DUNEDIN In three years of crushing heads, Dunedin’s Brenton Allen has followed a remarkably ascendent career path. • Since becoming a starting middle linebacker, he has developed into the Falcons’ most important defensive presence, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound bruiser with the tiptoe finesse of a ballerina. Allen can stop the run ...
Read more
Tue. May 21, 2013 at 8:10 p.m. | Times Staff
The Lakewood track trio of Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin and Tim Holmes added Gibbs’ Trayvon Bromell to form an all-star 4x100-meter relay at the Golden South meet. The foursome ran past an impressive field to win the event in 40.29 seconds, the fastest time in the nation this year. Bromell ...
Read more
Sat. May 18, 2013 at 9:29 p.m. | Bob Putnam
TAMPA — While big names like East Lake’s Mason Cole, Lakewood’s Isaiah Wynn and St. Petersburg Catholic’s Reilly Gibbons head up a class of offensive linemen that might be Tampa Bay’s best ever, the river of talent across the line of scrimmage this year is a deep one, running from ...
Read more
Sat. May 11, 2013 at 3:11 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Gibbs had some defections in the offseason, most notably safety Albert Laskett and quarterback Patric Jones. But during the first full week of spring practices, new coach Rick Kravitz said more than 50 players have participated. Track athletes Jacquez President and Maurice Hall have joined the team after last week’s ...
Read more
Thu. May 09, 2013 at 10:06 p.m. | Times Staff
Lakewood point guard Alexis Ungro has committed to Miami Dade College, according to Spartans coach Necole Tunsil. Ungro transferred to Lakewood from Boca Ciega as a junior and has been a two-year starter for the Spartans. She averaged 11 points and six assists as a senior and helped lead Lakewood ...
Read more
Wed. May 08, 2013 at 10:00 p.m. | Rodney Page
HomeTeam Hot Shots A spotlight on the Times’ bay area players of the week. Female Hot Shot: Chaise Cook-Martin, Sr., Boca Ciega Sport: Track Skinny: For three years, Cook-Martin waited to claim gold in the triple jump, her signature event. After clearing 38 feet, 4 inches in Friday’s Class ...
Read more
Mon. May 06, 2013 at 6:21 p.m. | Times Staff
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches released its 2013 all-state teams for Classes A-8A. Several players from the Tampa Bay area are on this year’s team. Here is a breakdown: Class 3A Tesha Hanson, Sr., Seffner Christian Peyton Walker, So., Seffner Christian Carley Plentovich, Fr., Calvary Christian Savannah Plentovich, Fr., ...
Read more
Fri. May 03, 2013 at 11:52 a.m. | Rodney Page
EAST LAKE — East Lake’s Troy Strominger had seen curveballs and off-speed pitches all night, and hadn’t fared too well against them, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. But the last one he saw? He liked that one just fine. Strominger solidly drove a full-count curveball into left field to score ...
Read more
Fri. May 03, 2013 at 12:29 a.m. | John C. Cotey
For weeks, Lakewood hurdler Tim Holmes did his best to keep his college decision a secret. But his wardrobe gave it away as soon as he walked into the school’s cafeteria Wednesday morning for his signing ceremony. Holmes was sporting a Baylor T-shirt and hat. His entire family also had ...
Read more
Wed. May 01, 2013 at 12:07 p.m. | Bob Putnam
When we went looking for the stars of 2013, we zipped right past the pretty-boy quarterbacks, the speedy running backs, the hard-hitting linebackers and the fancy-footed wide receivers and defensive backs. This year, they’ll be taking a back seat to those referred to, lovingly, by their coaches as the big ...
Read more
Tue. April 30, 2013 at 8:34 p.m. | John C. Cotey
JACKSONVILLE He didn’t run track last season because his left ankle hurt. He didn’t run the first meet this year because his right ankle hurt. His right knee started to bother him during the season — especially at the district meet. At the region meet, his left hamstring felt like ...
Read more
Sat. April 27, 2013 at 11:49 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Photo gallery JACKSONVILLE — To win Pinellas County’s first boys track team title in 43 years, Lakewood High had to get past the painful memories from last year, when a dropped baton in the 4x100 relay ultimately cost the Spartans. Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin, the twins who are the unquestioned ...
Read more
Sat. April 27, 2013 at 11:40 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Lakewood may have finished second in the 4x100 relay at the Class 2A state meet in Jacksonville, but the Spartans still ran the seventh fastest time in the nation. Lakewood ran a 41.01, just behind Miami Washington's 40.86, which is fourth in the country.
Read more
Sat. April 27, 2013 at 7:48 p.m. | John C. Cotey
PINELLAS PARK — It was prom night at Countryside on Friday, but its baseball team couldn’t go to the biggest party of the school year. It was busy playing Seminole in the Class 7A, District 10 final, and judging by the party on the Pinellas Park pitcher’s mound, the Cougars ...
Read more
Fri. April 26, 2013 at 11:25 p.m. | Rodney Page
Lakewood forward Tianah Alvarado has committed to the University of Mississippi. Alvarado, who helped lead the Spartans to the Class 5A state final, visited Mississippi last Sunday through Tuesday. “It feels good to get the decision made," Alvarado said. “I just felt very comfortable there. Coach (Matt Insell) turned around ...
Read more
Fri. April 26, 2013 at 4:35 p.m. | Rodney Page