Hernando: News and notes

By IZZY GOULD and DAVID MURPHY, Times Staff Writers
Published December 14, 2007

Look out for Bulldogs' defense

The top-scoring girls soccer team in Class 4A, District 8 is not Gulf with its 55 goals or Hudson with its 57 or even Springstead with 39. Nope, the top scorer in 4A-8 is Zephyrhills with a whopping 70 goals. That's an average of 4.4 goals per game for the team that's 9-7 overall and 5-5 in the district.

Top goal-scoring honors go to Bulldogs junior Brandi Mira with 23 and nine assists. Many of her goals come off the foot of Desiree Nieves, who has 20 assists.

Duals on tap

The Gulf wrestling team hosts its Gulf Duals today and Saturday, with some of the top teams in the North Suncoast attending. Teams will meet in head-to-head matches and the winner with the top points in each pool will advance.

"There's no telling what can happen," Buccaneers coach Travis DeWalt said.

DeWalt said Manatee looks like the favorite to take the tournament, but Springstead should make a strong push, followed by Citrus and Lemon Bay.

Sharks still perfect

Nature Coast's girls basketball team enters tonight's game at Wiregrass Ranch with an 11-0 record. The Sharks have a pretty decent shot at extending their win streak considering they defeated the Bulls in the season opener 52-36. Here are some tidbits about the streak:

Largest margin of victory: 57 points in a 71-14 win Tuesday against Sunlake.

Closest margin of victory: 5 points in a 50-45 win Dec.6 at Gulf.

Average margin of victory: 28.5 points.

Victories by 25 or more points: eight.

Leading scorer/rebounder: Shareka Maner with 14.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Leader in assists:Crystal Anthony with 4.3 assists per game.

Speaking of streaks

Springstead is shaping up to have a pretty good soccer program. It has been well documented that the girls team is in a fight for the top seed in Class 4A, District 8 with an impressive 10-1-4 overall record.

But the boys have shown some stability in recent weeks. That group of Eagles has won four straight since last week's Times' power rankings to climb to 7-3-4. They are 6-1-4 in the district with help from Nathan Leathers' seven goals as well as Zach Magrini's three goals and seven assists.

Compiled by Times staff writers Izzy Gould and David Murphy and Times correspondent Mike Camunas.

Contact us

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or 813 909-4612. David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 21:06:43]