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Girls district basketball preview

By IZZY GOULD
Published January 29, 2006

AT STAKE: The top two in each district advance to the state playoffs, which begin with region quarterfinals Feb. 9. The Class 6A, District 7 champion hosts the 6A-8 runnerup, and the 6A-7 runnerup travels to the 6A-8 champion. The 5A-7 district shares a similar arrangement with 5A-8, 4A-8 with 4A-7 and A-6 with A-5. Admission is $5; FHSAA passes only.

CLASS 6A, DISTRICT 7

WHERE: Sickles

TEAMS: No. 1 Mitchell, No. 2 Alonso, No. 3 St. Petersburg, No. 4 Sickles, No. 5 Countryside, No. 6 Gaither

SCHEDULE: Tuesday - St. Petersburg vs. Gaither, 6 p.m.; Sickles vs. Countryside, 8 p.m. Thursday - Alonso vs. St. Petersburg-Gaither winner, 6 p.m.; Mitchell vs. Sickles-Countryside winner, 8 p.m. Saturday - Championship, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Mitchell appears on track to earn its second district title in as many years despite its climb to Class 6A. The Mustangs enjoyed an undefeated season in 6A-7, defeating each team by at least 12 points. Mitchell earned recognition statewide with a climb into the state poll last week at No. 9. A crushing defeat Thursday to rival Gulf - ranked No. 3 in Class 4A - should do little to derail Mitchell's chances to win this tournament. The Mustangs are led by senior Kristi Hopper, who ranked third in Pasco County scoring this season, averaging 17.3 points. They also have the county's second-best 3-point shooter in Joanna Bussa (47.1 percent). Mitchell had not lost a game since Latoya Hillmon's return this month from a 15-game suspension. She suffered a torn ligament in her right ankle during the loss to Mitchell and is not expected to play.

CLASS 5A, DISTRICT 7

TEAMS: No. 1 Wesley Chapel (8-0), No. 2 Ridgewood (5-3), No. 3 Land O'Lakes (3-5), No. 4 Central (3-5), No. 5 River Ridge (1-7)

SCHEDULE: Tuesday - Central vs. River Ridge, 7 p.m. Wednesday - Ridgewood vs. Land O'Lakes, 6 p.m.; Wesley Chapel vs. Central-River Ridge winner, 8 p.m. Saturday - Championship, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Wesley Chapel appears to have it all in this bracket. The Wildcats are the No. 1 seed, playing at home, boasting an undefeated district record and are led by Pasco County's leading scorer in junior guard Sthefany Thomas (25.2 ppg). The battle could be for the second playoff spot where No. 2 Ridgewood will be tested immediately against No. 3 Land O'Lakes. The Gators handed the Rams one of their three district losses. Ridgewood's other losses came by way of Wesley Chapel.

CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 8

WHERE: Gulf

TEAMS: No. 1 Gulf (14-0), No. 2 Nature Coast (11-3), No. 3 Pasco (9-5), No. 4 Hudson (7-7), No. 5 South Sumter (7-7), No. 6 Hernando (4-10), No. 7 Zephyrhills (3-11), No. 8 Springstead (1-13)

SCHEDULE: Tuesday - Nature Coast vs. Zephyrhills, 5 p.m.; Gulf vs. Springstead, 7 p.m. Wednesday - Hudson vs. South Sumter, 5 p.m.; Pasco vs. Hernando, 7 p.m. Thursday - Nature Coast-Zephyrhills vs. Pasco-Hernando, 5 p.m.; Gulf-Springstead vs. Hudson-South Sumter, 7 p.m. Saturday - Championship, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Gulf proved capable of mounting a state title run after losing just one game by one point. The district tournament seems nothing more than a formality for the Buccaneers, who are 49-3 the past two seasons. They repeated as Sunshine Athletic Conference champions with a win Thursday against rival Mitchell. They should also claim their second district title in as many years. That said, Nature Coast, on the surface, appears capable of securing the second playoff berth despite looking shaky down the stretch. Pasco has proven it can hang with the Sharks after handing them their first district loss. The Pirates likely will get their shot to take down the Sharks in the semifinals. And with identical records, Hudson and South Sumter will battle for the chance to do the unthinkable - take out Gulf on its home court in the semifinals.

CLASS A, DISTRICT 6

WHERE: Ocala Word of Faith

TEAMS: No. 1 Ocala St. John Lutheran (11-1), No. 2 Ocala Word of Faith (11-1), No. 3 Seven Rivers Christian (7-5), No. 4 Hernando Christian (5-7), No. 5 Leesburg First Academy (4-8), No. 6 Bishop McLaughlin (3-9), No. 7 Cedar Key (0-12)

SCHEDULE: Monday - Hernando Christian vs. First Academy, 4:30 p.m.; Seven Rivers vs. Bishop McLaughlin, 6 p.m.; OWFA vs. Cedar Key, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday - St. John vs. HCA-First Academy winner, 4:30 p.m.; Seven Rivers-Bishop winner vs. OWFA-Cedar Key winner, 6 p.m. Saturday - Championship, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Bishop McLaughlin enters its first district tournament with a respectable seeding for a first-year team. The Hurricanes will have a chance to climb out of the quarterfinals with an opening-round game against Seven Rivers Christian. Coach Meagan Sheehan said the last game they played went to overtime, where Bishop McLaughlin pulled out a win. The Hurricanes are led by Emily Moore, who led them in almost every statistical category. Also look for Kristen Pawlowski and Lexy Angelo to contribute.

[Last modified January 29, 2006, 01:28:20]