20 points to lead Gibbons. Evan Wyche added 11 points, while Justus Dylan-Herbert had 10 points.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 54, BLANCHE ELY 51 (OT): In the second overtime meeting between the two schools in just over two weeks the Raiders prevailed again.
This time senior forward Dwayne Wimbley scored a game-high 17 to help Aquinas to the three-point win.
The Raiders (21-2) advance to a semifinal game against the Coral Glades/Pembroke Pines Charter win on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
A Wimbley dunk with 1:25 left in the overtime period gave the Raiders a 53-51 lead and an added free throw by Drake Sandi (11 points) with 52.4 seconds left determined the final margin.
The Tigers (13-9) were led by senior forward Jayelen Jonas with 18 points, that included several dunks. Dylon Hanna added 15 points.
PHOTO CAPTION: AJ Ambrose (left) of Cardinal Gibbons is defended by Pradd Maurice (right) of Stranahan in a first round game of the BCAA Boys Big 8 Tournament on Wednesday.
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – During last seasons playoff run the Nova Titans girls basketball team completely relied on then sophomore guard Jaelynn Housey.
She averaged 24 points and seven rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. In two games in the BCAA Big 8 Tournament she scored 78 points.
During the 2024-25 season, the Titans aren’t all about Housey as others have contributed.
That was the case on Wednesday in the quarterfinal against Coral Springs at Fort Lauderdale High as three other players scored in double-figures during a 69-16 victory.
Nova (18-4) advances to the Big 8 semifinals against the Northeast/Pembroke Pines Charter winner on Friday at 4 p.m.
Housey was her usual self with a team leading 18 points. I’Yan Tyrell scored 15, while Ke’mora Evans added 14 and Nayell Firmin pitched in 10 points.
“She’s a special kid, both on and off the court,” Nova coach Jason Hively, said of Housey. “I think she is the best player in the state, and I mean that seriously.
We do have a little more support system around her this season, but the key has been the nucleus on defense. This has been a team unselfishly.”
Housey and support system was a big part of the Titans reaching Big 8 for the 19th time in 21 seasons.
“I do feel more comfortable on the floor this season because we are a more well-rounded team,” said Housey. “It’s definitely important with the help in scoring, but what takes a win is a win and I’m here for it.”
The Nova girls have reached the tournaments championship game 10 times, winning the title three times with the las time coming in 2018.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 68, CORAL SPRINGS CHARTER 19: Led by Sayaniz Zaldivar with 15 points and Ron’neisha Thomas with 14 points, the Raiders rolled to the easy victory.
Aquinas (14-7) advances to the Big 8 semifinal game against Thursday’s Blanche Ely/Cypress winner on Friday at 7 p.m.
The 49-point victory was the largest of the season and most since defeating Ocala Forest 94-53 (41 points) on Dec.28.
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