John C. Cotey's Top 10

John C. Cotey's Top 10 Ranking the best of the bay area from the past week.

By JOHN C. COTEY, High Schools Columnist
Published January 27, 2008

1. Football programs

You'll need one next year, if the recent rush of transfers doesn't let up. So, is anyone staying put?

2. Seminole girls soccer

You try getting some attention in a county that boasts soccer powers like Clearwater Central Catholic, Palm Harbor University and Countryside. The Warhawks, though, deserve just that. In 20 games, they have allowed five goals.

3. Tracy Parks

The St. Petersburg Catholic senior guard dropped 30 on Berkeley Prep last week, giving his Barons a shocking win over the No. 1 Bucs in district action.

4. Scotty Combs

You have probably heard of Land O'Lakes soccer, being ranked No. 5 in the country and all. You have probably heard of Pasco's Jose Montelongo, who has more goals than anyone in Tampa Bay. But you haven't heard of Combs. Why not? Well, because of Land O'Lakes and Montelongo, silly. But a hat trick in a district final upset over Pasco opened some eyes.

5. Irez Gray

The Spartan boys hoopsters still own Pinellas County, thanks to Gray, who sank the go-ahead free throws and then added an insurance basket off a rebound to give Lakewood a win over Pinellas Park. The rematch in the PCAC title game should be a doozy.

6. Armwood football

A cool $10,000 and some fresh new uniforms from NIKE. And we thought our $24.99 sponsorship deal from Sears for boxer briefs, shorts and a polo shirt was hot.

7. Kelly Cornell

The CCC soccer player took her first corner kick of the season, and it ended up on U.S. 19, was hit by a truck, bounced off a Chick-fil-A, rolled into a Best Buy and settled to a stop under a bench in front of the Village Inn. Her next two resulted in both of the Marauders' goals in a big playoff win.

8. East Lake boys soccer

The Eagles came back from a 3-1 deficit to down archrival PHU in the district final. But can they do it again? They'll probably need to in the region final, where East Lake's season has ended the past two years ... against PHU, of course.

9. Chelsea Klotz and Jenn Casey

Tampa Prep's Klotz is Hillsborough County's leading goal scorer. Shorecrest's Casey is Pinellas County's leading goal scorer. They play Tuesday.

10. Randy Dagostino

When Fort Lauderdale's Lorraine Crocco retired last week, the Berkeley Prep volleyball coach became the state's winningest active coach with 711 wins. The bad news? He need to average 21 wins a season for the next 20 years to pass her.

[Last modified January 26, 2008, 22:38:15]