Girls Player of the Year: F Faith Woodard, Sr. Freedom They would spend hours in the quiet of the Bloomingdale High gymnasium, Erica Woodard and her younger, smaller and precociously ambitious shadow. “Faith was my little Mini-Me,” Erica explained. As Erica went through her workouts, stopping every now and ...
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Sat. March 30, 2013 at 3:34 p.m. | Joel Anderson
Boys player of the Year F Erik Thomas, Sr., Wesley Chapel Why we picked him: Thomas compiled one of the most prolific seasons and careers in North Suncoast history. He ranked among the nation’s leaders by averaging 33 points and 16 rebounds while earning all-state honors from the Florida Athletic ...
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Sat. March 23, 2013 at 5:40 p.m. | Matt Baker
Although the basketball season continues over the next few days with boys state championships in Lakeland, the North Suncoast’s year is already over. We’ll announce our all-area honors next month. In the meantime, here’s a look back at some of the other notable players, teams and moments from the 2012-13 ...
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Tue. Feb. 26, 2013 at 2:59 p.m. | Matt Baker
NEW PORT RICHEY — It was an inspired group of Pasco Pirates, none more so than Allahon Marbra. Pasco’s lone defeat came to Gulf in the district final, and Marbra took the blame. Now she can take credit for getting her team past Gulf, and one step from a final ...
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Tue. Feb. 12, 2013 at 11:23 p.m. | Darek Sharp
Girls basketball region semifinal Class 5A: Pasco (22-1) at Gulf (20-6), 7 Tuesday Winner gets: St. Johns Bartram Trail/Gainesville Eastside in Saturday’s region final Skinny: Gulf figured it would start slowly after losing its coach and two top guards. Clare Ennis’ team began 4-3 before settling into a rhythm later ...
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Mon. Feb. 11, 2013 at 4:45 p.m. | Matt Baker
TRINITY — Hannah Kriston’s scorching first half wasn’t enough to save Mitchell’s stone-cold final two quarters. Kriston scored all 19 of the Mustangs’ first-half points before Lakeland Kathleen’s defense clamped down in the second half to hand Mitchell a 55-24 loss in Thursday’s Class 6A region quarterfinal. The defeat ended ...
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Thu. Feb. 07, 2013 at 9:51 p.m. | Matt Baker
HUDSON — If any questions lingered about how Gulf handled a series of offseason transfers and a coaching change, they disappeared Saturday night. The Bucs dominated top-seeded Pasco in the Class 5A, District 6 final, cruising to a 45-34 victory that gave Gulf its fourth consecutive district championship and ruined ...
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Sat. Feb. 02, 2013 at 9:55 p.m. | Matt Baker
TRINITY — Mitchell secured a district title for the first time since 2007 on Friday night after a gritty defensive effort saw it ease past River Ridge 44-31. The Mustangs struggled offensively throughout much of the game, but pressured the Royal Knights enough to ensure that shooting woes troubled both ...
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Fri. Feb. 01, 2013 at 8:27 p.m. | David Rice
Each week, our HomeTeam staffers will nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover. These nominations span Saturday, Jan. 19 through Friday, Jan. 25. Winners get a free T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on what made ...
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Sat. Jan. 26, 2013 at 11:35 a.m. | Times Staff
The reigning North Suncoast girls basketball player of the year put on one of the top performances of the season Thursday night. Gulf’s Kayla Kivinski exploded for 49 points and recorded a triple double to lead her team to a 68-58 overtime victory over Wiregrass Ranch. The junior guard’s point ...
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Thu. Jan. 24, 2013 at 10:04 p.m. | Matt Baker
Records through Wednesday Boys 1. Nature Coast (18-3): An eight-game win streak — including two quality wins over Hernando and a two-point escape against Eustis — have Rohan Blackwood and the Sharks back at No. 1. 2. Wesley Chapel (18-4): Erik Thomas and the Wildcats bounced back from a tough ...
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Thu. Jan. 24, 2013 at 1:06 p.m. | Matt Baker
NEW PORT RICHEY — Pasco prefers an up-tempo style, but that wasn’t happening Tuesday. In a matchup of the top public school teams in the county, Gulf slowed the pace as much as possible. But it was not nearly enough to disrupt the Pirates’ bid for an undefeated regular season ...
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Tue. Jan. 22, 2013 at 9:53 p.m. | Darek Sharp
Records through Wednesday Girls 1. Pasco (14-0): Brianca Roberts and the Pirates keep cruising. Pasco has won all but one of its games by double figures. 2. Academy at the Lakes (16-2): The Wildcats are no longer perfect, but Tatiana Manuel, Andrea Mauger and the rest of AATL have no ...
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Thu. Jan. 17, 2013 at 6:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
Records through Thursday Girls 1. Pasco (12-0): The speedy Pirates keep finding ways to win — like Thursday’s buzzer beater over River Ridge. Brianca Roberts, Allahon Marbra and Ashley Webster remain three of the county’s top juniors. 2. Academy at the Lakes (16-0): Consider the Wildcats 1A. Their only flaw ...
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Fri. Jan. 11, 2013 at 2:43 p.m. | Matt Baker
Each week, our HomeTeam staffers will nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover. These nominations span Saturday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Jan. 4. The winners get a free T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on what ...
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Sat. Jan. 05, 2013 at 8:51 p.m. | Times Staff