Messina, Academy stay perfect

The Jaguars opened a lead and held off Largo 65-46 in Round 2 of their Keeler Memorial Tournament.

By ROD GIPSON
Published December 29, 2006

TAMPA - Gianna Messina and her Academy of the Holy Names teammates ran up and down the court Thursday night. Then ran some more. Along the way, Messina scored 20 of her team's first 30 as the Jaguars opened a lead and held off Largo 65-46 in Round 2 of their Keeler Memorial Tournament.

Academy (15-0) faces Clear-water at 7 p.m. today in the semifinals. Blake meets St. Petersburg Catholic at 5:30 in the other semifinal.

Messina hit three 3-pointers in the first half and scored in the paint later en route to 32 points in the game. Her sister Catriana added 15 points.

Clearwater (15-0) remained unbeaten with its 63-28 thumping of Freedom. Kelly Maronic scored 11 to lead Freedom (9-4). After Abby Alger hit two straight layups to bring Freedom within 20-13, the Patriots got no closer.

At Armwood

St. Petersburg Catholic closed the third quarter with a 14-0 run to pull away for a 63-38 victory over Armwood.

The Barons (11-4) were led by center Sasha Chaplin, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Kate Carl chipped in 18 points, 11 steals and six assists.

Asia Goodman led the Hawks (9-5) with eight points.

In the first game, Shawntae Snakovsky scored 19 to help Sickles defeat Seminole 58-29.

Arielle Nichols scored eight fourth-quarter points for Sickles. She finished with 12.

Brendan Galella, Times correspondent

At Blake

Blake protected its home court with a 56-28, second-round victory over Dunedin.

The teams went back and forth for the entire first half until the Yellow Jackets (11-0) used a late 8-0 run to take a 36-22 lead into the break.

As the second half began, Dunedin (10-6) went cold and the Yellow Jackets outscored the Falcons 22-6.

Blake center Chenelle Patton scored 10 second-half points on 5-of-7 shooting and finished with a game-high 19 points. Bernisha Wilson scored 15, and Ashley Gary had 10.

In consolation play, Tampa Bay Tech topped Clearwater Central Catholic 52-37.

Justin Dargahi, Times correspondent

[Last modified December 29, 2006, 06:31:56]