Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
State champs
Oxbridge Academy girls claim first basketball championship on Thursday in Lakeland.
LAKELAND — After last year’s trip to Lakeland ended in heartache, this year was a full-on triumph for Oxbridge Academy.
Facing Lake Highland Prep in the Class 5A girls basketball state championship, the ThunderWolves dominated from the opening whistle as they topped the Highlanders 55-39 to capture the school’s first state title in girls hoops.
“It’s special feeling and this is just a special team,” Oxbridge Academy coach Tracy Wolfe said. “It’s one we’ll probably never have again, but we have another year [with these players] back, so it’ll be fun.”
Four Oxbridge Academy players reached double figures, with junior guard Alexa Zaph scoring a game-high 18 points. Haley Howarth (13 points), Aaliyah Stanley (12 points) and Kaylon Smith (10 points) all hit double digits as well.
For Oxbridge Academy, it was a moment of redemption after falling short in the state semifinals last year. In that contest, the ThunderWolves fell to Orlando Jones in overtime after leading by 14 in the fourth quarter.
“Literally the day after that [Orlando] Jones game, we set this goal,” Wolfe said. “It’s driven us every single day. It was more then just a game — it was like a lifechanging moment for these kids and for this team. In a way, I think that [game] was a blessing. It taught us adversity and it taught us how to achieve our goals.
This year’s contest wasn’t nearly as close. Oxbridge Academy stormed out to a quick 13-0 lead and never looked back. After Stanley drained a one-handed 3-pointer to end the first quarter, the Highlanders retreated to the bench stunned, trailing 25-8.
“I practiced [that onehand shot] in practice,” said Stanley, who also snagged 11 rebounds. “Once in every practice, [Wolfe] says we can shoot in practice, so when I made it, I was like ‘I guess luck is on my side.’”
The ThunderWolves continued to dominate behind a hot-shooting performance. In the first half, the team went 6-for-10 from 3-point range.
After trailing by 24 points in the second half, Lake Highland Prep cut the lead to 11 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer. Oxbridge Academy then went on an 8-0 run to put away the Highlanders for good.
“I can’t even explain the feeling the last 30 seconds [of the game],” said Zaph, an FAU commit. “Just looking up at the scoreboard, saying ‘30 seconds left.’ We overcame a lot of adversity.”
For Oxbridge Academy, it was the school’s second overall state title. Last year, the girls soccer team claimed the 2A championship.
The ThunderWolves will have a legitimate chance at going back-to-back next season. Every player returns from this year’s state title team.