LAKELAND, Fla. — Izellah Kendrick and her Bloomingdale High School teammates had been here before.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Bloomingdale Bulls won the school's first girls basketball state championship.

  •  The Bulls defeated Miami Southridge, 43-41, in the title game.

  •  6-foot, 1-inch center Izellah "Z" Kendrick led the Bulls with 15 points, while helping hold Southridge's 6-foot, 3-inch center to just 2 points.

The Bulls advanced to the Class 6A state championship game last season, but lost. Z, as her friends and family call her, made sure there was a different outcome this time.

“It was the most motivating thing all season,” Z said. “I worked so hard for this because I didn’t want to lose again.”

And she didn’t. This Bloomingdale team made history, winning the school’s first girls basketball state title with a 43-41 victory over Miami Southridge.

“We battled. Our defense kept us in it,” Bloomingdale head coach Joel Bower said. “And we have great leadership. I’m just so proud of these kids who have been through a lot.”

Z played a big role in the win with one of the key matchups. The Bulls 6-foot-1 center took on Southridge’s 6-foot-3 center and got the better of her. Z held her to only two points, while putting up 15.

“Z gets up for big games,” Z said. “She’s made for these moments. I’m so proud of her.”

There were some tense moments near the end of the game when Southridge threatened to tie it up. But Bloomingdale held on. And as the final seconds ticked away, Z thought of only one thing.

“We did it. We finally did it,” Z said. “I was so super happy. What they gonna say now?”