Hillsborough: News and Notes

By Joe Smith
Published August 31, 2007

Standout golfer lands at King

Sophomore Kelsey Gibson, one of the county's top golfers, will play for King this season, said her mother, Deedra Gibson. Gibson, who helped lead Tampa Prep to three straight state tournament appearances, is being homeschooled by her paternal grandparents in Temple Terrace, in King's district.

Memory lane

With the Dominick Ciao era at Berkeley Prep set to begin tonight at Bradenton Prep, we asked Ciao, who coached 17 seasons at Jesuit before stepping down after the 2002 season, to reflect on three of his most memorable games.

First win: "It was 1986, my first season (at Jesuit). It was 6-0 over St. Pete Catholic. Mike Malone kicked two field goals. We were 1-9 that year, so it meant a lot. I think we were 0-5 or something like that. Before I left the field, Bill Minahan (Jesuit's athletic director at the time) came running onto the field to congratulate me."

1992 3A final (28-16 loss to Pasco): "It was truly a tremendous moment. We played at Florida Field, which was pretty exciting. It was thrilling to play for a championship. There was a great atmosphere, and even though we lost, I wouldn't trade those players for any in the world."

Last game at Jesuit: "We lost to Rockledge (in the state semifinals). It was a great game that went back and forth. I don't really remember all the details, I just remember being in the locker room after the game with a special group of guys."

Numbers game

6 Armwood turnovers in last season's 38-20 playoff loss to Plant.

Statitude

Hillsborough holds a 5-2 record against Jefferson this decade in one of the area's most storied, and intense, rivalries. The scores from those games:

2006: Jefferson, 9-2

2005: Hillsborough, 35-14

2004: Hillsborough, 29-28 (OT)

2003: Hillsborough, 28-6

2002: Jefferson, 13-10

2001: Hillsborough, 23-14

2000: Hillsborough, 21-14

Joe Smith and Keith Niebuhr, Times staff writers

[Last modified August 30, 2007, 23:48:26]