MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week: Miami girls basketball

Step aside boys, it's the girls' turn.

At least that's what they are saying around Miami High School after the girls basketball team, No. 25 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings, captured its second state 8A crown with a 49-33 win over Treasure Coast last week in Lakeland, Fla.

Junior post Beatrice Mompremier earned 8A tournament MVP efforts for scoring 13 points and adding 15 rebounds in the title game, a contest in which it never trailed.

Miami won its second crown — the first coming in 2005 according to Andre C. Fernandez of the Miami Herald — and now is starting to compete with the school's vaunted boys program that has piled up a state-record 18 Florida basketball titles.

"The boys team has always been an inspiration to us, and we always loved looking up in our gym and seeing all the banners up there," Miami coach Sam Baumgarten told Fernandez. "At Miami High, basketball is treated like family. We had our little one (in 2005) in the corner for a long time. Now, we can put another one next to it."

For their title and 31-1 record, the Miami girls have been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"Winning this year's 8A state championship was our ultimate goal," Baumgarten told MaxPreps. "Since losing to Dr. Phillips in last year's championship game, we vowed to dedicate ourselves to get to this level and be champions.

"If I was asked at the beginning of the season if we could win 30 games I would have told you 'no.' We knew we were going to see some really good teams and we assumed that we would have a loss a couple games here or there. Our kids accomplished this goal by putting aside personal accolades and statistical records for the betterment of the team and the 30-plus win season and a state championship. Preparation for this year's team was easy, seeing that they had a chip on their shoulder and wanted that ring that got away last year."

Mompremier, a 6-foot-4 post, also had a big semifinal game, a 55-37 win over Seminole, with 16 points and 15 rebounds. She's one of the top junior prospects in the country.

Although Mompremier returns, five seniors played pivotal roles in the team's championship, including Antranae Alvin, who scored 13 points in the title game.

"Antranae Alvin is our best defensive player, averaging more than four steals per game. She was a newcomer for us this year at Miami High, spending most of the season getting acclimated to her teammates and learning her role. After getting comfortable she took off as a player and became a major contributor."

Amanda Mendoza, a senior guard, had a team-high 14 points in the victory.

"Amanda Mendoza has been a four-year starter," said Baumgarten. "She is our floor general and our best three-point shooting threat. Standing only 5-foot-2, she has the heart of a lion and is a kid that never let her size get in the way of her being the best that she can always be. She will be missed."

After the championship win, Mendoza was still savoring the moment.

"This is an amazing feeling," she told Fernandez. "It's breathtaking."

MaxPreps editorial assistant Kirstin Beal contributed to this report.

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.