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Schools still vying for state titles

Some teams have hung up their gear, but several are still in the running for regional or state crowns.

By TERRY JONES
Published February 20, 2005

NORTH TAMPA - As state tournaments approach for several winter sports, some teams are still alive while others have retired their seasons.

Here are some results from the past week:

Freedom fell to Newsome 4-1 in the regional finals Feb. 11 to complete its season with a 12-7-3 record. Vanessa Rangel scored the Patriots' goal on a free kick.

Freedom won the 4A, 11 title on Feb. 12. to capture its first district championship. The Patriots defeated Blake 53-47 in the finals.

After a slow start Thursday, the Patriots (27-1) came on strong to defeat Celebration 75-56 in the regional quarterfinals. They will host Lecanto (20-8) Tuesday in the semifinals, with a regional finals berth at stake.

In the district finals Feb. 12, Tandra Faulkner was high scorer for Freedom with 17 points. Teammate Briana Nelson scored 10, followed by Morgan Farrington, who scored 12 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Briana Nelson led the Patriots' offense scoring 21 points Thursday night in the first regional game. Morgan Farrington and Charkia Harvey each added 16 to spread out the scoring and keep Celebration from being able to focus on any one Freedom shooter.

If the Patriots defeat Lecanto, they will face either Winter Haven (24-1) or Gulf (25-1) Friday for the regional championship and a berth in the final four. Winter Haven beat Blake, loser to Freedom in the district finals, 76-33, in another regional quarterfinal.

In the Class 5A regional quarterfinals Thursday, Wharton relied on its tough defense to defeat King 49-36 and Alonso never got on track, before being eliminated by Plant 57-28.

Jessica Piggott set the pace for the Wildcats scoring with 20 points. Sure-handed guard Whitney Jennings used her ball handling skills to control the ball much of the second half, trimming down opportunities for King to score.

Jennings also scored eight points.

The Wildcats will host Haines City Tuesday night in the regional semifinals.

In the round to earn berths in regional competition, Wharton defeated pesty nemesis Alonso 55-40 to win the Class 5A, District 8 title Feb. 11. It was the sixth district championship won by the Wildcats.

After picking up three early fouls, Jessica Piggott sat out most of the first half and still came back to score 20 points.

The Ravens stayed close in the first half, closing out the first two quarters trailing only 26-24.

Jessica James scored high for Alonso with 14 points, followed by Meranda Maley with 10.

WRESTLING

Chamberlain won its third district championship in five years on Feb. 12, capturing the Class 2A, District 8 title and claiming five individual crowns. The Chiefs also had five runners up.

The Chiefs scored 216.5 points for the team championship.

Alonso laid claim to runner up honors with 173.5, followed by Sickles 164.5, Jefferson 102 and Leto 76.

Winning championship belts for Chamberlain were Ian Garland (130), Ricardo Topham (135), Mike White (140), Patrick Spano (145) and Antonio White (160).

Title winners for Sickles were Jake Bolnick (112), Westly Hegge (119) and Chris Cobos (215). Alonso champs were Victor Paparella (152) and Chris Allen (125).

Orlando Lorerena (103) and Adam Altuzarra (189) won for Jefferson and Leto's Oscar Garcia won the heavyweight title.

Chamberlain and Alonso took 12 each to the regional meet, Sickles 11, Jefferson six and Leto four. In Class A, Freedom qualified three fourth-place finishers.

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 08:08:05]