Historic season for American Heritage girls basketball ends in state semifinals

LAKELAND — Sometimes in basketball, it’s as simple as making shots.

That’s what it came down to in Fort Pierce-Lincoln Park’s 48-37 win over American Heritage in the Class 4A semifinals of the FHSAA girls basketball state tournament Thursday at the RP Funding Center.

“They hit some big shots down the stretch,” American Heritage coach Brett Studley said. “They’re a good shooting team. We were playing good defense most of the game but they hit some big shots.”

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As a result, Lincoln Park (20-1), the No. 3-ranked team in Class 4A, will face No. 1-ranked Orlando Lake Highland Prep Saturday at 10 a.m. for the Class 4A championship.

The Greyhounds were led by Christen McCann, who scored 34 of her team’s 48 points. However, the two biggest shots were a pair of 3-pointers by Sophia Marrero that extended a one-point Lincoln Park lead (30-29) to seven points (36-29) with 2:53 to play.

American Heritage, without injured Wisconsin commit Jordana Codio, had taken a 29-26 lead early in the fourth quarter before McCann scored four points to put Lincoln Park back on top, 30-29.

“It was a mental shift when I kicked it to Sophia to get those two threes,” McCann said. “Those type of plays are what allows us to execute our offense.”

From that point on, the Greyhounds were a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line, 10 of them by McCann.

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For the game, Lincoln Park was 15-of-17 from the line while American Heritage (13-5) made just 8-of-19.

“If we make free throws, it’s a different story,” Studley said. “At the free-throw line, we struggle.

“When you’ve got that backdrop, and it’s brand new, it can change your depth perception. We were short on a lot of free throws,” Studley said.

The Stallions missed their first eight free throws before making one. In the fourth quarter, they made just 2-of-6 while Lincoln Park made 12-13.

Overall, both teams struggled shooting at times.

“Our shots just weren’t falling,” said American Heritage guard Taylor Romano. “I think we had good looks. But nothing really fell.”

Lincoln Park didn’t score until 45 seconds remained in the first quarter, on a 3-pointer by McCann, but the Greyhounds picked up the pace in the second, outscoring American Heritage 19-11 in the second quarter to take a 22-19 halftime lead. McCann had 16 first-half points, including 12 on four 3-pointers.

“The nerves were there,” Lincoln Park coach Wendell Adams said. “After we played through that first quarter, we settled down a little bit and got into a more normal flow.”

Marrero finished with nine for Lincoln Park.

American Heritage was led by Alancia Ramsey with 18. Romano added 11.

While the result wasn't what the Stallions wanted, they can celebrate the program's first state appearance and a postseason run against all odds, with Codio out injured. 

LINCOLN PARK (48) – Juliana Ball 0-0 0-0 0, Autumn Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Christen McCann 9-21 12-13 34, Sophia Marrero 3-4 2-2 11, Kayla McIntosh 0-0 0-0 0, Trisann Gordon 0-2 0-0 0, Janiah Gardner 0-1 1-2 1, Roniyah Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Lizbeth Ayala 0-0 0-0 0, Deborah Reese 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 13-31 15-17 48.

AMERICAN HERITAGE (37) – Madi Romano 0-0 0-0 0, Dylan Rogers 0-0 0-0 0, Khadee Hession 0-5 0-0 0, Kiara Charles 3-5 0-0 6, Selma Drucker 1-2 0-2 2, Taylor Romano 4-13 2-4 11, Jayleen Nunez 0-1 0-2 0, Alancia Ramsey 6-11 6-11 18. Totals 14-37 8-19 37.

Lincoln Park    3    19    4    22    —    48

American Heritage    8    11    5    13    —    37

FG%: Lincoln Park  .419,  American Heritage .378. 3-pt FG: Lincoln Park  7-12 (McCann 4-7, Marrero 3-4, Gardner 0-1),  American Heritage 1-7 (Hession 0-1, Romano 1-5, Ramsey 0-1). Rebounds: Lincoln Park  24 (TEAM 7, Reese 7),  American Heritage 25 (Ramsey 7). Fouls Lincoln Park  16,  American Heritage 16. Fouled out: Ramsey Hession . Technical: none. Assists: Lincoln Park  2 (McCann 1, Marrero 1),  American Heritage 5 (Hession 2, Romano 2). Steals: Lincoln Park  4 (Gordon 2),  American Heritage 4 (Hession 2, Romano 2). Blocked shots: Lincoln Park  1 (Reese 1),  American Heritage 2 (Nunez 1, Ramsey 1). Turnovers: Lincoln Park  6,  American Heritage 7.