WEST PALM BEACH – One year ago, Berean Christian’s girls basketball team had a different fate.
The Lady Bulldogs had just finished a 7-17 regular season, including a six-game losing streak to begin the season. And in the District 13-2A tournament, the Lady Bulldogs run ended rather swiftly, as they dropped their opening game to Pine-Stuart 44-31.
This season, however, the fate might have been in the hands of the Lady Bulldogs.
After finishing the regular season with a 13-3 record, including a late four-game winning streak to end it, Berean Christian faced Glades Day with a chance to capture the Class 2A-District 13 championship.
Led by new head coach Kevin Greene, formerly of Santa Fe College (Gainesville), the Lady Bulldogs did exactly that, defeating the Lady Gators 39-31.
“It’s a blessing,” Greene said. “All year, it’s just been God leading the way. I just do this to shine [a] light and give back to these kids. … We’ve been setting goals from the beginning and these girls have been buying in. Great group of girls, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Although some would count the Lady Bulldogs out before the season began, Greene never doubted that they could take that next step.
“[There] was never a doubt,” Greene said. “The first time I came to this school, and I [saw] how smart these kids were and how bad they wanted to get enlightened … I knew I had a good group, and once they buy in, it’s tough to beat a team like that.”
While teams that reach the district championship are usually on the more experienced side, the Lady Bulldogs feature just two seniors: Sophie Nefzger and Talencia Malonga.
For Nefzger, who chose to return following last season’s rough finish, it was a relief to capture the district championship.
“For me, it’s super heartwarming that my last year I get to go out with a bang, and we’re not done,” Nefzger said. “It’s super exciting and I’m glad that I get to do it with a team that I call my family.”
Although Nefzger had her doubts about playing basketball again this season, she credits Greene for turning it around.
“Last year was rocky, so coming into this year, I was hesitant to even play basketball,” Nefzger said. “Seeing Coach Greene and getting him as a coach, but not only as a coach but also a mentor, it’s a whole other light of a world. He brought a whole other side of me out. He knows the worst and the best. It took me patience to get used to it but overall, he didn’t let me down.”
Nefzger and Malonga especially played key roles in Berean Christian’s win over Glades Day.
Malonga, in particular, came up with big-time plays on both offense and defense, including multiple defensive stops in crunch time.
“For me, my main priority on this team is not making the shots, it’s to support my team,” Malonga said. “I’m here to back them up. Because we are a young team, when I’m leaving, I want them to have this feeling of being able to make the shots.”
Although the Lady Bulldogs took a 30-16 lead into halftime, the game got closer in the second half and into the fourth quarter. The Lady Gators pushed the Lady Bulldogs lead to just six going into the fourth quarter and even cut the lead smaller in the fourth.
All that, however, made the final whistle that much more special for the Bulldogs.
“I told everyone around, this was going to be some of my best work because God was too invested this year,” Greene said.
During the game, however, the focus for Greene was just scoring some points and preventing any Glades Day run, which they were able to do.
“It was all about just settling them down,” Coach Greene explained. “… I knew if we got one bucket, I didn’t care if it was a free throw, we would be able to break the ice. They get a little nervous when it comes to that part, coming out to start the half, and [Glades Day was] making their run. And they hit one bucket, broke the ice, and we got right back into it.”
The run for the Lady Bulldogs isn’t over just yet.
The District 13-2A champion (12-3) will host Lake Worth Christian (8-6; District 14-2A runner-up) in the state portion of the Class 2A tournament on Thursday (Feb. 11; 6 p.m. tip-off). The two sides have met once before, with Berean Christian taking home the 54-22 victory in Lake Worth Christian’s season opener.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mario Jackson
