Girls’ basketball: Westminster, Country Day brace for rematch; Miami High advances
Get ready for Game 7. Not Game 7 in the traditional best-of-7 series sense.
This refers to the upcoming clash — for the seventh consecutive season in the girls’ basketball regional finals — between Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy and Miami Country Day.
The state powerhouses will meet in the Region 4-3A final on Friday night at 7 at Miami Country Day.
Westminster (22-7) advanced to this matchup with a 59-50 victory at home on Tuesday night against Miami Somerset Silver Palms in a regional semifinal. Miami Country Day (22-7) advanced with a 63-31 rout of North Lauderdale Somerset Prep in its semifinal.
The Lions, who flipped the status quo in this series last season by beating the Spartans and moving on to win the Class 3A state title, also beat Miami Country Day two weeks ago, 44-40, the District 14-3A championship game.
The Spartans beat the Lions in the regional finals each of the previous five seasons.
“Most of our team is back that was on the team that won [at Miami Country Day] last year,” Westminster Academy coach Shannon Wallhoff said. “They believe in themselves and have the confidence they can do it. We’ll be ready to go.”
The Lions withstood a tough challenge from a much-improved Somerset Silver Palms squad on Tuesday thanks to 25 points from guard Lena Girardi.
Forward Taelynn Carey had a strong game inside to finish with 12 points while Abby Price had seven points and Maddie Wallhoff and Markeli Jones Tynes each had six.
Jones Tynes, a point guard who transferred to Westminster from Calvary Christian before the season, has been a major addition for the Lions this season.
Somerset pressured Westminster throughout the first half, but Westminster was able to break the press and connected on the majority of its free throws.
“We just need to tighten up some stuff and we have to be firing on all cylinders,” Wallhoff said. “I’m sure they’re fired up to play us again. We have to go down there again, but we’ll be ready.”
Miami Country Day proceeded to win state titles in four of those five seasons that it defeated Westminster Academy on the way to Lakeland. The Spartans, who have the most state titles of any Miami-Dade program, are chasing their eighth championship. Kayla Nelms leads Miami Country Day with 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Region 4-7A semifinal — Miami High 40, Palmetto 29:
Sydney Wilson led the Stingarees (22-5) with 16 points, five assists and three steals. Joelle Wilson totaled eight points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Alexie Sanchez had six points and four steals. Miami High, which has advanced to the state final in five consecutive seasons, will next host Coral Springs on Friday at 7 p.m. in the regional finals.
Region 4-7A semifinal — Coral Springs 72, Boca Raton 63: The Colts (21-5) advanced to the regional finals for the first time since winning their lone state title in 1979.
Region 4-6A semifinal — Blanche Ely 74, Seminole Ridge 38: The Tigers (22-3) will host St. Thomas Aquinas in Friday’s regional final at 7 p.m. Ely has lost two consecutive seasons in the playoffs to the Raiders and recently in the BCAA Big 8 final.
Region 4-6A semifinal — St. Thomas Aquinas 44, Dillard 29: The Raiders
(21-8) are aiming for three consecutive state titles.
Region 4-5A semifinal — American Heritage 67, Melbourne Eau Gallie 26:
The Patriots (21-7) will host Miami
Norland on Friday and are vying to tie the state record of six consecutive state titles held by Miami Country Day.
Region 4-5A semifinal — Miami
Norland 42, Jensen Beach 29: The Vikings (20-5) lost in the regional finals last season to Heritage.
Region 4-4A semifinal — Cardinal Gibbons 64, Monsignor Pace 62 (OT): The Chiefs (21-5) will host North Broward Prep as they aim to return to the state semifinals for the first time since 2020.
Region 4-4A semifinal — North Broward Prep 56, Somerset Canyons 41:
Riley Weiss scored 25 points and Kaydie Sturm added 13 points to lead the Eagles,