<\/p>\n
Andre Fernandez<\/p>\n
afernandez@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE<\/p>\n
After making big strides over the past five years, Miami Country Day took a major step toward finally winning the school\u2019s first state championship in boys\u2019 basketball this season.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why it hurt the Spartans – especially their seniors – so much more to come up painfully short right at the finish line on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Despite going toe-to-toe with their opponent for three quarters, Miami Country Day was unable to clear the final hurdle and suffered a deflating, 51-43 loss to Jacksonville Providence in the Class 2A state championship game at the UNF Arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good game and they had a good game plan and they executed it,\u201d Miami Country Day coach Ralph Mata said. \u201cWe just fell short.\u201d<\/p>\n
In what was a breakthrough season, the Spartans (24-8) were playing in their first ever state final after making their second ever appearance at the state final four and first since 2021.<\/p>\n
Miami Country Day dethroned three-time reigning state champion Riviera Prep to make it to state and then beat Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic in the semifinals on Friday.<\/p>\n
But despite 20 points from junior Miguel Orbe and 11 points from senior Fernando Romero, the Stallions (29-3) pulled away late in the fourth quarter to secure their first state title since 2015 and fourth overall.<\/p>\n
The Spartans were looking to pull off the rare boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 state championship wins in the same season just a few hours after their girls\u2019 team secured their 11th state title and fourth in a row.<\/p>\n
Miami Country Day\u2019s Miguel Orbe drives to the basket during Saturday\u2019s Class 2A state championship game against Jacksonville Providence at the UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. Andre Fernandez afernandez@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Miami Country Day would have joined an exclusive group of seven schools in state history, which have pulled off the feat all-time, including three from Miami-Dade County (Miami High, Monsignor Pace, Northwest Christian).<\/p>\n
The pain was visible as multiple Spartans players pulled their jerseys over their heads and let the tears flow after the game while being consoled by teammates and family.<\/p>\n
One of them was junior small forward Jordan Corbitt, who won a state title at Blanche Ely last season, before transferring to Country Day. Corbitt grabbed nine rebounds, but struggled uncharacteristically on the offensive end on Saturday. Corbitt was held scoreless after going 0-for-10 from the field including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of things didn\u2019t go his way early,\u201d Mata said. \u201cBut he\u2019s a stud. He\u2019s a high major basketball player and he\u2019ll bounce back from this.\u201d<\/p>\n
In what felt like a true road game with most of the crowd composed of Providence fans, the Spartans got off to a strong start and dueled Providence to an 11-all stalemate after one quarter and a 24-all stalemate by halftime.<\/p>\n
The third quarter was also mostly even as Orbe and Romero each hit key three-pointers to keep it a one-score game.<\/p>\n
But a 9-2 run to open the fourth quarter by the Stallions helped them begin to pull away for good.<\/p>\n
The silver lining for the Spartans is that this season could just be another step on the road to sustained success.<\/p>\n
Miami Country Day graduates only three seniors from this year\u2019s group and returns key players such as Orbe and Corbitt next season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur culture has changed completely and I\u2019m proud of these boys,\u201d Mata said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a tough loss. The boys made history. We\u2019ll be here again next year.\u201d<\/p>\n