Miami Country Day Makes History, Notches 3-Peat; Spartans Rout University Christian
LAKELAND (SFHSSports) – For the longest of time, Ochiel Swaby has been known best for his Miami-Dade County record of averaging 50 points per game during his senior year of high school.
Now, he's set another record.
Miami Country Day continued its reign as one of the best teams in the state, rolling past Jacksonville University Christian 76-46 Thursday evening to win its third straight Class 3A state championship in The Lakeland Center.
With the dominant victory, the Lady Spartans (26-6) become the first girls' basketball team in Miami-Dade County history to win three consecutive state titles.
Jacksonville Ribault owns the state record with five straight crowns (1999-2003). Broward County's Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2010-2013) and South Broward (2000-2003) have each won four consecutive titles before, while the previous longest previous streak in Dade was shared by Miami High (2014-2015) and Miami Country Day.
Swaby said Thursday represented the end of a long road.
"Today was the culmination of what was a grind of a season," Swaby said. "We played a tough schedule that prepared up well for this and we have very talented kids, so the pressure of it was not letting these kids down as coaches…always giving them a game plan and strategy that's going to make them go out there and be successful."
"I felt like we were dominant here in Lakeland. And we left no doubt about who the best team in the state is," Swaby added.
The Spartans, which defeated Seffner Christian 75-45 Tuesday night in the state semifinal, have cemented their status among the state's elite. This year was Country Day's fourth straight trip to the state final four, having won titles in 2014 and 2015 after losing 44-40 to Daytona Beach Father Lopez in the 2013 Class 3A title game.
Also, the Spartans capped the 2015 season with a mythical national championship after defeating Dillard 57-41 in the Dick's Sporting Goods Invitational in Madison Square Garden.
Thursday's game began about as well as any team could imagine for Country Day, as it jumped out to a 5-0 lead – a layup by Kelsey Marshall followed by a three-pointer by Maria Alvarez – in the first 20 seconds.
Using its typical up-tempo offense along with collapsing down on University Christian's tall frontline players – forcing the Fighting Christians to settle for long range shots, Miami Country Day built an 11-3 lead that became 19-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Things only got better for Miami Country Day, as Marshall consistently beat University Christian defenders down court in transition for layups and Alvarez drained shots from beyond the arc.
Swaby said the fast start was paramount in the win.
"It was huge for the kids' comfort and getting themselves in the moment. When you're playing [with a lead], you tend to be less tight. And I was happy to see we got off to a fast start and were able to build on it," Swaby said.
Marshall, a junior, finished with a game-high 20 points on 9 of 14 shooting. She also reeled in seven rebounds and dished out three assists to earn the game's Most Valuable Player honor.
Alvarez, who's played for the Spartans varsity squad since her seventh grade year, knocked down five three-pointers and totaled 17 points as she earned her third championship ring – now as a freshman.
Three other Spartans finished with double-figure points – senior Marsha Edwards had 12 points and nine boards while Dashaun Jackson and Channise Lewis each added 11 points. Lewis also had six rebounds and six assists.
"To think back on where this program came from," Lewis began. "It really came out of nowhere. Now to have a three-peat…and being the first in Miami-Dade to do it…words can barely express how good it feels."
University Christian (22-5), which made it to the state semifinals last year, had a rough shooting night. With Country Day crowding the paint, almost daring the Fighting Christian's players to shoot from the perimeter, University Christian shot 3-for-27 from the three-point line.
5-foot-10 senior Tarje Norman finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead University Christian while JaTavia Tapley and Jada Hudson totaled 13 and 11 points respectively – but combined to shoot 8 of 28 from the field.
University Christian ended up only shooting 24 percent from the field in addition to committing 13 turnovers.
After leading 39-20 at halftime, Miami Country Day cruised through the second half. The Spartans held the Fighting Christians to just six third quarter points and opened as large as a 56-23 lead.
Looking ahead, Miami Country Day appears to be a team set up to be right back in Lakeland next year too. Leaders Lewis – who is ranked as the No. 21 overall player in the 2017 class – and Marshall will return for their senior campaigns.
Jackson and Alvarez also return while 6-foot-2 sophomore Aasiya Berry, who didn't play Thursday, should see her role increase next season.
Swaby said
"Each year the goal is to try to win a state title," Swaby said. "These kids work so hard and they deserve that opportunity. Obviously you need talent each year and will have to replace some really good players down the road – so we'll need some good fortune to have more players come through the program."
"But we expect to win, we expect to win. We believe in our kids and we believe in our work."
Box Score
Class 3A state championship: Miami Country Day 76, Jacksonville University Christian 46 - UC (22-5): Norman 15, Tapley 13, Hudson 11, N. Harkless 5, G. Harkless 2. MCD (26-6): Marshall 20, Alvarez 17, Edwards 12, Lewis 11, Jackson 11, Provenzano 3. Pierre 2. Halftime: MCD 39-20. Three-pointers: Alvarez 5, Marshall 2, Hudson 2, Provenzano, Tapley. Fouled out: None. Technicals: None. Rebounds: Edward 9. Assists: Lewis 6. Steals: Lewis: 3. Blocks: Jackson 2.