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Lakeside Christian Rolls To Crown

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By LEE DIEKEMPER, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 3, 2008

TAMPA - Aside from the first 98 seconds of the game, Lakeside Christian had little difficulty with Academy at the Lakes to capture the Class 1A-District 11 title Saturday, 54-40.

With the loss, Academy (10-8) will travel to Sarasota Out-of-Door for the regional quarterfinals while Lakeside will host Sarasota Christian on Thursday. Academy jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a basket by Tiffany Hunneywell. That would be the last lead of the evening for Academy at the Lakes.

Despite that, Academy wasn't blown out. It came within two points late in the second quarter when Ashley Sookal's basket pulled Academy to within 26-24 with 1:48 left in the first half.

What momentum Academy had evaporated at halftime because Lakeside began the second half with a 5-0 run for a 35-26 lead. Academy never could recover.

Academy did whittle the Lakeside lead to five points early in the fourth when Becca Berry's 3-pointer cut the Lakeside lead to 43-38 with just less than five minutes left. But Lakeside then went on a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach with 2:17 to play.

"We didn't run our plays," Academy coach Gary Tait said. "We're inexperienced. This is the girls' first district. Lakeside has experience. They've won a district before and they play like it."

CLASS 5A-11: At Seminole, Boca Ciega, which secured its 16th consecutive regional playoff berth Friday, captured the district title with its third win this season against Lakewood, this time 67-56.

"It was a tough game, it was right down to the wire," Boca Ciega coach Will White said. "We finished real strong. It was a tough game going back and forth. Lakewood is really good."

The Pirates were paced by Missy Schmidt's 14 points. She started strong with eight points in the opening quarter and also added a 3-point shot. "She started out on fire and she did a great job rebounding," White said.

CLASS 5A-9: At Largo, Clearwater held off Dunedin 66-38 to capture the district. As a result, Clearwater will host Jefferson on Thursday while Dunedin will travel to Plant to begin region play.

Keona Dixon, out for the past few games with an ankle injury, returned to the lineup and scored 24 points with five 3-point baskets.

"We held her out hoping she would be ready for the district and she looks to be about 100 percent," Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt said.

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