Boca wins sans Marko

On a mission to return to the Class 8A state championship game, Boca Raton knows it needs to pass tough tests in the regular season.

What greater test than a one-loss Oxbridge team with preseason Fab Five selection and Boston College signee Grace Marko out with a fever?

Behind sophomore point guard Audrey Ramsey and a late surge from defending Palm Beach County Player of the Year Rachel Levy, the Bobcats responded in a 54-47 win over the ThunderWolves on Friday in their SUTS Report opener.

Boca coach Nhu Nguyen said these Bobcats “know how to step up at the right time.”

Levy said the Bobcats, even with Marko sidelined, are loaded with talent.

“We just came in with the mentality that we can beat them,” Levy said. “We came in knowing we’re the better team, and we showed that.”

Ramsey led Boca (14-3) with 17 points, six assists and six steals.

“She hit some big threes for us,” Nguyen said.

Levy, a Harvardsignee, did not score until the 2:56 mark in the third quarter. But a jumper off a pass from Ramsey got her rolling.

“It’s not fun not scoring till the last quarter, but I can either let that bring me down or keep going,” she said. “I toughed it out and eventually my shots started falling.”

Hannah Pratt had 10 points and nine boards while freshman Kelsi Wingo scored 11.

Oxbridge (12-2) was led by sophomore guard Aaliyah Stanley, who scored 24 points.