Nova scores big wins at SUTS New Year’s Classic
The Nova girls basketball team scored two major victories over the weekend at the SUTS Report New Year’s Classic as the Titans were among several Broward and Palm Beach County teams with statement wins at the tournament.
On Friday, Nova earned a 63-55 victory over storied Miami Country Day, which has won four consecutive state championships, at Miami High. On Saturday, the Titans bested Miami Norland, a perennial contender, 59-34.
“It was another character builder for our team in hopes of finishing the season where we want to be,” Nova coach Jason Hively said.
The Titans, vying for a run to Lakeland in Class 8A this season, remain undefeated at 15-0, but Hively prefers to focus on the process
instead of the unblemished record.
“I try to keep that lowkey. We’re trying to stay humble right now,” Hively said. “We talk every day in practice about team over self, and everybody is putting the team first. Everybody has found a role, and we’ve really settled into our rotation.”
Junior guard GiGi Gonzalez led the Titans with 19 points against Country Day and then 14 against Norland. Senior and Tulane signee Erin Gutierrez had 11 points in each, and Kayla Massop went for 14 and 11, respectively.
The Titans picked up those wins after getting three in the Holiday Basketball Classic of the Palm Beaches the previous week — over American Heritage, Kentucky’s Graves County and Pittsburgh’s Bishop Canevin.
Blanche Ely also remained unbeaten with a contested 57-55 victory over Somerset Prep on Saturday. The Tigers (14-0) were led by Kristi Stephens, who scored 27 points.
The race for the South Florida state final-four spot in Class 8A is heating up as Nova figures to have to get through either Blanche Ely or Palm Beach Lakes in a potential regional final showdown. Lakes, under longtime coach Cassandra Rahming, is 12-1 with the one loss coming in a tight 72-68 battle against twotime defending state champion Fort Myers in Friday’s action of the New Year’s Classic. The Rams also defeated Lehigh 73-38 on Saturday.
Wellington won twice over the weekend, 48-30 over Norland and 65-57 over Coconut Creek. Westminster Academy picked up two victories, 41-39 over Hialeah Mater Academy and 45-25 against South Plantation. Oxbridge Academy took down St. Thomas Aquinas 67-51 on Friday before dropping a 45-40 decision against potent host Miami High.
dfurones@sunsentinel.com or Twitter @DavidFurones_
“It was another character builder for our team in hopes of finishing the season where we want to be.” Jason Hively, Nova coach