Coral Springs boys, Ely girls win BCAA Big 8 basketball titles
When the 2024 BCAA Big 8 boys and girls championships concluded there was a familiar girls champion in Blanche Ely and a newcomer in the boys’ winner circle in Coral Springs.
Behind the 21 points from senior forward Matthew Curprew-Elsy and 17 points by junior guard Alex Piere-Louis, the Colts defeated South Plantation 53-42 for the school’s first BCAA boys Big 8 title.
Coral Springs (19-3) becomes the first boys’ team to win the Big 8 in its first appearance since Douglas in 2002.
It was South Plantation’s (22-4) second straight loss in the Big 8 final.
“I give a shutout to my team, because without them I couldn’t do anything,” said Piere-Louis, who was named the tournament MVP. “I’m so glad we were able to win.”
The victory was the
Colts’ 13th in a row, including 12 straight by double-digits.
“I’ve been telling the kids we have the opportunity to be the best team in the county,” said Coral Springs coach Devin Barta said. “The Big 8 win cements those comments.”
A pair of technical fouls called on both teams late in the fourth quarter completely altered the momentum for both sides.
Kaiden Francis, who led the Paladins with 16 points, converted four free throws that cut the Colts lead to 42-41 with 2:56 remaining.
Then South Plantation was called a for a tech with 1:23 left due to a missing number in the official scorebook.
When it was all said done the Colts ended the game with an 11-1 run earn the victory.
The Colts’ smothering defense only allowed four Paladins points from the paint in the first half. South Plantation managed to stay within three points of the lead as they were able to convert five 3-pointers.
ELY ROUTS AQUINAS
Senior forward Gianna Corbitt scored 17 points and was named tournament MVP to lead Blanche Ely to an impressive 56-24 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas.
Aquinas (15-8) was the two-time defending Big 8 champion and suffered their second loss of the season to Ely.
“This is newcomer rivalry and obviously it’s a great feeling to beat them when we play two or three times a year,” Corbitt said.
Ely (18-6) led 24-14 at the half, as Aquinas struggled to produce points. They didn’t score their first basket of the second quarter until Ka-Zahria Johnson scored with 2:16 left in the opening half.
“We talk about it all the time, a win is a win whether it’s one-point or whatever it is,” Ely coach Henry McNabb said. “We want to just come out and win. I thought today we put all together for 32 minutes of basketball.”
The Big 8 championship was the third for Ely. They also defeated Aquinas in 2020-21. The Raiders’ 24 points tied for the secondfewest points against Ely since a 58-24 loss on Nov. 20, 2007.