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District 8 teams jostle for position

Top-seeded King will have plenty of competition in the Class 5 girls tournament.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published January 26, 2007

Five teams - King, Freedom, Bloomingdale, Armwood and Wharton - have a legitimate shot at the Class 5A, District 8 girls basketball title, giving Tuesday's tournament at Tampa Bay Tech plenty of intrigue.

No. 3 seed Bloomingdale (11-3 in district play) has the same record as second-seeded Freedom but lost to the Patriots twice, most recently by 14 points on Saturday. To advance to the regional playoffs, Bloomingdale likely will have to beat Freedom in the district tournament.

No. 4 Armwood (9-5) also is more than capable of pulling off an upset. The defending district champion beat No. 1 seed King 49-46 on Saturday and Freedom in early December.

The power balance in Class 6A, District 8 is clearly established.

Top-seeded Sarasota Riverview is expected to repeat as district champion, with Sarasota (No. 2) and Riverview (No. 3) battling for the remaining berth in the regional tournament. Those two teams likely will face off in the district semifinals, a scenario that favors Riverview. The Sharks soundly defeated Sarasota 53-33 on Jan. 9.

The 6A-8 tournament begins Tuesday at East Bay High School.

Girls soccer

East Bay goalkeeper Amanda Meredith recorded two more shutouts, her 11th and 12th of the season, in leading her team to the Class 6A, District 8 championship and a spot in the regional tournament.

The Indians defeated Sarasota Riverview in the semifinals on Jan. 18 on penalty kicks (4-1) after playing without a score in regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.

The next night, East Bay's defense allowed just five shots on goal as the Indians beat Sarasota 3-0 in the district final.

In 18 games, Meredith has allowed just 11 goals in regulation and overtime periods.

Boys basketball

Jason Anthony of Armwood and Rudy Jean of East Bay are two of just four players in the county averaging more than 20 points.

Anthony, who averages 22.1 points and 8.8 rebounds, registered a season-high 35 points in the Hawks' 95-94 victory over Tampa Bay Tech Jan. 5.

Jean averages 21.6 points and has been held to single figures just once in 17 games this season.

The other players averaging more than 20 points are Daniel Martinez of Bayshore Christian (26.3) and Carlos Figueroa (19.9).

Wrestling

County championships begin today and continue into Saturday at Bloomingdale High School. Every Hillsborough public school, including favored Brandon, participates. It's the final event of the regular season before district tournaments begin Monday.

[Last modified January 25, 2007, 07:38:03]