American Heritage, Southridge, SLAM Miami girls' basketball teams advance to state
Few teams in state history have put together the kind of stretches of success that American Heritage's girls' basketball team has for nearly a decade.
The Patriots extended their run of consecutive trips to the state final four on Friday night by handling visiting Mater Lakes in the Region 4-4A final at American Heritage.
Heritage (20-8) advances to the state semifinals for the ninth consecutive season and will take on Tallahassee Rickards at 1 p.m. on March 4 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
The Patriots have won six state championships during that span including a run of five in a row from 2018-2022.
Mater Lakes finished the season 20-10 after making it to the regional finals for the second time in four seasons.
SURGING SPARTANS
Miami Southridge continued what's been a historic run for its program on Friday night when it took down Davie Nova at its home gym, 65-54 to win the Region 4-6A championship.
The Spartans (16-10) took down the top two seeds in the region and in Class 6A overall in succession beating Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas this past Tuesday and the Titans on Friday.
Southridge advances to the state final four for the first time since 1987 and will next face Tampa Steinbrenner on March 6 at 9 a.m. at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Freshman Sakura Barnes stepped up for the Spartans and led the way with 22 points while Dianka Hardisson scored 19 points.
The Spartans have won five in a row since losing in the GMAC tournament final to Miami High.
SLAM IS BACK
SLAM Miami is headed back to Lakeland following an impressive 75-40 victory over Miami Carrollton on Friday night in the Region 4-3A championship game.
The Titans (16-12) advance to the state semifinals for the second consecutive season and fourth time in program history - all since 2017.
SLAM will attempt to win its first ever game at state on Friday at 11 a.m. when it faces top-seeded Sarasota Cardinal Mooney at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Jim'Miyah Branton led the Titans with 24 points while Samantha Bautista added 14 points. Adaya Montalvo had eight points.
Carrollton finished the season 17-9 after advancing to the regional finals for the first time.
Region 4-1A final - Boca Raton Grandview Prep 73, Schoolhouse Prep 45: Sophomore Lya Gonzalez led the Wolfpack (17-9) with 26 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Schoolhouse Prep advanced to the regional finals for the first time in program history.
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