Girls Player of the year: G/F Kayla Kivinski, So., Gulf Why we picked her: With 86 percent of its offense and 71 percent of its rebounding gone, Gulf knew it would have to find new sources of productivity to have a shot at another strong playoff run. “I think everyone ...
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Sat. March 31, 2012 at 2:44 p.m. | Matt Baker
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg coach Chris Blackwell devised a sound blueprint for stifling Wiregrass Ranch’s pressure defense: pass quickly, pass intelligently and hit the open shot. It worked a little too well as St. Petersburg (18-9) cruised to a 77-50 victory over Wiregrass (17-11) Thursday in the Class 7A ...
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Thu. Feb. 16, 2012 at 10:21 p.m. | Basil Spyridakos
Best chances to move on 1. Nature Coast Tech: At 27-1, the boys are easily the North Suncoast’s best team, with size, speed and depth. Even a potential rematch with district foe Eustis doesn’t seem as much of a roadblock as it did earlier this season. 2. Academy at the ...
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Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 at 5:59 p.m. | John C. Cotey
TAMPA — Reggie Hart dedicated his performance Friday night to a slain cousin, David Simpson, as well as the many who thought before the season that Chamberlain did not have enough to win a second straight district title. A number of crucial baskets. Near perfect free-throw shooting. A career-high 40 ...
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Fri. Feb. 10, 2012 at 11:33 p.m. | John C. Cotey
District boys basketball Wesley Chapel 46, Ridgewood 38: The Wildcats trailed by one in the final minutes but scored the last seven points to advance to the Class 5A, District 8 title game. “It was back and forth,” Wildcats coach Doug Greseth said. Standout junior Erik Thomas made 3-of-4 free ...
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Fri. Feb. 10, 2012 at 11:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
TRINITY — As the seconds ticked down to the end of River Ridge’s season, sophomore John Childs sat at the end of the bench, alone, with his head down, staring at the hardwood floor at Mitchell. His triple double wasn’t enough to begin one of the most unlikely region runs ...
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Wed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 8:43 p.m. | Matt Baker
Girls district basketball 6A-10, Tarpon Springs 32, Mitchell 26: The Mustangs hung with the top-seeded Spongers but faded late in the District 6A-10 final. Mitchell took a three-point lead on a three-point play by Emily Morales with four minutes to go, but she fouled out moments later after scoring seven. ...
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Fri. Feb. 03, 2012 at 10:24 p.m. | Times Staff
WESLEY CHAPEL — For the second Saturday in a row, Wharton entered the fourth quarter on the road against a formidable Tampa Bay area opponent with an eight-point advantage. Last week, the Wildcats were outscored 23-7 by Seminole in the final quarter for only their third loss of the ...
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Sat. Jan. 21, 2012 at 8:59 p.m. | Bryan Burns
Boys basketball Land O’Lakes 61, Mitchell 43: Ernest McClendon scored a season-high 22 points as the Gators won their fifth straight game while snapping the Mustangs’ five-game win streak. The Gators (11-6) completed a season sweep of Mitchell (15-4) and wrapped up first-place in 6A-10 after both teams entered the ...
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Fri. Jan. 20, 2012 at 11:22 p.m. | Times Staff
Wiregrass Ranch junior Chris Parra passed a career milestone Wednesday night. The 5-foot-11 guard scored his 1,000th career point in the Bulls' 72-67 win over Freedom. His 23 points moved him to 1,010 in his high school career. Parra is second on the team in scoring (18.1 ppg) and is ...
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Thu. Jan. 19, 2012 at 9:31 a.m. | Matt Baker
It's Morning Meanderings, which means I'm cruising box scores and looking for highlights. If you want to help, and you know you do, email me at cotey@tampabay.com, or shoot me a text (727-580-3691), or hit me up on Twitter (@JohnnyHomeTeam) or Facebook. No video highlights today. You people make me ...
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Thu. Dec. 15, 2011 at 11:11 a.m. | John C. Cotey
It's Morning Meanderings, which means I'm cruising box scores and looking for highlights. If you want to help, and you know you do, email me at cotey@tampabay.com, or shoot me a text (727-580-3691), or hit me up on Twitter (@JohnnyHomeTeam) or Facebook. There's four items and a video that are ...
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Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 at 10:03 a.m. | John C. Cotey
BROOKSVILLEIt would be easy to talk about the star of Nature Coast. But that isn't what is going to get the Sharks over the hump in 2012. • After consecutive trips to the region final and consecutive losses in that round, Nature Coast knows the opportunity to make it further ...
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Sun. Nov. 20, 2011 at 3:42 p.m. | Times Staff
Boys player of the year Quincy Ford, Sr., F, Gibbs Opponents have learned not to challenge Quincy Ford. Ford, a 6-foot-8 forward, forms a veritable wall as the Gladiators’ last line of defense. The few times opponents dare to enter the lane, they are greeted by long arms that usually ...
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Sat. April 02, 2011 at 1:48 a.m. | Times Staff
NEW PORT RICHEY — In the ninth annual Pasco vs. Hernando-Citrus all-star game, there were no flashy dunks, high-soaring alley-oops or even really nifty passing. Heck, there was a running clock throughout most of Tuesday night's contest.But after the little more than an hour the game lasted, Darrell Warren's huge ...
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Tue. March 22, 2011 at 7:55 p.m. | Andy Villamarzo