Faith Christian wins first girls basketball state title

Holland Harris led the Lions with a team-high 15 points and 12 rebounds en route to the program's first state title

LAKELAND, FLORIDA – A weird start to the season finished with a magical ending.

Orlando Faith Christian won its first girls basketball state championship in program history taking down Hialeah Horeb Christian, 53-37, on Friday at the FHSAA state championships in the RP Funding Center.

Faith Christian (16-11) was making its second consecutive trip to the state tournament – and second overall – losing in the state championship game last year to Miami Christian 66-59. But Faith did not return its girls coach when the season started.

Faith Christian sophomore Kylee Kitts wheels a baseline pass under the basket against Horeb Christian during the Class 2A state championship game on Friday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland / Photo by Bill Kemp

Andy Sarasty, who is also the boys coach at Faith, was catapulted into the girls position just days before the season started, forcing him to juggle two coaching positions through the season.

“I was on the bench just as an AD and saw what happened (in the state title game last year),” said Sarasty, who also coached the Lake Howell girls to the state championship in 2009.

“I had some previous experience and knew what to expect.The schedule was already made so we made it work. I had to coach six games a week sometimes, but we made it work.”

Faith was led by a pair of sophomores, post player Kylee Kitts with 10 point and 10 rebounds and guard Holland Harris with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Both were first-year players on the team.

Faith Christian senior guard Leah Rivera brings the ball up the floor against Horeb Christian during the Class 2A state championship game on Friday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland / Photo by Bill Kemp

“There were a lot of ups and downs in our season, but we got it,” Harris said.

Both players and Sarasty acknowledged they don’t know if they will be back with the team next season.

“We are in the process of hiring a new AD right now, and once he comes in and they have conversations on which they want to go and where they want me (we'll know what to do). I stepped in because I wanted to help. I have wanted to be a coach since I was 17,” said Sarasty, who played college basketball at Webber International.

The Lions led 2-0 before the opening tipoff, getting to shoot two free throws after a technical was called on a Horeb player for hanging on the net during warmups after shooting a layup.

From there, Faith took a 12-9 first quarter lead and eventually built it to 23-16 by the half.

Horeb (19-5), making its first trip to the state tournament, was led by junior guards Keysi Aybar with 14 points and 16 rebounds and Emely Rodrigiuez with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Horeb Christian senior guard Brenjalimar Colon-Soto looks for an open player after bringing the ball up court against Faith Christian during the Class 2A state championship game on Friday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland / Photo by Bill Kemp

“At the end of the day you have to give respect to Faith Christian. They have been here before,” Horeb coach Agustin Pelaez said. “I hope we can take the same pain and experience they had last year and be in their shoes next year.”

Faith reached the final after knocking off Orange Park St. Johns Country Day, 77-65, in the semifinals. Horeb reached the championship game by beating Fort Myers Evangelical Christian, 66-58, in the semifinals.