Oxbridge girls beat Santaluces

LANTANA The Oxbridge Academy girls basketball team made another statement on the road with a strong performance. Junior guard Haley Howarth scored a game-high 18 points and the ThunderWolves had three scorers in double figures as they cruised past host Santaluces 66-43.

Howarth scored 13 points in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers to give the ThunderWolves an 18-14 lead.

The ThunderWolves (17-4) pulled away in the second quarter as junior guard Aaliyah Stanley scored eight of her 14 points. The ThunderWolves outscored the Chiefs (12-7) 20-4 and took a commanding 38-18 lead at halftime.

“We wanted to apply pressure and our press disrupted them. We were able to take advantage and it helped lead to points on offense,” Oxbridge coach Tracy Wolfe said.

The ThunderWolves, which reached the final four last year, have built on that experience throughout the course of the season. Despite not having any seniors on the roster, they have a talented group with six juniors leading the way.

“We started slow this season and we have a lot to prove,” Wolfe said. “We wanted to make a statement and send a message to win big. The goal is to win a state championship and we feel we are a contender.”

The ThunderWolves have won 14 of their last 15 games and are looking to prepare for a playoff run against Boca Raton and Fort Myers

Junior forward Kaylon Smith added 15 points, including 11 in the second half for the ThunderWolves.

“We had a tough loss up in Lakeland last year and that has fueled us through the season,” Smith said. “We have been focused ever since the beginning of the season. We are going to finish strong.”

Santaluces senior forward Whitney Howell, a Seton Hall University signee, scored a team-high 13 points and had 10 rebounds. late in the season.