Miami High, Columbus sweep GMAC basketball titles
Miami High and Miami Norland were at it again on Friday night.
The GMAC final is a familiar setting for a clash between the two longtime girls’ basketball rivals who squared off for the tournament title for the fifth consecutive season.
While the status quo did not change, this latest chapter restored some thrill to the series as the Stingarees had to survive a late comeback in order to hang on for a 40-37 win over the Vikings at Miami Dade College’s Kendall campus gym, and repeat as GMAC champs.
Miami High (18-5) won its ninth GMAC title in the past 12 seasons and beat Norland (16-5) for the fourth time in the past five years. Joelle Wilson led the Stingarees with a game-high 18 points.
“They did a great job slowing us down,” Miami High coach Sam Baumgarten said. “Wilson’s two fouls early hurt us a little bit, but we kept it going and led the whole way. Allowing only 37 points is a phenomenal defensive job, but we need to work on our offense.”
After leading by 11 points at the half, Norland rallied in the second half behind the tandem of Fenishka Bertho (17 points) and Shania Swan (13 points).
The Vikings pulled within one point at three different points in the second half with the latest coming with 45 seconds left when Bertho connected on a driving shot to cut Miami High’s lead to 38-37.
After Miami High’s Hazel Hernandez missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity, Norland regained possession on a jump ball with 13.2 seconds left. But after Swan collected an inbounds pass, she was pressured and bounced a dribble out of bounds, turning it back over to Miami High with 11.7 seconds left.
Wilson connected on two free throws after being fouled with just more than four seconds left. Norland would have one last chance to tie, but Swan’s three-point attempt missed the mark.
GMAC boys’ final – Columbus 84, Palmetto 57: The Columbus basketball team’s talent is evident just from watching twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer.
But the Explorers have taken their program to an elite level thanks to their depth that goes beyond their star sophomores.
Columbus put that depth on full display on Friday night at the Miami Dade College Kendall campus gym.
The Explorers (19-3), ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, secured their second consecutive GMAC title thanks to a balanced effort that resulted in five players scoring in double figures.
Cameron Boozer once again paced that offensive output with 20 points and Cayden scored 15.
But it was 6-8 junior forward Malik Abdullahi and 6-1 senior guard Garyn Bess who provided the extra juice to Columbus’ blistering pace during a 24-6 first quarter that put the Explorers in control of the game quickly.
Benny Frangela overcame a slow shooting start and finished with 13 points.
“[Malik] has been tremendous for us,” Columbus coach Andrew Moran said. “Defensively, he’s a monster and can guard all positions. He’s really starting to feel comfortable in his game and starting to show his skill.”
Palmetto (18-4) had its 14-game winning streak snapped, and lost for the first time since an 88-48 defeat against Columbus on Dec. 14.
But the Panthers, who could face the Explorers again potentially twice more this season, held their own through most of the second and third quarters after the poor start.
Matthew Mairena led the Panthers with 18 points and Randy Smith totaled 15 points. Braylon Burbridge added 10 points.
Andre C. Fernandez: @FernandezAndreC