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Prep sports notebook
By ROD GIPSON Feisty Gaither girls defeated by WhartonNORTHDALE -- First Gaither had to deal with the last-second loss to Largo in the championship of the Leto Holiday basketball tournament. Now, the girls basketball team has suffered another last-second defeat, falling 55-53 to rival Wharton on Wednesday. "We've been playing well," said Gaither coach Bill Agatheas. "It's just a matter of other teams playing well and us having a few breakdowns." In a battle of two of the area's top girls teams, the Wildcats let a 18-point lead slip away but got 24 points from Candice Dupree to claim the win. Dupree notched 18 of the Wildcats' first 29 points and Whitney Burton nailed a three-point shot as Wharton forged a 32-14 lead. But the Cowboys stormed back with a 16-0 run to set up a fourth period in which both teams had the lead before Wharton's defense cemented the win. Dupree also added 18 rebounds, nine steals and eight blocks. Burton scored 12 points and Derika Folks added 10 for Wharton. Elaine Evans and Whitney Harper each scored 13 points for Gaither, Tosha Ross scored 11 points. Wharton is 16-4 while Gaither is now 13-7. BOYS BASKETBALL: With its 72-70 win against Tampa Prep Jan. 11 and a 73-48 trouncing of Sarasota Wednesday, Gaither has improved to 14-3 on the season and earned notice on the state poll. The Cowboys received six votes on this week's Class 6A poll. The poll only has 10 spots, but Gaither's six votes would be good enough for 12th. Also, the Cowboys have the best scoring tandem in Hillsborough County in Antonio Russell and Brandon Harrison, who are combining for 41 points per game. Russell is scoring 21 points a game, Harrison is averaging 20. GIRLS SOCCER: Lauren Ophaug took a pass from Gloria Zak and scored during the match's opening moments as Sickles claimed another victory, defeating Plant 2-0 Thursday. The Gryphons are among the area's best with a 14-2-3 record. In other matches Thursday, Gaither got two goals from freshman forward Meghan Donahue in a 4-0 win against Plant City that improves the Cowboys to 10-0-4 while Leto defeated Chamberlain 1-0. Alonso lost 9-0 to King and Wharton was beaten 3-1 by Hillsborough. WRESTLING: Sickles has enjoyed a solid season this year but ran into a buzz saw Thursday against Brandon. The defending state champion Eagles devoured the Gryphons 61-9, winning 12 of the 14 matches. Jamaal Williams won the 103-pound match, which tied the score at six before the Eagles went on to dominate the event. Still, Sickles (8-3) boasts two of the areas' top wrestlers in 112-lb. Stan Liberatore and 130-lb. Jegan Gabbidon. In other matches Thursday, Chamberlain defeated Leto 66-12, Alonso defeated Hillsborough 45-33 and Wharton lost to Riverview 52-30. FOOTBALL: Chamberlain defensive lineman Broderick Bunkley's post-season honors continued this past week as he was named to the Sunshine Network All-Gridiron team. Bunkley and five other Hillsborough County players were named to the team, comprised of the state's top players. Leto's Gilbert Perez (offensive lineman) was selected to the third team. The players will be featured on a special edition of Sunshine Network's Florida High School Gridiron Report at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 23.
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