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Ngodu Scores 25, Leads Dillard Past South Broward in BCAA Big 8
Senior forward Khyala Ngodu (No. 35) scored a game-high 25 points to lead Dillard over South Broward 47-31 in a BCAA Big 8 girls quarterfinal at South Plantation High on Thursday.
By Dave Brousseau
BCAA Writer
PLANTATION – The 2023 BCAA Girls Big 8 quarterfinal meeting between the Dillard and South Broward girls’ basketball teams marked the 25th time the two schools have met dating back to November of 2006.
Oddly enough, the traditionally powerhouse programs have only met once in a Big 8 final with South Broward winning 70-58 in the inaugural event in 1998.
On Thursday, the teams renewed their long-standing rivalry and behind 6-foot-2 senior forward Khyala Ngodu’s 25 points, Dillard rolled to a convincing 47-31 victory.
The Panthers (17-6) advance to Friday’s semifinals where they will play St. Thomas Aquinas at 5 p.m.
“Khyala is the foundation of our team,” said Dillard coach Craig Prather. “She’s been playing since she was a freshman here and she understands what we’re trying to do on the court.
She brings all the chemistry together. We’re going to need her in the big games down the road.”
The Panthers led 31-27 after three quarters before Ngodu began to dominate in the paint. The University of Central Florida signee scored 12 of her team’s 16 points in the final quarter to help Dillard pull away.
South Broward (18-4) was held to only four points in the final frame.
“Our bigs got in foul trouble,” said South Broward coach Sharlene Ferguson. “We were able to stop Ngodu before, but the foul trouble kept us from being as aggressive as we would have liked.”
In a snapshot of the previous 24 meetings prior to Thursday, Dillard led the series 18-6. Of note, however, the Bulldogs did snap a seven-game losing streak to Dillard this past November with a 47-33 victory.
Senior guard Sara Johnson scored 16 to lead the Bulldogs.
Cardinal Gibbons strong offensive showing in the first half against Everglades was plenty in a 48-34 victory..
The Chiefs (17-4), winners of seven straight games, advance to play Blanche Ely in a 6:30 semifinal game on Friday.
Gibbons was offensively efficient in the first half, taking a 38-11 lead into the break as junior guard Jordan Kosoy scored 15 of her game-high 17 that included three 3-pointers.
“We got to learn a lot of things. That’s why the Big 8 is good for us,” said Gibbons coach Kevin Gordon. “We want to get some good games out of this. We didn’t make some good shots in the second half, but at the end of the day, our defense was there and you can’t argue with that.”
Brooke Buckman added 11 points for the Chiefs.
The Gators (15-9) were led by Tyra Blye with 13 points and Kori Wimberly with 10 points.