Moving from Class 8A to a tougher challenge in 7A didn’t seem to enervate the American High girls’ basketball team. The girls started off 6-0, including defeats over then No. 1 state-ranked Palm Beach Dyer and power houses Gulliver Prep and Coconut Creek.
Now at 18-2, the Patriots may be the new kids on the block but the senior-dominated team has settled in well enough to stake its claim for the district title and seeking a strong run in the postseason.
American defeated Ferguson (17-3) this past Monday and faced Hialeah Miami Lakes on Tuesday before they play in the Martin Luther King Classic Tournament. The Patriots hope their regular season success spills over to the playoffs next month.
“The girls on the team are a great group of girls,” said head coach Paul Torres. “With the nine seniors on this team, they have been through a lot of stuff to get to this point. They built the foundation by determination, effort, hard work and refusing to lose. This is one the best teams I have coached.”
Senior guard Maikala McCloud is the Patriots leading scorer at 17 points per game, and she had her best games against Dyer, Gulliver Prep, Coconut Creek, Central and North Miami Beach.
She kept American undefeated in district play, as well as senior forward Scanya Jones, senior guard Dajahnae Smith, senior forwards Jessica David and Ebony Griffin, who is the team’s leading rebounded at 12 per game.
The girls constitute the Patriots’ starting line-up and the role players contributed big as well, as American banks on offensive power and speed to win games.
“Without them, we don’t know where we would be,” said Torres.
Torres said the game his team wishes it could have back was the loss to Miami High, which was ranked No. 1 in the state. The Patriots outplayed the Stingarees for three quarters before blowing a 7-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 45-40.
“It would’ve been a pride victory cause we didn’t have to worry about them in the playoffs,” Torres said. “But a win would’ve been good for bragging rights.”
Torres said his team bares a resemblance of his 1998 and 1999 teams that were one game shy of the state championship game.
“The 1990’s teams didn’t lose a regular season game for two years and won back-to-back division titles,” he said. “It was a tough group of girls and my team this year is good as well. They are one of the better teams I have coached in recent memory.”
McCloud, who is being recruited by several Division I A colleges, including Jacksonville University, Coastal Carolina and Marshal, said her team’s regular season success is attributed to moving the ball around.
“We work hard, practice hard and we are mentally focused,” she said. “We share the ball with all of our teammates because it makes the game fun to play. I love my team.”