3A State Championship: Miami Country Day v Cardinal Mooney Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By Michael Wholey 2/25/23 12:00 PM EST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The 2023 FHSAA State Tournament concluded in Lakeland at the RP Funding Center hosting the 1A – 7A State Championship games.&nbsp; Here is a recap of the 3A State Championship game between Miami Country Day and Cardinal Mooney.&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME RECAP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a tight first quarter, Miami Country Day jumped out to a big lead in the 2^nd quarter and never looked back further cementing their dominance of the FHSAA State Tournament. In a battle of the point guards, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91642' first='Kristina' last='Godfrey']</strong> (Miami Country Day) won the dual vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91658' first='Olivia' last='Davis']</strong> (Cardinal Mooney) controlling the tempo, attacking off the dribble, and shooting 9/13 from the field to finish as the game's high scorer with 20 points to go along with 4 assists and only 1 turnover.&nbsp; Godfrey along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='214184' first='Jalynn' last='Belton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221703' first='Kaliyah' last='Morales']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217665' first='Sofia' last='Mendez']</strong> all increased their roles as the Spartans were without their go to player all season <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217667' first='Kayla' last='Nelms']</strong> due to injury.&nbsp; Davis and Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243900' first='Kali' last='Barrett']</strong> did their best to keep Cardinal Mooney in the game but in the end it was not enough as Miami Country Day won the 3A State Championship by a score of 54-38 and taking home their 8th FHSAA state championship in 10 years – a truly impressive fun.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP PROSPECTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91642' first='Kristina' last='Godfrey']</strong> (Miami Country Day) 5'10 Guard – Class of 2023 – Florida Atlantic Signee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":382917,"width":307,"height":313,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/IMG_2988-e1643673811400.jpg?w=588" alt="" class="wp-image-382917" width="307" height="313" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Godfrey, a 5'10 point guard was by far the game's best player.&nbsp; Godfrey played every second of the game, running the point guard position, slicing and dicing through the Cardinal Mooney defense and leading all scorers with 20 points on 9/13 from the field.&nbsp; Not only leading the way in points, but Godfrey was also the main ball handler, controlling the tempo, and directing her team finishing with 4 assists and just 1 turnover.&nbsp; The Florida Atlantic signee was the MVP of the game and led the way to Miami County Day taking home the 3A State Championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91658' first='Olivia' last='Davis']</strong> (Cardinal Mooney) 5'6 Guard – Class of 2023 – University of Tampa Signee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis is always fun to watch as she is just so confidence and plays so under control.&nbsp; Miami Country Day really put a lot of concentration on her and not allowing her to just score at will and she struggled from the floor finishing with 10 points in just 2/10 from the field.&nbsp; The 5'6 Guard is signed and headed to University of Tampa in the fall and is one heck of a player.&nbsp; The final result was not what she wanted to wrap up her prep career but she established herself in Florida over the years as one of the top point guards to ever do it and should be proud of all her accomplishments.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217665' first='Sofia' last='Mendez'] </strong>(Miami Country Day) – 5'7 Guard – Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A solid and steady performer, Mendez played all but 90 seconds of the 32 minute game at the shooting guard spot finishing as the team's second leading scorer with 10 points, including 5/5 from the free throw line.&nbsp; While she struggled a bit from the floor, she was consistent in her energy and effort and was able to find ways to contribute on both ends of the floor finishing with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221703' first='Kaliyah' last='Morales']</strong> (Miami Country Day) – 5'9 Guard - Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morales is a bit of a silent assassin that just has a steady presence on the court and is a two way player.&nbsp; She is long, athletic, and deceptive.&nbsp; She is a steady defender that can pressure the ball and does a good job using her length and wing span to step into passing lanes.&nbsp; On the offensive, she finished with 8 points, doing a good job attacking off the dribble and getting to the paint and to the free throw line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243900' first='Kali' last='Barrett']</strong> (Cardinal Mooney) 6'1 Forward – Class of 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barrett was active on both ends of the floor finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.&nbsp; The 6'1 Wing / Forward is long and athletic and was effective on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.&nbsp; Leading Cardinal Mooney in scoring, Barrett was aggressive in the paint, and ran the floor hard.&nbsp; She finished well around the rim and did a good job controlling the boards.&nbsp; With Nelms outside for Miami Country Day, Barrett got her hands on a lot and went and got balls up above her opponents and out of area.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='214184' first='Jalynn' last='Belton']</strong> (Miami Country Day) – 5'9 Wing - Class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":616841,"width":-222,"height":-395,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/22A6DD41-ABB5-4580-BF42-4B4348D39E04.jpg?w=576" alt="" class="wp-image-616841" width="-222" height="-395" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton stepped up as she has all season finishing with 8 points.&nbsp; At 5'9, she played both the wing and forward spot, giving them an inside and out presence.&nbsp; Belton battled foul trouble coming in and out of the lineup but just in 8^th grade Belton stood out for her size, strength, versatility, and ability to score both off the dribble and around the rim as well as create shots for others.&nbsp; The youngest player on the court for a program that has won 8 championships in last 10 years, it is obvious that Belton is the future.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221602' first='Kori' last='Edge']</strong> (Miami Country Day) – 5'2 Guard - Class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edge played spot minutes in a role player position for the shorthanded Miami Country Day Spartans that battled foul trouble.&nbsp; If Belton is the future of Miami Country Day, look for Edge to be her partner in crime as she is just an 8^th grader as well.&nbsp; Edge played just 8 minutes and didn't fill up the stat sheet but she handled the ball vs pressure and faced players 3-4 years older, playing under control and composed, proving she can handle this level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech.&nbsp; Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news.&nbsp; Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.&nbsp; If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->