Lecanto girls face unknown today

Opponent Orlando Bishop Moore has a reputation for success and a top-flight No. 1 player, but little is known beyond that. The Citrus boys face a similar scenario.

By CAREY FREEMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 2000

For Lecanto girls coach Virginia Gilbert there is the known and the unknown to deal with in today's Class 2A regional match.

The known quantity is her team, which won its third consecutive district title and completed its second straight unbeaten season.

The Panthers won all but one of the seeded competitions on Monday and Tuesday, including a heroic performance by No. 1 Amanda Long, who battled severe hip pain in a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 doubles win that qualified her and Jessie Roberts for next week's state championships.

Then there is the unknown.

That would be Orlando Bishop Moore, Lecanto's opponent in today's 9 a.m. regional competition at the Orlando Downtown Recreational Center. The Hornets have built a reputation after finishing in the top three in the state the last two seasons, including second in 4A last year.

They also have a spectacular talent at No. 1 in Jackie Arcario, who is considered one of the best players -- singles and doubles -- in the state.

Beyond that, though, the Hornets are an unknown quantity.

So, is Gilbert worried? Not a chance, her confidence in the known overwhelming any anxiety about the unknown.

"Our kids played superbly," Gilbert said, referring to the district championships. "They really played above their regular games and have improved so much. I think we probably have a good chance because they've been peaking toward the end of the season. (Tuesday) proved it."

If anything, the District 5 tournament proved that the Panthers' strength is in their depth, the difference between the No. 1 and No. 5 seeds being slight at best. While Long was forced to withdraw from No. 1 singles after injuring her hip, the rest of the Panthers cleaned up, winning the remaining six matches without surrendering a single set.

The Citrus boys, meanwhile, face a similar scenario in their regional against Daytona Beach Seabreeze, which begins at 1 p.m. Friday at Tomoka Oaks Country Club in Ormond Beach.

Little is known about the Sandcrabs in terms of strengths and weaknesses, but that doesn't seem to matter to the Hurricanes, who defended their district title with wins in six of the seven seeded positions.

"The boys may not have played their best, but they did what they had to do to win," coach Doug Patton said.

Citrus enters with a clear advantage in No. 1 Michael Weber, who has yet to give up a set in singles or doubles this season. Adding to that is the fact the Sandcrabs' No. 1 has been suspended for unspecified, school-related reasons.

However, Seabreeze has not adjusted its seeds to accommodate the loss at No. 1. Instead, it has moved one of its weaker players to that position while keeping Kyle Schlossman, Tim Huth, Shawn McCook and Steve Gokey in the 2-5 positions.

Like Citrus, Seabreeze isn't one of the more storied boys programs in the state. This is the Sandcrabs' first district title since 1992.

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