Girls Basketball: Sandalwood Over Powering Opponents In Early Season Matchups

Sandalwood H.S- With sophomore phenom Caitlin McGee sidelined with an injury, Sandalwood and guard Amari Wright won their seventh straight game defeating previously undefeated (6-1) Lee 53-13 Tuesday night. The Saints improved to 7-0 on the season, and are ranked #1 in the Florida Class 9A Maxpreps Girls Basketball poll. Sandalwood plays with great cohesion and team work, as players like #5 Maria Torres sets up the offense. She is truly the team’s floor general, and against the Generals she scored 9 points and was second in scoring for the Saints. Shooting guard #12 Auriya Stewart has been one of the Saint’s best shooters and defenders this year. Her suffocating defense along with #21 guard Lauren Alvarez kept the pressure on Lee, forcing them into costly turnovers. By halftime, Sandalwood had built a 29-9 lead, holding the Lady Generals to their lowest first half total this season. Sandalwood’s bench would finish the game with a running clock in the fourth period to gain a decisive advantage in the Gateway Conference.

Playing without McGee allows Sandalwood to tap into their potential in other areas. Head Coach Pat Clark understands how important that is. “You don’t replace a player like Caitlin McGee with just one person, you have to replace her collectively with a team effort” said Clark.

McGee leads the Saints, averaging 17.0 ppg and dominates on the boards and on defense. Coach Clark also understands that there can be a benefit in playing without his best player early in the season. “Playing without her causes everybody to step it up a notch, do the little things to make up for what she brings to the table. I’m really encouraged and proud of our team for being able to take it as a challenge and not make it as a crutch or excuse. And we’ve stepped up, had some good key wins without her, and we’re just wishing her the best as she recovers to get ready to come back with us”.  The team has come together to play sound fundamental basketball in her absence. One of the main reasons for the maintained production is sophomore guard Amari Wright. Wright has shown her ability to take over a game, and the team responds to her lead. Her tenacity allows the Saints to pressure opponents into mistakes, to gain a decisive advantage.  One of their signature wins on the season was against Ribault, defeating the Lady Trojans 55-47. The Saints dealt the Trojans their first gateway conference loss in seven years.

Big W for Sandalwood. This is first loss for Ribault girls basketball team to a Gateway Conference program since Jan. 21, 2010 (a 61-53 defeat to Jackson). That's a lot of success for Trojans (and torment for area schools). https://t.co/CWYctZeVCx

— Justin Barney (@JustinBarneyTV) December 2, 2017

The saints have secured other signature wins in the first half of the season. They downed Nease 66-56, and gained a big win against power house Tampa Catholic 63-58. Caitln McGee led Sandalwood with 22 points in the impressive victory over Tampa. It’s the type of win against a top ranked opponent to which Sandalwood has proven they can achieve when at full strength. Against Lee, they also showed that they could dominate a good team even without their best player. As the Saints navigate the season, teams will look out for this dangerous squad who have become a dominating force in girls basketball in our area this season.

Sandalwood Girls Basketball Schedule 

MaxPreps