This story is written by Dave Brousseau, a writer for the BCAA.
Twenty-three seasons of boys high school basketball have passed since St. Thomas Aquinas had the opportunity to play for the BCAA Big 8 Championship. The wait and drought came to an end on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale High as the Raiders defeated Chaminade-Madonna 70-44.
Junior guard Drake Sandi scored 14 of his team-high 20 for STA and was named the Butch Ingram MVP. The 26-point margin of victory is the second largest in BCAA Big 8 boys’ history, second only to the inaugural Big 8 in 1998 when Deerfield Beach defeated Hallandale by 37 points 88-51. Aquinas (23-2) had made only two previous appearances in the finals dating back to 2000 and 2002.
“Honestly we came out here and did what we like to do and this is defend and share the basketball,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Julius Sandi. “Everything today was about us. I’m very happy we came out on top over a program like Chaminade.”
Four of the starters scored in doubles figures. In addition to DJ Sandi, Clarence Westbrook Jr. had 11 points, while Dwayne Wimbley Jr. and Zane Elliott each had 10 points.
The key to the Raiders victory would be success in defending the Lions backcourt combination of Jasen Lopez and Isaac Mothersil. Though Lopez scored 55 points to lead the Lions to reaching the finals, he scored just seven of his team-high 24 points in the second half.
While the Aquinas defense shut down perhaps the biggest threat to prevent them from at Big 8 title, the offense created separation with a 39 25-point differential in the second half.
“We came here as a team and wanted to make history,” said DJ Sandi. “We did this together and worked hard every day to what led us to what we do on the court.”
In the past 25 seasons, the Raiders 23 victories this season has already equaled a team high set during the 2022-23 campaign. STA, the states Class 6A ranked No. 1 team now has its sights set on a state title for the first and only time since back in 2001 under former coach Steve Strand.
