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Aquinas Looks Playoff Ready After 69-46 Win Over Heritage
Senior guard Karina Gordon (No. 4) helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas' defeat of American Heritage with 11 points in the 69-46 victory in girls' basketball on Friday.
By Dave Brousseau
BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – As the 2022-23 girls’ basketball season nears its regular season conclusion, there are a few certainties come playoff time.
The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders have become a staple of the playoffs after Friday’s convincing 69-46 victory over five-time defending state champion American Heritage on Friday.
The win could be a sign the Raiders are poised to defend their BCAA Big 8 title and their back-to-back Class 6A state championships.
“I thought we came out and played with a lot of energy tonight,” said St. Thomas coach Oliver Berens. “I thought we played an efficient offensive game. We also did a really good job rebounding.
We have struggled a bit this year and our focus is to get playing the best basketball at the most important part of the season.”
The Raiders (13-8) never trailed and basically had the Patriots fighting an uphill battle from the opening tip-off.
Going into the half, Aquinas led 34-16 with seven different players in the scoring column.
Sophomore Nyla McFadden scored eight of her team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help bury Heritage. Senior guard Karina Gordon and junior Kamryn Corporan each added 11 points.
“We know it’s a very important part of the season with the Big 8 and playoffs just ahead,” said Gordon, who was part of the Raiders back-to-back state title. “We want to continue getting better from here.”
Reina Green, another returner from the consecutive state titles and Corporan helped make sure there would be no second half rally from the Patriots with back-to-back three pointers early in the third quarter to build a 44-21 lead.
Aquinas finished the night with six 3-pointers.
The Raiders will open its defense of the BCAA Big 8 Tournament on Wednesday against Coral Springs at South Plantation High.