Going fourth

Patriots’ latest title allows them to equal state record

Call it a dynasty.

American Heritage accomplished something only five other Florida programs — and two other Broward County teams — have accomplished. The Patriots won their fourth consecutive girls basketball state championship, beating Melbourne Palm Bay 41-36 in the Class 5A championship game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

“We’re four-time state champions after never winning,” American Heritage coach Greg Farias said. “You’ve got to pinch me still. It’s an unbelievable feeling to make history the way we did.”

American Heritage’s five-point championship-game win on Saturday was the closest victory of the four. The Patriots struggled mightily for a significant chunk of the game. Heritage shot 28 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the threepoint arc. The Patriots’ offense stalled for most of the second and part of the third quarter; Palm Bay held Heritage scoreless for 9:48 across the second and third quarters.

Although the Patriots struggled on offense, their defense kept them in the game. An early lead gave American Heritage a buffer, and while the Patriots’ scoring drought lingered on, Palm Bay only got out to a three-point lead. American Heritage’s defense kept them in the game. Palm Bay entered the game averaging 69 points per game, and the Patriots held them to 36.

“We just really focused,” senior Daniella Aronsky said. “We switched everything. One through six that got in the game really put their heart and soul into every play, and we played every play like it was our last play on defense.”

The Pirates’ lead quickly evaporated late in the third quarter, as the Patriots went on a 12-4 run to end the period. Palm Bay stuck with American Heritage until the last moments, though.

The Pirates cut the Patriots’ lead to two points in the fourth quarter before American Heritage extended the lead back to nine points. Two Mikyla Tolivert last-minute three-pointers created some drama, cutting the Patriots’ lead to three points again. But senior Taliyah Wyche buried two late free throws to seal the win, capping a 17-for-24 day for the Patriots from the freethrow line.

“It was nerve-wracking because we played so hard and we were in a position to win,” Farias said, “[and] we almost gave it up with some silly turnovers.”

Wyche led American Heritage with 14 points and brought in seven rebounds. Her sister, Tatyana, scored seven points and led the Patriots with 13 rebounds.

The Wyche twins graduate after this school year, as does Aronsky. But the Patriots will return two crucial guards, Joey Delancy and Sydney Shaw, and junior Emani Theodule will return from injury, giving American Heritage a shot at even rarer air. If the Patriots win another championship next year, they will become the third Florida program and first Broward County girls basketball team to win five consecutive championships.

“I think that they’re awesome and if they put in work over the summer, they really can run it back for the five-peat,” Aronsky said.