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Girls basketball: districts

By TIMES STAFF
Published November 14, 2006

Class 6A- 7

The teams: Alonso, Countryside, Gaither, Mitchell, St. Petersburg, Sickles

2005-06 champ and runnerup: Mitchell, Alonso

Outlook: Mitchell was the best team in the district last season and should be again. The Mustangs return everyone from a 23-5 team, including leading scorer Kristi Hopper. The Mustangs enjoyed their first state ranking and shattered the school's previous record for wins (17) and expect bigger things in 2006-07. "District-wise, I put us right up there," coach Stephanie Colsin said.

Class 5A-7

The teams: Central, Land O'Lakes, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Wesley Chapel

2005-06 champ and runnerup: Wesley Chapel, Land O'Lakes

Outlook: Wesley Chapel is the clear favorite, but it should be tested by the Gators. Land O'Lakes starts 6-1 Kayli Keough on the wing, and her versatility will cause headaches for opponents. If 6-3 senior Katrina Morris develops, look out. Central also is expected to contend for the runnerup spot, as it returns some talented underclassmen. Ridgewood coach Greg Bollinger has five sophomores on his varsity roster, but most played last year for the Rams' 19-0 junior varsity squad. And they are more athletic than the departed Rams, so look for an uptempo style. At River Ridge, it's another rebuilding season for what might be the county's youngest team.

Class 4A-8

The teams: Gulf, Hernando, Hudson, Nature Coast, Pasco, South Sumter, Springstead, Zephyrhills.

2005-06 champ and runnerup: Gulf, Nature Coast

Outlook: The Bucs will be down, but far from out in a district filled with teams under construction. Even with five new starters, the Bucs could repeat as district champs and certainly contend for the runnerup spot. They won't go 29-2 again, but coach Mike Quarto says they will still be competitive, and the addition of River Ridge transfer Lauren Bullock helps that cause. Hudson is young and will struggle, but could be pesky by year's end under new coach Linda Chenard and her uptempo style. Zephyrhills (3-20 last year) lost its best player, Marta Heidenreich, and three other players left to devote time to other sports and will rebuild again. The district door is wide open.

Class 3A-7

The teams: Mount Dora, Ocala Trinity Catholic, Umatilla, Villages, Wildwood, Wiregrass Ranch.

2005-06 champ and runnerup: Trinity Catholic, Wildwood

Outlook: Wiregrass Ranch coach Greg Finkel twice took his Tampa Catholic girls teams to the state playoffs (in 2002 and 2004), but he'll have to be patient in his new digs. The Bulls will field a team of freshmen and sophomores that won't be ready to slow down state power Ocala Trinity Catholic (24-3 last year) or Wildwood (16-10).

Class A-6

The teams: Bishop McLaughlin, Cedar Key, First Academy, Hernando Christian, Meadowbrook, St. John Lutheran, Seven Rivers Christian.

2005-06 champ and runnerup: St. John Lutheran, Ocala Word of Faith

Outlook: Coach Nick Rodriguez is one of five new coaches in the county, and he'll try to keep the Hurricanes building in just their third season.

The list

Power rankings

1. Wesley Chapel and Mitchell: We were going to pick one over the other, but hey, they can do our job for us tonight when they meet.

3. Land O'Lakes.

4. Gulf

5. Ridgewood

6. Pasco

7. Hudson

8. River Ridge

9. Zephyrhills

10. Wiregrass Ranch

11. Bishop McLaughlin

5 best players

1. Sthefany Thomas, Wesley Chapel: Clemson signee scored 25 points per game last season.

2. Kristi Hopper, Mitchell: Mustangs' leading scorer.

3. Kayli Keough, Land O'Lakes: County's next hot recruit.

4. Lauren Bullock, Gulf: New system could lead to more points.

5. Joanna Bussa, Mitchell: Will run county's most veteran team.

If we're wrong, it's because of...

1. Jeani Ducos, Wesley Chapel: Transfer has Division I-A potential.

2. Janelle Mills, Wesley Chapel: See Ducos, Jeani.

3. Amberlyn Gribbons, Ridgewood: Will see improved numbers.

4. Brittany Knipp, Land O'Lakes: Point guard played with Keough all summer.

5. Ashley Carey, Wesley Chapel: Let's not forget the Wildcat guards.

Coaches with toughest jobs

1. Jerry Stacy, Zephyrhills: You go 3-20 and lose all your starters? That's just wrong.

2. Linda Chenard, Hudson: Kerri Rulison is back as an assistant, but can you get her an extra year of eligibility?

3. John Edwards, Pasco: Welcome back. By the way, Jackie Pugh and Ebony Adams have graduated.

4. Al Sorrentino, River Ridge: Rebuilding one more time.

5. Mike Quarto, Gulf: Is it payback time for all those routs?

Coaches who are loving life

1. Warren Jones, Wesley Chapel: The county's best player and three transfers? That's just wrong.

2. Stephanie Coslin, Mitchell: Lots of recognizable faces for coach to work with.

3. Laurie Pacholke, Land O'Lakes: Eager to start first season with Gators, and for good reason.

4. Greg Finkel, Wiregrass Ranch: Fresh slate with new school always a treat.

5. Mike Quarto, Gulf: Pressure's off. Ahhhhh.

Things we're really looking forward to (and you should, too)

1. Sthefany Thomas: Players like her don't come around often. See her. Honestly.

2. Mitchell vs. Wesley Chapel: Biggest game of the year, and it's ...tonight! Well, start me up!

3. The district playoffs: We're thinking five playoff teams, at least.

4. Gulf: After one of the most dominant runs in county history, what now?

5. Kayli Keough: A 6-1 swing player? Sign us up.

[Last modified November 14, 2006, 07:31:40]