South Florida teams racking up state titles
South Florida’s best high school basketball and soccer teams are racking up state championships once again this season.
Miami-Dade and Broward County girls’ basketball teams entered the weekend with a chance to win six state championships. Five of them on Saturday came down to matchups against Orlando-area teams.
American Heritage, led by McDonald’s All-American Ta’Niya Latson, cruised to its fifth consecutive state championship. Heritage’s 38-point win over Orlando Bishop Moore was the most lopsided by a Broward team since 2003.
Miami Christian repeated as Class 2A state champions with a 66-59 win over Orlando Faith Christian.
St. Thomas Aquinas also repeated as Class 6A state champions following a 59-45 win over Apopka Wekiva. And Miami High was seeking its second state title in three seasons and fifth overall on Saturday night in the Class 7A final against Orlando Dr. Phillips. Calvary Christian was unable to join in, as it lost 75-57 to Orlando Lake Highland Prep in Class 4A.
On Friday, Westminster Academy completed its amazing season by winning its first state championship since 1991 after beating Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.
Over in DeLand, Doral Academy’s boys’ soccer team secured its second consecutive state title in Class 6A by beating Viera 3-2. Cypress Bay won its first state championship since 2017 and sixth overall for its program after a 4-1 win over Tampa Plant.
Five boys’ basketball teams won regional championships on Friday night to advance to the state championships, which will be played Wednesday through Saturday in Lakeland.
Miami Columbus, which secured its first trip to state since 2011, is joined by Miami Riviera Prep, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian and Weston Sagemont.
The regional championships for wrestling were also held on Saturday night with teams vying for spots in next week’s individual state tournament to be held Thursday through Saturday in Kissimmee.
For full coverage of the girls’ basketball and soccer state tournaments as well as boys’ basketball and wrestling regionals, visit miamiherald.com and check out coverage of Friday’s events as well as state championships from early Saturday afternoon on Pages 31A-33A.