Miami Country Day takes American title; St. Thomas Aquinas surprises in the National Division

By Bob Corwin

In its 20th year, the Naples Holiday Shootout did not lack for finals’ drama.  Coming of its impressive triumph at the NIKE Tournament of Champions, Miami Country Day School of Miami, Florida, defeated Beaver Dam High School of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, 52-43 to win the American Division in a battle of nationally ranked teams.  St. Thomas Aquinas High School of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, defeated Nease High School of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 64-62 to win the National Division.  The event, consisting of two eight-team divisions, was again held at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Florida, during December 27-29.  About 23 colleges (mostly Division 1) attended at least one day of the event presented by the Florida Gulf Coast Sports Foundation.  

Looking at the American Division final…

Miami Country Day School (Miami, Florida) 52-43 Beaver Dam High School (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin)

The difference in this game was the combination of superior Miami athleticism and depth.  Most impressive about Beaver Dam was that its players carried out their roles (scorers scored and defenders defended) will discipline, showing great patience rarely taking bad shots.  Beaver Dam led 13-10 after one quarter but Country Day controlled the second stanza, thanks to Koi Love’s nine points (mostly in the key) going to the break up 31-24.  After three periods, the Miami lead was 48-34 as four different players chipped in points.  To its collective credit, Beaver Dam dug in with solid, intense man-to-man defense holding Country Day scoreless for about next four minutes cutting the lead to 48-43.  However, the team from Wisconsin could get no closer in the last four minutes.  Miami Country Day was led in scoring by Koi Love (MVP, see below) with 19 points while Beaver Dam was led by Tara Stauffacher (All-tournament selectee, see below) also with 19 points (hitting five threes).      

Looking at the National Division final…

St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort, Lauderdale, Florida) 64-62 Nease High School (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)

This game was considered about “even money” coming in (unlike the American where Miami Country Day was favored). Nease was stronger in the middle while St.Thomas Aquinas had more perimeter firepower. As pointed out by the Aquinas coach, the real difference may have been three tough games (all losses) at the She Got Game Classic in Metro DC, while Nease was undefeated and largely untested as to close end-of-game battles coming into this contest.

Aquinas led 23-7 in the second period but a combination of foul trouble and poor shot selection combined with increased resolve by Nease brought the lead down to 29-20 at the break where Aquinas’s Halie Murphy (All-tournament selectee, see below) led all scorers with 14 points for the half (17 total for the game). Much of the second half belonged to Nease’s Camille Hobby’s dominant (All-tournament selectee, 23 points all in second half) post game. After three quarters, Nease led 44-43 with the lead up to 51-44 a few minutes into the final stanza. Here the Aquinas big-game experience kicked in tying the score at 51 with 5:17 left in the contest. The game remained within a few points until the finish.  A Nease turnover with under 10 seconds left gave Aquinas’s Bella LaChance (MVP, see below) an opportunity to be the hero. Going coast to coast, LaChance (game high 27 points) scored the game winning lay-up as time expired.  

Below in alphabetical order (with listed height, graduation year and school) are the All-Tournament Teams of the American and National Divisions. School location is in parenthesis.