South Florida Local News

Two of the state’s most storied girls soccer programs struck gold this week at the FHSAA state soccer championships at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in DeLand.

St. Thomas Aquinas added its state-leading 16th title, but first in nine years, when it defeated Niceville 1-0 to win 6A, while American Heritage captured its 15th state championship with a 2-0 win over Bishop Kenny for its fourth straight title.

Cypress Bay came up short in its bid for its first state title, losing 1-0 in penalty kicks to Lake Mary, while Jupiter lost in the 7A semifinals.

St. Thomas Aquinas freshman Camila Velez, left, scored the game-winning goal to help the Raiders win their state-leading 16th state championship with a 1-0 6A victory over Niceville at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in Deland. (Samantha Balanovich, Sam B. Photography/Courtesy) Raiders celebrate ‘Sweet 16’ with first title since 2017

St. Thomas Aquinas junior goalkeeper Aimee Colson was a stalwart in front of the net as the Raiders, after a bit of a hiatus, added their 16th state championship, to keep that record by themselves.

Freshman forward Camilla Velez scored in the 21st minute to give the Raiders (23-2-1) all the offense they would need to take home the hardware as they topped Niceville 1-0 in the 6A state championship game on Wednesday morning. Both teams entered with Top-six national rankings, according to MaxPreps.

Velez took a short corner from senior Bianca Raskin and floated it over the outstretched arms of Niceville sophomore goalkeeper Eden Shaw from 30 yards out for the winning tally, her seventh goal of the season.

“Scoring in the state final, and it being the only goal, was insane,” Velez said by phone. “I took the corner from Bianca and sent the ball toward the goal, figuring the goalie would bobble it and someone would tap it in.

“When I realized I scored, I was running around like crazy,” she continued. “I got so hyped up, and it was amazing for me. I can’t stop thinking about it. It was my biggest goal ever and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

The Raiders, ranked sixth in the nation by MaxPreps, closed out the season with seven straight shutouts. Colson came up big in the 64th minute when she came out on a breakaway and saved a shot attempt by Taylor Kerle at the top of the penalty area. It was her 14th shutout of the season.

“I thought she was going to shoot from out far, but then I saw her start to dribble, and I was already out and didn’t hesitate,” Colson said. “I only needed to make two saves, but as a goalkeeper, you always have to be ready. We had no doubt we were going to win.”

Niceville (19-2-1), which entered the game ranked fifth in the country and seeking its first title, saw its 15-game win streak come to an end.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored twice in the opening 32 minutes of the contest and held on for a 2-0 victory over Viera in the 6A semifinal on Monday. Bianca Raskin scored in the 14th minute, and Madison McKeon scored in the 32nd to lift the Raiders.

“This is what you dream about,” said St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Bryan Hantak. “Especially with the heartbreak of losing last year in the championship game. The girls were crying on the bus ride home, and (senior) Lauryn Smith, our center back, stood up and said, ‘We are not going to let this happen again.’ That was awesome to see. This senior class was very close. We pushed so hard, and it was a fun year.”

American Heritage girls soccer team celebrates its fourth straight 4A championship and 14th overall following a 2-0 victory over Bishop Kenny in the state championship game at Spec Martin Stadium in Deland. (American Heritage Athletics/Courtesy) American Heritage blanks Bishop Kenny

American Heritage senior defender Victoria Burns has followed in her mother’s footsteps — literally and figuratively.

Burns won her fourth straight girls state soccer championship on Saturday morning as the nation’s No. 3-ranked Patriots blanked No. 18 Bishop Kenny 2-0 for the 4A title.

Burns and fellow senior defender Zaharia Freeman both helped American Heritage freshman goalkeeper Marlee Mills record her 15th shutout of the season. Freeman also figured in the scoring, and both players leave with four rings.

“This is really cool because my mom (Jennifer Fried) won five state championships at Heritage, and the last one was in 2006,” said Burns, who, like Freeman, were team captains.

American Heritage (18-0-1) applied pressure for most of the first half and was finally rewarded in the 36th minute.

Freeman floated a ball into the box, and it was mishandled by the Bishop Kenny goalkeeper and landed at the feet of sophomore forward Ariana Doles, who deposited it into the goal for her seventh tally of the year and a 1-0 lead.

American Heritage iced the game in the 77th minute when Mae Collins served a corner kick that fellow freshman Julianna Soto headed toward the goal. Bishop Kenny and Cano were unable to clear the ball out of danger, and senior Emma Torres scored for a 2-0 advantage.

“When the clock hit zero, I had a lot of emotions going through my head,” said Freeman, who is signed with Rollins. “It is the most surreal feeling. I got to play my freshman year and win a state championship with my sister, and I thought about this being my last game ever for the school. I cried. I’m not going to lie.”

American Heritage closed out the year riding a 31-game unbeaten string since a 2-1 loss to Cape Coral Mariner in Dec. 2024.

The only blemish on this year’s mark was a season-opening 2-2 tie against the defending 3A state champions Somerset Canyons.

“We manifested it,” said Patriots coach Cindy Marcial, who has won nine of those state championships as the team’s coach. “We graduated eight or nine seniors from last year’s team, and then lost a couple of players who were called up for their (age group) national teams, so we had to adjust. We had to grind more, and this year’s team was very technical, and they were very close.”

American Heritage advanced to the state title game as Torres scored the lone goal, and freshman Marlee Mills needed to make one key save in the second half to lift the Patriots to a 1-0 victory over Bishop Moore in a rematch of last year’s 4A state final.

“We got the free kick, and I saw the gap and kicked it in,” Torres said of her goal. “I am very proud that I was able to score in the state semifinal and how our team just stepped up.”

Cypress Bay falls in final in PKs

Cypress Bay coach Kate Dwyer said this year’s trip to the finals felt different, even though she left DeLand without an elusive state championship. The No. 9 nationally ranked Lightning (21-2) fell to No. 2-ranked Lake Mary, 1-0 (4-3 PKs) in the 7A title game.

Dwyer, who picked up her 350th career win earlier in the year, graduated 12 seniors from last year’s team that fell 2-0 in that title game against Lake Mary, including three D1 college players.

In the game, Cypress Bay junior goalkeeper Alejandra Duran had seven saves, including one on a penalty kick.

“Nobody thought we would get to this point,” said Dwyer, whose team owned a 4-0 win over state champion St. Thomas Aquinas earlier in the year. “After we beat St. Thomas, we knew we had something special. I told the girls to enjoy it. It was probably one of the closest teams we have ever had and one of the most technical. They really looked to play possession, and in the championship game, they just played their hearts out. I am beyond proud of how they did. They followed the game plan perfectly.”

Senior Mackenzie Rector saw to it that Cypress Bay would play for a fifth state title in seven years as she scored three first-half goals as the Lightning topped Newsome 3-2.

“I don’t think I ever scored three goals in a half,” said Rector, who was on the team all four years. “The harder it is, the more gratifying it is when you win. We’ve never been this close. We’ve never been this together. We had great chemistry.”

Jupiter falls in 7A semifinals

Jupiter fell to Lake Mary in the state semifinal as the Rams scored twice right after the halftime break to take a 2-0 lead and coasted to the 5-0 victory.

Jupiter (14-7) was making its second straight trip to the final four and fifth in school history. The Warriors lost in the state final in 1978, and in the semifinals in 1989, 1991 and the past two years. The Warriors graduated nine seniors from last year’s team.

“The loss of Makayla (Greenland) was felt dramatically,” said Jupiter coach Kody Drake, who lost his center defender with a knee injury moments before halftime. “The girls were crying in the locker room, and Lake Mary was very strong and talented. We struggled to regain momentum after halftime, especially with Makayla out. We had some fantastic chances in the first half; we just didn’t put them away.”

GAINESVILLE — On the eve of college basketball’s biggest month, Florida coach Todd Golden’s red-hot Gators looked like a team ready for another deep postseason run.

With a 111-77 win Saturday night against No. 20 Arkansas, the No. 7 Gators ended a flawless February 8-0 and poised for another memorable March — the time when championship teams find their stride.

“Didn’t didn’t lose In February, got to try to not lose in March either,” Golden said.

Florida’s one-sided showing already earned Golden’s squad a title. The win dropped Arkansas (21-8, 11-5 SEC) out of the conference race and left the Gators (23-6, 14-2 SEC) two games ahead of Alabama (22-7, 12-4) with two games to go, ensuring Florida at least a share of the school’s eighth regular-season league title.

To celebrate, Florida players and coaches cut down the nets and donned championship hats and T-shirts. The school unveiled a banner.

But the Gators aren’t satisfied with Mississippi State up next Tuesday night in the O’Connell Center.

“We want the whole thing for ourselves,” small forward Thomas Haugh said.

Florida head coach Todd Golden yells at his team during the No. 7 Gators' 34-point win against No. 20 Arkansas Saturday at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Noah Lantor)

Saturday night’s high-stakes matchup pitting two national championship-winning coaches became a showcase of the Gators’ improved depth, versatility and killer instinct.

“There wasn’t a guy out here they could stop,” Golden said. “We just kept scoring and scoring and scoring.”

Seven Gators scored in double figures for the first time since 2017, including a team-leading 22 points by Haugh, as UF shot a blistering 54.8% from the floor. Center Rueben Chinyelu recorded his 17th double-double, with 12 points and 16 rebounds in 23 minutes as Florida held a 51-31 advantage on the glass. Led by guard Urban Klavzar’s 14 points, the Gators outscored the Razorback reserves 33-23 as coach John Calipari lost for the first time in Gainesville since 2018 while at Kentucky.

“I  think we’re playing as good as anybody in America right now,” Golden said.

During his 33 seasons, including his second in Fayetteville, Calipari has rarely had a team left in the dust like his Razorbacks Saturday night.

The 34-point margin of defeat tied the largest of the 67-year-old Hall of Famer’s career.

“They took it to us,” he said. “Now, I will tell you that certainly doesn’t look like my team, the one I was coaching today. But this happens sometimes.”

Despite six consecutive wins on Florida’s home floor, Calipari has endured some beatings in the O’Dome, including four-double digits defeats in a six-game stretch from 2013-18.

No Calipari loss in Gainesville came close to Saturday night’s as a sellout crowd of 11,076, national TV audience and 16 NBA scouts looked on while the Gators moved to 42-3 at home during the past three seasons.

The Florida Gators pose for a team photo after clinching at least a share of SEC regular- season title by beating Arkansas Saturday in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Noah Lantor)

Arkansas put up fight early on. A jumper by star freshman and SEC-leading scorer Darius Acuff Jr. gave his team a 16-11 lead.

But the Gators answered an 8-0 Razorbacks’ run with a 12-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Klavzar for a 23-16 lead. 

The Gators built a 24-point lead during the first half and never led by fewer than 19 points the rest of the way.

Another Klavzar 3-pointer pushed the Gators’ lead to 30 points for the first time, at 73-43 with 13:22 remaining.

Calipari watched helplessly as the Gators continued to pile on, building the lead as many as 37 points.

“I wish it would have gone faster,” he quipped.

The only drama remaining the rest of the way involved Florida point guard Boogie Fland, who transferred from Arkansas in May. The 6-foot-3 sophomore scored 14 points and had four assists and no turnovers, but left the game with 5:12 remaining after he landed hard on the floor and headed to the locker room with trainers.

The 19-year-old rejoined his team for the postgame celebration. The Gators hope more are to come, with the SEC and NCAA tournaments on the horizon.

An undefeated February and NET ranking of No. 5 has positioned the reigning national champions to again earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.

“We got a lot to still accomplish; this can’t be the best thing that happened to us this year,” Golden said. “We’ve opened up a lot of opportunities for ourselves down the stretch.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

March Madness was in full effect Saturday night.

A near sellout crowd was on hand to show its support for red-hot UCF, which was riding a three-game winning streak that included a road sweep of Utah and No. 19 BYU. Unfortunately, fans went home disappointed as UCF fell short after trailing by as many as 15 points before eventually losing to Bayor, 87-86.

The Knights tied the game at 86 with 25 seconds left, but guard Riley Kugel was called for a foul as Baylor’s Obi Agbim attempted a 3-point shot with 1.3 seconds left. Agbim missed the first free throw, made the second and missed the third, but it bounced away as time expired.

“I just wanted to make sure we had basically a helmet on the helmet, which means everybody had a man, so no one was free and we were going to just guard as hard as we could the guy that was in front of us,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Unfortunately, we picked up the foul and the young man made a free throw and then he ran the clock out by throwing it off the rim.”

“It was a petty foul, but it’s a part of the game. It’s basketball,”  UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell said.

Kugel scored a team-high 26 points in his return to the lineup after missing the past two games with an undisclosed lower leg injury.

UCF (20-8, 9-7 Big 12) had its three-game winning streak snapped with the loss, as the Knights dropped to 13-4 at Addition Financial Arena this season.

Baylor (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) won just its third game in February and the third road contest this season. The Bears are hoping to avoid their worst season since the 2006-07 campaign.

The Knights opened the game with solid defense, holding Baylor to just 33% (3-of-9) shooting from the floor through the first seven minutes.

The Bears snapped out of their early funk, going on a 20-9 run to grab a 32-26 advantage with 7 minutes left in the first half.

During that run, UCF lost center Jeremy Foumena, who rolled his ankle on a missed layup and was helped off the floor and back into the locker room by the training staff. He never returned.

Dawkins didn’t have an update on Foumena’s status following the game.

“I haven’t spoken to the trainer exactly about what’s going on with him, other than he took a tough fall, and we’ll see,” he said.

Foumena’s absence was particularly painful after Stillwell and John Bol picked up two fouls and were forced to ride the bench for the final six minutes of the half. The absence of Stillwell and Bol opened the door for reserve Elijah Hulsewe to see his first significant minutes since the team played Mercer on Dec. 17.

The Knights, however, had no answer for redshirt sophomore guard Cameron Carr, who connected on four early 3-pointers and led the Bayor with 20 points in the first half.

Carr helped fuel the Bears, who went on a 24-12 run over the final six minutes, cruising to a 56-42 halftime advantage.

UCF opened the second half with a 6-0 run to cut the Baylor lead to 56-48, forcing the Bears to take a quick timeout with 17:53 left in the game.

An offensive rebound and bucket by Bol made it an 8-0 run by the Knights and a layup by Jordan Burks made it 10-0, sending the announced crowd of 8,735 into a frenzy.

Baylor didn’t score its first points of the second half until the 15:59 mark.

The Knights would go on a 16-4 run, closing the gap to 60-58 heading into the first media timeout with 13:55.

Bol picked up his third foul with 13:18 left in the game, but Dawkins rolled the dice and left his big man on the court.

“He was doing a lot of good things for us and we missed him in the first half,” Dawkins said of his decision to leave the sophomore on the court. “He did a good job of maybe changing some shots, getting some rebounds that maybe we wouldn’t have gotten with him out of the game.”

Bol finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds, while tying a season high with 5 blocked shots.

Stillwell picked up his third foul less than a minute later and was replaced by Devan Cambridge.

Baylor went on another run to push its lead back to double-digits at 76-65 with 7:27 left.

But UCF wouldn’t go away, chipping away until the BU lead was 80-78 with 4:10 remaining before the final media timeout. But after a Baylor basket, Bol picked up his fourth foul on the next possession and left the game.

UCF tied the game at 84 with 1:03 before an Agbim basket gave Baylor an 86-84 advantage. On the Knights’ next possession, Cambridge tied the game at 86 with 25 seconds left thanks to a pair of free throws. That set up the Bears’ final possession.

Carr led four BU players in double-digits with 26 points, followed by Dan Skillings with 15, Isaac Williams IV with 14 and Agbim with 12.

Burks added 12 points while Stillwell had 11 for UCF. Themus Fulks had 8 points and 10 assists.

UCF wraps up its home schedule by hosting Oklahoma State on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+). The Knights finish the regular season at West Virginia on March 6 (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

By JON GAMBRELL

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after almost 37 years in power raises paramount questions about the country’s future. The contours of a complex succession process began to take shape the morning after Khamenei’s assassination.

Here is what to know:

A temporary leadership council assumes duties

As outlined in its constitution, Iran on Sunday formed a council to assume leadership duties and govern the country.

The council is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are its members who will step in and “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”

A panel of clerics selects a new supreme leader

Though the leadership council will govern in the interim, an 88-member panel called the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible” pick a new supreme leader under Iranian law.

The panel consists entirely of Shiite clerics who are popularly elected every eight years and whose candidacies are approved by the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional watchdog. That body is known for disqualifying candidates in various elections in Iran and the Assembly of Experts is no different. The Guardian Council barred former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate whose administration struck the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from election for the Assembly of Experts in March 2024.

Khamenei’s son could be a possible contender

Clerical deliberations about succession and machinations over it take place far from the public eye, making it hard to gauge who may be a top contender.

Previously, it was thought Khamenei’s protégé, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, may try to take the mantle. However, he was killed in a May 2024 helicopter crash. That has left one of Khamenei’s sons, Mojtaba, a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, as a potential candidate, though he has never held government office. But a father-to-son transfer in the case of a supreme leader could spark anger, not only among Iranians already critical of clerical rule, but also among supporters of the system. Some may see it as un-Islamic and in line with creating a new, religious dynasty after the 1979 collapse of the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s government.

A transition like this has happened only once before

There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of supreme leader of Iran, the paramount decision-maker since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 1989, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died at age 86 after being the figurehead of the revolution and leading Iran through its bloody eight-year war with Iraq. This transition now comes after Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 as well.

The vast powers of a supreme leader

The supreme leader is at the heart of Iran’s complex power-sharing Shiite theocracy and has final say over all matters of state.

He also serves as the commander-in-chief of the country’s military and the powerful Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force that the United States designated a terrorist organization in 2019 and which Khamenei empowered during his rule. The Guard, which has led the self-described “Axis of Resistance,” a series of militant groups and allies across the Middle East meant to counter the U.S. and Israel, also has extensive wealth and holdings in Iran.

CORAL GABLES — Ryan Bilka came in to relieve Rob Evans, who put two runners on in a 4-4 game after a strong outing. Bilka walked the first batter he faced.

Then he struck out Jacob Kendall. He followed that by striking out Kyle Jones. One more out, and he would have escaped the bases-loaded, no-out jam.

Bilka induced a fly ball to center field that Mikey Torres tracked down. He celebrated. Then third-base umpire Travis Carlson sent the Hurricanes back to the field. He called a balk on the play. The inning would continue with the Gators up by a run.

Miami could not get another run, and Florida got insurance runs. The Gators took the three-game series with an 8-4 victory over UM at Mark Light Field on Saturday night. Florida has beaten rival Miami in the last five series they have played and 11 of the last 12 series the teams have played since 2015.

“We had a chance,” UM coach J.D. Arteaga said. “We had a chance till the very end there.”

When speaking to the media after the game, neither Arteaga nor catcher Alex Sosa said how or if the umpires explained the call.

The Hurricanes struck early. After UF allowed an infield single and an error, Miami right fielder Derek Williams hit a three-run home run to left-center field to give UM a quick 3-0 lead.

Miami pitcher Rob Evans had a relatively easy first inning but ran into trouble in the second. Three successive Gators singled to start the inning, loading the bases with no outs. Freshman Sam Miller drove in a run with a single to right field, and junior Kyle Jones drove in two more with a double into the left-field gap. A fourth run came in to score on a wild pitch, and the Hurricanes’ lead was quickly erased.

Evans bounced back from his rough second inning, striking out the next seven batters he faced. Between the second inning and the seventh, he retired 13 consecutive batters. He finished the game with 12 strikeouts.

“That’s what we expected out of him,” Arteaga said. “That’s the guy that we saw throwing against our own guys all spring in intersquad and stuff like that. So I’m not surprised to see what he did with what he did today.”

Miami evened the score at four when center fielder Michael Torres doubled, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly by Daniel Cuvet.

Evans’ night came to an end after he started the seventh inning with a walk and a hit by pitch. Bilka replaced him and nearly escaped the inning without any damage — but then the third-base umpire called the game-deciding balk.

Gators first baseman Ethan Surowiec hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning, giving Florida breathing room to close out the game in the bottom half of the inning.

The Gators and Hurricanes play the final game of the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“Win, loss, baseball’s baseball,” Sosa said. “I love the game. The boys are coming out here. We’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll be back fighting. Every game matters.”

 

FORT LAUDERDALE — Junior guard Caden Daughtry scored 13 of his team-high 21 points in the second quarter to break open a close game as host and defending state champion Calvary Christian throttled St. Andrew’s 88-65 in a 3A boys regional final.

The Eagles (22-1), who defeated the Scots 80-66 on February 7, led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter, and jumped out to a 39-25 halftime cushion thanks to Daughtry’s heroics.

“The amount of work that we put in, I couldn’t let this team down,” Daughtry said. “We just stuck with it. I knew I had to separate the score, and I did. Our team is playing with all of the drive in the world. Right now, we are 22-1, and we’ve come too far to lose.”

The nation’s second-ranked team, according to MaxPreps, is headed back to state for a fifth time. The Eagles have won the previous four times (2017, 2021, 2022, 2025). Calvary will face University School in the final four on March 9 in Jacksonville.

Qualifying for the state championship wasn’t the first thing on Eagles coach Cilk McSweeney’s mind. In the past two seasons, the Eagles haven’t lost to a South Florida team since a 50-48 setback against North Broward Prep in the regional semifinals on Feb. 24,  2024. They’ve won 23 straight against local teams during that span.

“In two years, we haven’t lost to a local team, so to me, that is big-time,” McSweeney said. “We have beaten some nationally ranked teams along the way, but the biggest thing is let’s dominate at home. We dominate at home among our peers and our community. We are about greatness. That’s been our culture.

“Our job is not finished,” he added. “For us, the biggest thing is we have to finish the job. Let’s dominate and get this done. It takes a lot of practice to develop the chemistry, and this is a special group.”

Calvary Christian senior forward Aiden Bolden had six points in the first quarter, including two impressive dunks, and senior guard Jacob Zhu scored six straight points as the Eagles seized a 9-2 advantage and were never threatened. Bolden finished with 17 points, off five dunks. The team finished with 13 dunks in the game.

“Getting those early dunks gets my team going,” Bolden said. “We just wanted to sign the game off early. We tried to come out here and make them not want to play no more.”

Senior wing K.J. Francis and Zhu each finished with 11 points for the Eagles. It also marked the eighth win in a row over the Scots, who finished the season 24-5.

St. Andrew’s senior guard Xander Gerard finished with a game-high 25 points, all in the second half when the game was already decided. He was the lone player to hit double figures for his team.

“The things we tried to do were eliminate turnovers, get back on defense, and make sure their guys didn’t leak out and score easy baskets,” said St. Andrew’s coach John O’Connell. “(Calvary) is an exceptional team, and you have to play perfectly to beat them. We didn’t do that today.”

Regional finals

Saturday

7A

1. Miami Columbus def. 3. Coral Glades 76-58

6A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas def. 3. Miramar 74-43

5A

1. Pembroke Pines Charter def. 2. Belen Jesuit 75-51

4A

1. Suncoast def. 2. Stranahan 55-50 OT

3A

1. Calvary Christian def. 3. St. Andrew’s 88-65

2. University School def. 1. Cardinal Gibbons 74-63

2A

1. Santa Fe Catholic def. 3. Benjamin 50-36

1A

1. Sagemont Prep def. 2. Dade Christian 76-34

General Daily Insight for March 01, 2026

The process of healing can genuinely make us stronger. While the Moon trines vigilant Chiron at 9:08 pm EST, we’ll probably find it easier to share and repair feelings with care. Everyone’s hearts are closer to the surface than usual, so being tolerant of one another’s idiosyncrasies could be necessary to avoid strife. Spending time with a younger generation or expressing our inner child would be a good way to shake off any remaining tension. Our friends deserve the effort it takes to be considerate.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Creative sparks crave room to play. The nurturing Moon comforts therapeutic Chiron, brightening your 5th House of Amusement — this is your moment to attempt a new way of expressing yourself without judging yourself. You could show a draft to a friend, but be sure to specify whether you want moral support or critical advice. With Chiron in your sign, poking your sore spots, some effort may be required to keep the tone light-hearted. Let play lead you toward realistic, honest confidence.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your home should be a soft place to land after a long day. The 4th house, which rules your private domain, is empowered alongside your equally private 12th house by today’s Moon-Chiron trine. This is your cosmic permission to stay at home and take a nap! If you can’t sit still, do your best to stick with home-based activities. You could tidy up any disorganized corners or invite others over for a chill get-together. Engaging in calm routines helps your home feel safe.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Certain current messages demand extra composure when communicated. The moody Moon and wary Chiron trine across your talkative 3rd house and your convivial 11th house, guiding your explanations of complex issues. You might ask a trusted co-worker what they heard, then listen for the feeling under their words to find the path forward. Support from your 11th house helps you translate ideas for a group, even if the chat grows heated, without losing your playful tone. As you speak, let optimistic curiosity guide each reply.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

When comfort meets courage, tenderness becomes strength. The temperamental Moon hugs vulnerable Chiron, steadying your 2nd House of Resources and your 10th House of Control. Budgeting takes a lot of mental effort, and that should be respected. You could be analyzing your own resources or managing the accounts for a professional project. If you need to ask for more funding, the stars are here to lend you the confidence necessary for that process. Value your time and request fair terms for your work!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your presence changes the room without trying. Ideas around identity take the spotlight as the Moon in your sign harmonizes with Chiron in your expansive 9th house, encouraging you to express who you are without pretense. Chiron, from your 9th house’s magnified perspective, offers a wider point of view that makes present events less intimidating. You may introduce yourself first or speak up online when discussing something controversial. Wherever you’re at, use a confident tone — even if you don’t quite feel it just yet.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

This evening favors reflection and release. Closure finally feels possible as Luna in your pensive 12th house cooperates with tender Chiron in your 8th House of Delicate Topics. Processing your feelings isn’t easy, but it is possible. Doing so will put you in a better place for any upcoming or ongoing tough discussions with the people who matter most to you. They can also benefit from this, as your self-actualization makes it easier for everyone to share. Give yourself grace, and keep the pace gentle.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Libra, friends notice and appreciate your honesty. The Moon supports vigilant Chiron, warming your 11th House of Networks and helping you name what your current team — official or not — needs without tipping into blame. Set reachable expectations from the get-go, and seek a manageable pace so that everyone can contribute happily. Support from Chiron in your partner zone means people important to you can meet you in the middle, even if past missteps made things tense. Ask and offer in equal measure.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Results build as focus meets steady effort. Professional credibility grows under a harmonious Moon-Chiron trine, helping you show leadership through thoughtful action. You might propose a clear timeline to a supervisor — or you might BE that supervisor for someone else! Either way, you’re keeping your eyes on the prize. Steady backing from Luna in your authority sector and Chiron in your wellness zone turns small habits into credibility, especially when you show up consistently. Channel hypothetical intensity into movement that others can see.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Take a step back and acknowledge the big picture as soon as you can. The Moon is uplifting sore Chiron through a healing trine. This, in turn, encourages you to soothe your worries — potentially by exploring them through creative initiatives. Something you read recently could be the source of amazing inspiration. If current events or personal issues are dragging you down, put them in the context of history (yours or the world’s). They may not be as bad as they feel in the moment!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

When trust deepens, shared spaces feel safer. This is possible under the unified trine between the Moon in your 8th House of Intimacy and Chiron in your 4th House of Comfort. Scary discussions are still intimidating when you’re having them with people you love. After all, it’s impossible to only ever love reasonable individuals — no matter how much you might want to. Fortunately, today, Luna and Chiron are supporting your efforts to review boundaries, discuss shared bills, and generally keep the focus on fairness.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

This afternoon invites listening before speaking. Sore-spot Chiron is balanced out by a trine from the caring Moon, which supports your efforts regarding communication with your loved ones. This is a great moment to check in with anyone you haven’t spoken to in some time, even if you didn’t leave off on the best note last time you interacted. Whatever the shape of your connections, listening first helps both sides grasp the heart of the matter. Choose speech that respects every voice involved.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Pisces, small habits shape a kinder rhythm. Any Chiron-based soreness is softened by Luna’s embrace, allowing their trine to bolster your sensible 6th house and your materialistic 2nd house. Making small adjustments can bring real relief right when you need it. Try a slower pace for the first hour, and notice how patience steadies your focus and keeps distractions from running the show. Better habits help you respect your time on busy days. Do your best to start a routine that makes work feel kinder.

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday’s 115-105 victory over the Houston Rockets:

– Yes, finally some extended side-by-side again for the Heat with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.

– A reminder that big sometimes can be better.

– So a double-double for Adebayo.

– And one for Ware.

– The interesting part is almost always being in a zone with Ware in the game.

– The trust with individual defense is not there.

– With questions about such ability.

– In the first half, there was quality time together.

– In the second half, initially it was more either/or.

– And then, both there for the finish.

– By design.

– In this one, it was as if coach Erik Spoelstra said enough when it came to being beaten on the boards.

– And that certainly is one area where Ware has more than held his own.

– With Norman Powell out, more opportunity to turn to something bigger.

– With trust this time even in the fourth quarter.

– Having reached the point where it’s almost surprising to see games like this, with Ware with more than 20 minutes.

– Indeed, the rare box score when Adebayo plays 35:00 and Ware 28:35.

– With Powell (groin) out, Tyler Herro opened alongside Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.

– That lineup entered 0-2.

– Herro then was called for a double-technical foul along with Kevin Durant, as the two jawed after a timeout.

–The Rockets opened with a lineup of Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün.

– Ware was first off the Heat bench.

– Promptly converting his 101st 3-pointer of his career.

–  Jaime Jaquez Jr. followed.

– And then Kasparas Jakucionus.

– With Simone Fontecchio remaining in the rotation for nine deep.

–  Adebayo then played alongside Ware, even with Adebayo called for his second foul with 2:24 left in the opening period.

– By the end of the opening period, the Heat were 10 deep, with Dru Smith entering.

Related Articles

• Heat power past Powell absence with 115-105 statement victory over Rockets
• Ira Winderman: USA hockey gold further motivates Spoelstra eye on Olympic prize
• ASK IRA: Have Heat reached Tyler Herro-or-bust?
• Heat’s Norman Powell out with Grade 1 groin strain, listed as week-to-week
• Adebayo with angst and anger over state of Heat: ‘We’re better than being in the play-in’

– The rotation tightened in the second half, with no Fontecchio and limited Jakucionis.

– Spoelstra said it can’t just be Herro in Powell’s absence..

– “We have enough guys to put points on the board and guys have had those opportunities throughout this course of the season to prove that they can step up,” he said.

– Spoelstra, who will be Team USA Olympic coach at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, was asked about the Rockets’ Durant saying that even at 40 he hopes to be part of that mix.

– “That’s the culture of USA Basketball, you just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, ‘I want to do this,’ ” Spoelstra said. “And you can feel his passion for representing the country and the USA on the jersey. He’s been incredible in those competitions.”

– The game opened the two-game season series that concludes March 21 in Houston.

– That made the Rockets the final team for the Heat to face the first time this season.

– The Heat already have concluded their season series with 14 other teams: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, LA Clippers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and Utah.

MIAMI — This time the Miami Heat got closing time right.

After blown fourth-quarter leads in the previous two games, road losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, Erik Spoelstra’s team this time held its ground in a 115-105 victory Saturday over the Houston Rockets at Kaseya Center.

Unable to score at the close in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Heat got solid closing play from Pelle Larsson to record one of their more impressive victories of the season.

“We’ve been dropping these games and our recent losses by not at all providing any resistance,” Spoelstra said, “and so there’s been these massive runs,  opponents have been going on, and that just puts so much pressure on your offense. Tonight we held them to 22 in the fourth, and then we don’t see it as a coincidence, all of a sudden guys start making plays on the other end.”

The game was the first of at least four for the Heat without All-Star guard Norman Powell, who on Friday was diagnosed with a strained right groin that has him listed as week-to-week.

In addition, the Heat lost forward Andrew Wiggins for an extended span in the second half for eight stitches inside his mouth, after taking an elbow to the face during an offensive foul by Rockets center Alperen Şengün. Wiggins returned with 9:28 to play.

The Heat got 24 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, 13 points and 15 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, 20 points from Larsson  and 18 from Tyler Herro. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 32 points.

“It’s how do we build off of this type of game, where it was in the clutch,” Adebayo said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat led 32-28 after the end of the first period, after overcoming an early 10-point Rockets lead.

The Heat then went up 13 in the second period before Houston closed the half with a 52-51 lead.

In the third, there then was an early eight-point Heat lead, but the advantage was reduced to 85-83 entering the fourth.

The Heat again went up eight, taking a 100-92 lead with 6:10 to play on a Larsson 3-pointer. But with the Rockets then closing within three, Wiggins gave the Heat some wiggle room with a 3-point play with 2:24 to play for an eight-point advantage.

“Pelle was terrific in that fourth quarter,” Spoelstra said.

Larsson said it was about being attack-minded.

“We just got straight to it, to the paint,” he said.

2. Herro from start: With Powell sidelined, Herro made his first start since Jan. 15 and his 12th of his abbreviated season, in an opening lineup rounded out by Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson.

That lineup entered 0-2.

“Tyler, for sure is a guy who’s already starting to get in that rhythm,” Spoelstra said pregame, “we need it.”

The game was the fifth back for Herro after missing the previous 15 with a rib injury. He closed 8 of 12 from the field.

No issue with the limited shot total, Herro said.

“We slowed the ball up a little bit and in the last three minutes got the ball in good spots for Pelle, for Bam, which they had advantages, and we were able to exploit them a little bit,” Herro said.

Related Articles

• Winderman’s view: Heat’s Adebayo, Ware double up in win as productive, positive pairing
• Ira Winderman: USA hockey gold further motivates Spoelstra eye on Olympic prize
• ASK IRA: Have Heat reached Tyler Herro-or-bust?
• Heat’s Norman Powell out with Grade 1 groin strain, listed as week-to-week
• Adebayo with angst and anger over state of Heat: ‘We’re better than being in the play-in’

3. As for Norm: Powell’s groin strain has him listed as week to week, with Spoelstra essentially confirming pregame that Powell also will miss at least the next three games.

“I feel for Norm because he wants to be out there for all the games, especially these moments, you know, right now,” Spoelstra said, “But we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week.”

Spoelstra did not hide from the sobering reality.

“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” he said of his All-Star guard, “I mean, he’s proven this year that he’s an explosive scorer in our system. But we have other guys who can step up.”

4. Adebayo/Ware: Largely reluctant lately to play big men Adebayo and Ware together, Spoelstra did just that from the end of the first period into the second, even after Adebayo picked up his second foul.

The initial pairing ended when Adebayo checked out with 8:33 left in the second period, with the Heat up 41-28, the Heat outscoring the Rockets by 16 during that stint. But as soon as Adebayo checked out, the Rockets went on a 7-0 run.

The two again were on the court late in the third period, but that time only for 90 seconds, with the Heat outscored by three. But when Adebayo returned in the fourth, it again was alongside Ware for closing time.

“We leaned into it for sure,” Spoelstra said of the pairing. “Both of those guys were really good in our zone. Kel’el, that was one of his better jobs in the zone, just communicating and protecting.”

Adebayo and Ware had played just 40 seconds together in Thursday night’s road loss to the 76ers and two minutes together in Tuesday night’s road loss to the Bucks.

“It felt good,” Ware said of getting back to the pairing. “It felt like the days when I’ve  played alongside him recently. So, I mean, it felt good.”

5. The Bam boost: For his part, Adebayo for a third consecutive game converted multiple 3-pointers, largely having his way against the defense of the Rockets’ Şengün.

Adebayo was coming off a 29-point, 14-rebound performance in Thursday night’s loss to the 76ers.

Adebayo reached his 24th double-double of the season with 4:40 left in the third period.

He closed 9 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.