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Standout performances earn area football players accolades
By ROD GIPSON © St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 2000 NORTHDALE -- Post-season honors are out for several area football players. To no surprise, Gaither running back Lydell Ross tops the list. In rewriting the county record books with 2,150 regular season yards and 23 touchdowns, Ross has been named Most Valuable Player for the Tampa Bay district by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. The Cowboys had won a total of eight games in the previous four seasons before Ross. They went 17-3 during the regular season in his junior and senior years and advanced to the playoffs each time. The FACA also honored Ross's coach, Howie DeCristafaro, and Wharton defensive back Dwight Ellick. In his first season at the helm of the Cowboys, DeCristafaro guided the team to the Class 6A-4 district championship and deep into the playoffs. Ellick was a standout for the Wildcats, who, despite going 2-8, were 2-2 and tied for third in Class 4A-8. "We've been able to accomplish some things this season, and Lydell has been tremendous," said DeCristafaro. "He has just gotten better and better all year. That's the kind of back he is." More familiar names dotted the All-Western Conference All Star teams. Chamberlain's Manny Gonzalez and Sickles' Drew DeBerg were named first-team quarterbacks. Despite quarterbacking a team that won only twice, DeBerg put up impressive numbers, completing 144 of 282 passes for 1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ross was named first team running back while Chamberlain's Brian Clark and Sickles' Bryan Dalton were named first team wide receivers. Offensive line honorees included Gaither's Cesar Paz, Josey Ballard and Sam McClure and tight end Justin Riley. On defense, Gaither defensive lineman Kenny Huebner and his county record 27 quarterback sacks lead the list. Chamberlain's Broderick Bunkley and Sickles' Mike Aghamiri were also honored. Linebackers included Terrance Royal (Wharton) and Ollie Hoyte (Chamberlain) while defensive back selections were Wharton's Ellick and Gaither's Marcus Russell. Billy Wimberly of Wharton and Mike Nolan of Sickles shared punting honors. Boys basketball: Jeff James scored 19 points Wednesday night, including four on two dunks to lead Wharton to a 68-51 win against Tampa Bay Tech. The Wildcats (2-0) jumped out to a 34-25 lead and never looked back, despite allowing 21 points to the Titans' standout forward Tiras Wade. Josh Rosado and Jon Scurry scored 12 points each, and Maurice Johnson added 10 and had 10 rebounds. In other action, Leto fell to 1-1 after losing 76-59 to Plant.Girls basketball: Gaither is off to a 3-0 start after demolishing King 61-30. Tara Whelan scored 14 points, and Elaine Evans added another 14 points and 4 blocked shots. The Cowboys went out to a 17-6 lead in the opening period and stretched it to 28-11 by halftime in going on to beat the winless Lions. Despite a 21-point third period, Leto came up just short in its season opener, falling 44-40 to Durant. Leto guard Kim Roberts (9 points) started her 10th straight game for the Falcons, the longest active streak of any Falcon player. Chamberlain, meanwhile, mustered just five points in the second period en route to a 81-50 loss to Riverview in the season opener for each team. Boys soccer: Playing at the Sarasota Tournament on Tuesday, Gaither got three goals from Bryce Wegerle and three assists from Norris Hartzog in defeating Venice 9-0. The defending state champion Cowboys are off to a 5-1 start, their only loss coming Nov. 21 at Sarasota Riverview.Wharton, meanwhile, scored two second half to post a comeback 2-1 victory against Chamberlain and improve to 3-0-2 on the season. Wrestling: In opening week action, Leto was defeated 82-0 by powerhouse Bloomingdale. Wharton also lost to Bloomingdale last week, falling 69-9. Chamberlain opened the season with a narrow 36-35 loss to Riverview.
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