SPORTS

Cardinal Mooney girls well rested for Friday's 3A basketball title game

Cougars will play Miami Country Day for the championship at 10 a.m. Friday in Lakeland

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Cardinal Mooney center Jordyn Byrd has an extra week of rest after the Class 3A girls basketball final was postponed to 10 a.m. Friday at RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Byrd has been dealing with a sore ankle.

SARASOTA — After an initial feeling of “disappointment,” the Cardinal Mooney Catholic girls basketball team continued to prepare for the first state championship game in program history.

The Cougars won their Class 3A state semifinal 47-32 over Oviedo The Master’s Academy on Feb. 24. It was the same day Miami Country Day advanced to the 3A final with a 66-44 decision over Tampa Brooks Debartolo Collegiate.

The 3A final between the Cougars (20-8) and Spartans (22-3) was scheduled for Feb. 26, but it was reported one of the referees in the Miami Country Day game tested positive for coronavirus, pushing the final back a week to Friday.

The extra week between the Class 3A state semifinal and final permitted Cardinal Mooney Catholic girls basketball coach Rico Antonio more time to formulate a game plan against Miami Country Day in the championship game 10 a.m. Friday at RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

“The initial reaction and thought was disappointment because you were riding high, you want to keep going,” Cardinal Mooney coach Rico Antonio said. “When you take the time to stop and analyze it and look at it, it was beneficial for us to have this week off to get rested.”

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It also gave Antonio time to do more scouting on his opponent. He spent the past weekend scouring over five or six complete game films of Miami Country Day.

“Hopefully we will try to use this to our advantage,” Antonio said. “I would always like to learn more. I’m pleased with the plan we have in place here.

“Now I’m much more comfortable with some tendencies and some things I’ve picked up that hopefully we can exploit and make them work to our advantage.”

Olivia Davis of Cardinal Mooney Catholic scored a team-high 14 points and had nine rebounds in the Class 3A state semifinal against Oviedo The Master's Academy. Friday, Davis will try to help the Cougars to the first state title in program history.

The extra week also allowed the Cougars’ Jordyn Byrd more time for treatment and rest on her sprained ankle. The 6-foot-4 sophomore center missed two regional games before returning to score 13 points and grab 12 rebounds, six on the offensive end, against The Master’s Academy.

“She’s getting better every day," Antonio said. "Let’s put it this way: Anybody at this stage, another week of rest is a good thing because at this point everyone is tired and banged up. Everybody’s good.”

CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

WHO: Cardinal Mooney Catholic Cougars (20-8) vs. Miami Country Day (22-3).

WHEN: 10 a.m. Friday..

WHERE: RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

ADMISSION: $10 if purchased in advance; $13 if purchased the day of the game.

PARKING: $10.

Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing.