Class, district changes leave looming unknown

By BOB PUTNAM
Published November 14, 2005

Countryside coach Mike Frasia said he did not know what to think when the Florida High School Athletic Association moved his girls basketball team up from Class 5A to 6A.

The switch meant the Cougars no longer had to compete in Class 5A, District 9, which included three teams that had winning records and two that made the region semifinals last season.

But Frasia said he didn't know whether it was a good move or not because he was unfamiliar with most of the teams in his new district.

Besides Countryside, 6A-7 includes Alonso, Gaither, Mitchell, Sickles and St. Petersburg.

"We're going to get familiar with some of these teams real quick," Frasia said. "We just don't know where we stand because so many teams are new to us."

Green Devil coach Bonnie Thompson is in the same situation. Her team moved from 5A-10, which included county teams.

"The only team we really know is Countryside," Thompson said. "That's because we played them three times last season. Everyone else is a bit of a mystery to us."

Here's what Countryside and St. Petersburg need to know: Mitchell is the team to beat.

The Mustangs went 17-10 last season, won their first district title and set a school record for wins. They expect even bigger things with a team that returns mostly intact.

The only significant departure is Alyssa Lunin, who graduated. Mitchell will mostly on guard Kristi Hopper, who was a Times first team, All-Pasco County selection last season.

As an added bonus, the Mustangs picked up a guard who transferred from East Lake.

"I've heard that Mitchell is pretty good, but that's about it," Frasia said. "We'll just have to wait until we play to find out more."

The Cougars play Mitchell Nov. 18.

[Last modified November 14, 2005, 01:04:15]