Deerfield downs Cypress Bay Aquinas seeks three-peat; Jupiter a force
DEERFIELD BEACH — It was a game the Douglas girls basketball team might’ve been part of had last week’s tragic mass shooting at the school not led to a playoff forfeit.
While the Eagles weren’t playing in Wednesday’s Region 3-9A semifinal, the support for them was there between both Deerfield Beach and Cypress Bay pregame — the Lightning in white Douglas T-shirts with the Eagles’ logo and the Bucks warming up in black #DouglasStrong attire with an image of hands pressed together in prayer.
After the two teams joined in solidarity at halfcourt for a photo together, they got to playing. Junior guard DenAsia Mitchell scored 16 points and the host Bucks’ pressure defense was too much for undermanned Cypress Bay in a 52-45 decision.
“Our hearts are really going out to Douglas in this time,” Deerfield coach Tami Vaughn said. “Everybody’s just coming together, and it’s beautiful to see us coming together.”
Deerfield (23-4), back in regional finals after falling a round short – to Douglas – last year, advances to host Santaluces for a shot at the Class 9A state final four.
Junior forward/center Chakol Mitchell had 15 for the Bucks and senior Ashley Shell added 9.
The Lightning, finishing their season 15-9, got 16 points from Glory Jones, 15 from Sophia Jones and 11 from Rachel McCree as they had just seven active players.
Cypress Bay advanced to the regional semifinal by way of the Douglas forfeit. Deerfield beat Piper in the first round of regionals.
dfurones@sunsentinel.com
St. Thomas Aquinas is known nationwide for its powerhouse football program, but its boys lacrosse team is beginning to emerge as one of the state’s most dominant squads.
Led by coach Terry Crowley, the Raiders have won 38 consecutive games against in-state opponents and will be aiming for a third consecutive title this season.
Crowley famously loves to downplay the team’s success, saying he’s “just hoping to make it out of districts.” But make no mistake, St. Thomas Aquinas is stacked and will once again make a state title push.
The strength of the team lies with the defense, where the team returns all four starters (Carson Lees, AJ Stotler, Alex Martinez and Kyle Gittelman), plus goalie Ryan Leahy. What should scare opponents is that the team’s best defenseman hasn’t even played the past two years.
6-foot-5 senior Noah Cash is finally ready after missing the past two seasons with separate ACL tears. The Maryland commit started as a freshman, but was forced to watch from the sidelines the past two seasons. With Cash — who Crowley says is “healthy as a horse” — the Raiders’ defense will be lethal.
St. Thomas will also have one of the state’s top midfield lines with CJ Borodiak, Nick Yovino and Kevin Justice. The question mark is at attack, where the team must replace Kevin Crowley and Jimmy Harrington, who combined for 139 goals last year. Kyle Engel and Max Schwartz will be counted on to fill those two holes, while Brock Martinez returns to the starting lineup.
While the Raiders will be stout, Jupiter and Oxbridge Academy don’t plan on letting Aquinas walk to another title.
Jupiter has consistently been one of the state’s top programs the past six seasons and is loaded once again. The Warriors will have a new yet familiar face running the show this year. Danny Loftus, who has coached the team since 2009, elected to move into an assistant role and hand the reins to Nick O’Hara, who’s been Loftus’ righthand man since the beginning. The two played college lacrosse together at Duke and have helped build one of the state’s top public school programs.
Fueled by its youth feeder program (Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association), the Warriors have loads of talented players who can get up and down the field. Senior Tanner Gabriel, who tallied 30 goals, 19 assists last year, leads a stellar midfield. Faceoff specialist Dylan Frankhouser is one of the area’s best and gives the Warriors a major advantage at the ‘x.’
The Warriors used a lot of young players last season and they’re ready to step up. Devon Rasmus and Chris Radice both excelled as freshmen and should be in for even bigger sophomore campaigns. Defensively, Jupiter is strong yet again with senior Joey Bretz leading the way.
Under coach Stan Ross, Oxbridge Academy has supplanted St. Andrew’s in the race of Palm Beach private-school supremacy. The ThunderWolves have downed the former juggernaut two straight years in the playoffs and will be strong once again.
Oxbridge has one of the country’s top goalies in Christian Tomei. The junior was a first-team AllCounty selection.
On defense, Braeden Rupp quietly developed into one of has the area’s top long poles. Offensively, there’s plenty of firepower with Connor Davies, Jack Killian, Bennett Bowers and Blake Jerd all returning.
Traditional final-four team Benjamin might be in for a slight rebuilding process after graduating most of its top contributors last year. The Bucs will also have a new coach after Shane Rye, who led the team to three state tournament appearances, stepped down. Darren Lowe was hired in the offseason to lead the program.
The X-factor for the team will be senior Will Nicklaus. The North Carolina commit has battled injuries throughout his career, but with his 6-foot-2 frame, outstanding athleticism and natural lacrosse skills, he has the potential to be one of the state’s top players. McCarthy, midfield, senior; Jacob Schiff, Pine Crest, defense, senior; Sam Bailin, Douglas, attack, senior; Tommy Frank, Douglas, attack, junior; Jack Haimowitz, Douglas, defense; Hutch Torregrosa, Pine Crest, midfield, senior; Payton Goodrich, Cardinal Gibbons, attack, junior; Asher Jurman, University School, attack, sophomore; Dawson Fisher, American Heritage, defense, senior.
Palm Beach: Matt Adams, St. Andrew’s, attack, junior; Oliver Alpert, St. Andrew’s, defense, senior; Colin Sypek, American Heritage-Delray, midfield, senior; Steven Nicklaus, Benjamin, attack, senior; Jackson Kennedy, St. Andrew’s, defense, senior; Michael Lizzio, St. Andrew’s, midfield, sophomore; Denver Aranda, Jupiter, midfield, senior; Wyatt Martin, St. John Paul II, midfield, senior; Ryan Haag, St. John Paul II, defense, senior.
wdusenbury@sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @dusereport