BOCA RATON – Boca Raton (21-7) beat Park Vista (15-7) twice in a weeks time.
The Lady Bobcats defeated the Lady Cobras 57-35. As a result, the season ended for the Lady Cobras and the Lady Bobcats advanced to the FHSAA Class 7A-Region 4 semifinal round.
The second-seeded Lady Bobcats started early and never let their foot off the gas in this one. Freshman Tatyana Campise-Pinkney led the scoring charge in the first quarter with eight points and ultimately ended the game with 16 points.
HALFTIME: Boca Raton Tatyana Campise-Pinkney is on fire 🔥🏀 with 16pts – Bobcats in full control right now. @bobcats_county
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) February 10, 2023
Boca 36, Park Vista 10 pic.twitter.com/FHGPLgCX1w
“They left me open, a lot,” Campise-Pinkney said. “I didn’t let any misses get to my head. I just kept shooting.”
Boca Raton had another big lift from senior Stefania Markel, who scored 20 points.
Markel led the Bobcats second half surge to put the game out of reach for any chance of Park Vista coming back.
Boca will look to put this one away as we head into the fourth quarter.
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) February 10, 2023
Stefania Markel has the hot hand right now. @bobcats_county
Boca 47, Park Vista 26 pic.twitter.com/67Xk8n7Jhi
“We played this team before and it wasn’t my best game,” Markel said. “After that game, I pushed myself really hard in practice to prove to myself I could do better next game.”
Lady Bobcats head coach Rod Johnson commented on the confidence his team has gained throughout the season.
“A lot of people doubted us,” Johnson said. “My girls deserve these wins. They work hard in practice and our regular schedule was set up for the postseason to win games like this.”
Notable player for Park Vista: Giulliana Mendoza with 16 points.
Boca Raton will host third-seeded Coral Springs (20-5) in tonight’s (Feb. 14) regional semifinal. The tip-off time is set for 7 p.m. at Boca Raton High School’s gymnasium.
