FHSAA 6A girls basketball semifinals: St. Thomas Aquinas and Wekiva will face off again for state championship

St. Thomas Aquinas is back in the state championship game for the second time in the last three years

LAKELAND, Fla. - The 2022 Florida high school girls basketball state tournament continued Thursday with the Class 6A semifinals at RP Funding Center.

Here's a recap:

Class 6A semifinal No. 1: St. Thomas Aquinas 63, Nease 45

St. Thomas Aquinas is back in the 6A Florida high school girls basketball state championship game for the second time in the last three years. 

The Lady Raiders forced a season-high 39 turnovers in their win over Nease in the 6A semifinals. 

“Our hands were active, and we were jumping the passing lanes all game,” said St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Oliver Berens.

Nease senior guard and Florida Southern signee Sydney Gomes unfortunately had to leave the game early in the second quarter with a shin injury and did not return.

The Lady Raiders were led by junior guard Karina Gordon who finished with a game-high 19 points. Jada Green added 14 points and five steals.

The Lady Panthers were led by junior guard Camryn Robinson who finished with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and four rebounds. Allison Fifield added 13 points and 9 rebounds.

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Class 6A semifinal No. 2: Wekiva 57, Bloomingdale 29

Wekiva controlled the game from the opening tip and earned a rematch with St. Thomas Aquinas who beat them 62-60 in last year's 6A state championship game.

“They left a bad taste in our mouths after that one last year and we want to get them back,” said Wekiva head coach Tommie Butts.

After taking an 18-10 first-quarter lead, the Lady Mustangs never looked back.

The win marks the fourth consecutive year Wekiva has reached the state championship game. They won a state title in 2019 and finished second in 2020 and 2021.

Sophomore guard Jada Eads led Wekiva with 21 points, including 15 in the first half. Senior forward Rylan Moffitt added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Wekiva and St. Thomas Aquinas will play for the 6A state championship on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET.