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District boys basketball previews

Class 6A, District 5

WHERE: Gaither.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday -- Gaither vs. Sarasota, 6:30 p.m.; Venice vs. Riverview, 8. Friday -- Bloomingdale vs. Gaither-Sarasota winner, 6:30; S. Riverview vs. Venice-Riverview winner, 8. Saturday -- Final, 7:30.

OUTLOOK: Que Quaintance and his 6-foot-6 frame help make Sarasota Riverview the favorite. The Rams, ranked in the state's top 10 for most of the season, have gotten the best of most county teams this season. Gaither and Bloomingdale could surprise.

Class 5A, District 7

WHERE: Lakeland.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday -- Plant City vs. East Bay, 7 p.m. Friday -- Durant vs. Lakeland, 6 p.m.; Haines City vs. Plant City-East Bay winner, 8. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: R.L. Bond (23 points per game) should lead the Cougars to their second straight title. Second place is up for grabs.

Class 5A, District 8

WHERE: Alonso.

SCHEDULE: Wednesday -- Hillsborough vs. Alonso, 4 p.m.; King vs. Leto, 6; Wharton vs. Middleton, 8. Friday -- King-Leto winner vs. Wharton-Middleton winner, 6 p.m.; Chamberlain vs. Hillsborough-Alonso winner, 8. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: King's Marquis McCullough (24 points per game) is a threat to lead the Lions to the title, but Wharton, Leto and Chamberlain could have plenty to say about that.

Class 4A, District 9

WHERE: Jefferson.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday -- Tampa Bay Tech vs. Jefferson, 4:30 p.m.; Blake vs. Sickles, 6; Plant vs. Armwood, 7:30. Wednesday -- Brandon vs. TBT-Jefferson winner, 6 p.m.; Blake-Sickles winner vs. Plant-Armwood winner, 7:30. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Brandon, Brandon, Brandon ... and the rest. Sickles and Armwood have the second-best chances to survive.

Class 3A, District 9

WHERE: Jesuit.

SCHEDULE: Wednesday -- Osceola vs. Freedom, 7:30 p.m. Friday -- Jesuit vs. Osceola-Freedom winner, 6 p.m; Robinson vs. Tampa Catholic, 7:45. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Jesuit started 15-0 and hasn't slowed much since. The Tigers are undefeated in district play and should do the same here.

Class 2A, District 11

WHERE: Tampa Prep.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday -- McKeel Academy vs. Frostproof, 7 p.m. Friday -- Berkeley Prep vs. McKeel-Frostproof winner, 6 p.m.; Fort Meade vs. Tampa Prep, 7:30. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Berkeley Prep has the county's leading scorer, Spiros Ferderigoes (25 points per game). Tampa Prep is a perennial playoff team but must play extra hard to advance far this season.

Class A, District 10

WHERE: Cambridge.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday -- Cambridge vs. Tampa Baptist, 3 p.m.; Oldsmar Christian vs. Calvary Christian, 4:30; Bayshore Christian vs. Temple Heights, 6; Indian Rocks Christian vs. Lakeside Christian, 7:30. Friday -- Oldsmar-Calvary winner vs. Bayshore-Temple Heights winner, 6 p.m.; IRC-Lakeside winner vs. Cambridge-Tampa Baptist winner, 7:30. Saturday -- Final, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: IRC reached the final four last season, and with guard Gabe McMillan back for his senior season, it could repeat the feat. Bayshore Christian has an outside shot at pulling off a district final upset. Maybe.

-- Compiled by Scott Purks.

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