Varsity girls basketball overcome Vikings, advance to states for fourth year in a row

in Game Coverage/Sports by
The back-to-back state champions will look to emerge victorious again when they clash with the Seminoles Thursday, Feb. 27. (Photo/Joanna Wyche twitter)

Looking to once again reach states, the varsity girls basketball team hosted second-seeded Norland Vikings Friday, Feb. 21 in the regional finals. 

The Patriots jumped out to a hot start, finishing off the first quarter with a 15-5 lead. The Vikings continued to chip away at the lead in the second, though, leading to a 20-20 score at the half.

In the third quarter, the Patriots pulled away once again, securing a 43-30 lead at the end of the third. They were, however, unable to completely close the door on the Vikings, who cut the deficit to five points with just under three minutes in regulation. 

The rest of the way was all Heritage, as they succeeded in holding Norland at bay for the remainder of the contest and walking away with the 54-41 victory and ticket to the state semifinals.

“The feeling is amazing,” head coach Greg Farias said. “It’s so difficult to even win districts, but to get to [states] for the fourth straight year is unbelievable. It also shows that after one girl leaves the other steps up; we are a team and a family.”

The Patriots will take on the fourth-seeded Southeast Seminoles Thursday, Feb. 27 in the state semifinals for a chance at advancing to the state finals as they move one step closer to bringing another banner back to Plantation.

Sammy Rosenthal is a senior at American Heritage School in Plantation Fla. and is entering his fourth year writing for the newsmagazine; his second year as the publication’s Sports Editor. Sammy takes pride in being a die-hard Miami Heat and Dolphins fan as well as dedicating his Sunday to watching football.