During the last two basketball seasons, the King’s Academy girls varsity basketball team, under the leadership of head coach Chris Race, have had outstanding seasons. In both seasons, TKA reached the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state final four in Lakeland.
Unfortunately, in both years, the Lions lost in the state semifinals to the same school — Sarasota’s Cardinal Mooney. In February 2022, Cardinal Mooney won, 50-42. And in February 2023, Cardinal Mooney prevailed again, 52-39.
According to Race, now in his fifth year as the head coach, the goal of this year’s team is to return to the state tournament in Lakeland for another attempt to bring home the championship.
Last summer, Race looked at his potential roster for the upcoming season and was confident that this year’s team may well be his most talented squad yet. But then the injury bug started impacting the roster.
Still, he’s delighted with the progress and growth of the team in its current form. The team’s depth has been an invaluable asset. He’s also proud of each player’s willingness to play different positions due to other teammates being injured, sick or in foul trouble.
“We have a great group of kids this season,” Race said. “They have been working hard since last summer to be ready for this season. I try to teach the girls to play all five spots [on the court], so that if anyone is out, they can step in without having to change what we do too much.”
Two players who have a personal interest in returning to Lakeland are a pair of returners from the last two teams, fellow juniors Jade Jones and Sophia Kateris. Both girls are leading by example. Jones is averaging 15 points per game, and Kateris is averaging 10 points per contest. They are TKA’s two leading scorers on this year’s squad. Jones is also averaging 10 rebounds a game and grabbing an average of three steals a game.
Very few high school basketball players are averaging double-digits in points and rebounds, but Jones is the exception.
“Jade has been playing pretty well this year and has been consistent,” Race added. “She is certainly one of the top players in the area.”
Fortunately, Jones has a strong supporting cast on this year’s squad.
“Sophia Kateris and Brielle George also have also played big minutes and been major contributors every game,” Race said. “Madelyn Buccilli has stepped into the starting lineup with Julia Vazquez’s injury and really shot the ball well and made some big plays for us.”
When Race finalized his team’s schedule, he intentionally did not book many easy games.
“This has been, by far, our toughest schedule that we have played,” said Race, whose team has a current record of 13-8. “I really wanted to challenge the girls by playing lots of tough games at neutral sites and away to prepare for the playoffs.”
In keeping with a schedule of “heavyweight” opponents, TKA’s next game will be on Tuesday, Jan. 30 against Doral Academy, which is a Class 7A squad.
But, of course, when he created the current schedule, he didn’t expect his squad to be so severely impacted by injuries.
“We have had so many injuries and kids out with sickness that it’s hard to build continuity with the lineups changing so much week to week,” Race said.
Despite these setbacks, Race is optimistic that his team will heal and reach its goal of getting to Lakeland, again.
“I really feel like we can make another run to Lakeland,” he said. “I think when we are playing well, we can compete with any team in Class 3A.”
Right now, TKA leads the regular season pack in the Class 3A, District 8 standings, which bodes well for TKA’s post-season chances. The winner of the district tournament in early February will receive an automatic bid into the FHSAA’s Class 3A state tournament field.
