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Jefferson Seeks To Avenge Loss To Clearwater

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

The Clearwater High girls basketball team did more than hand Jefferson one of the Dragons' most lopsided losses last year. It provided motivation.

After that 66-27 loss in the Class 5A region quarterfinals, the Dragons vowed to never lose that way again, and they haven't. Jefferson emerged as one of the top 5A teams this season, losing just once - 66-51 to defending 1A state champion Trinity Christian Academy.

Jefferson gets another shot at Clearwater tonight at home at 7 in the region semifinals.

"Those kids started this summer and they had a vision," Dragons coach Tom Mosca said. "A lot of them, they'd never had any one beat them like that before. They've grown up and they're going to continue to grow up."

That drive resulted in the school's first girls basketball playoff victory last Thursday against Palm Harbor University, which was fresh off only the second district championship in school history.

Mosca has embraced the past. He recognized members of the 1979 district champion team at the Dragons' last game. It helps put this year's accomplishments in perspective.

Jefferson is led by three players in double digits - Shayla Wilson (11.8 ppg), Laurie Beaty (11.8) and Jade Givens (11.5). But the Dragons are more than their starters. They use a heavy dose of substitution to keep legs fresh and the pressure on their opponent.

"We don't have starting five, we have everybody," Givens said. "It's a team thing."

It's a different squad than the one that lost by 39 points to Clearwater last season.

"It's great to be a part of a team that's worked so hard continuously over the years and finally got what they deserved," Givens said. "But we're not done. No one had ever heard of Jefferson's girls basketball, but now we're on the map."

CLASS 6A: So much for a rematch between Sickles and St. Petersburg. Sickles (20-6) will host Sarasota (19-6) tonight, a team that beat St. Petersburg in the region quarterfinals. Sickles, the District 7 runner-up, had lost to St. Petersburg three times this season, including in the district championship.

The Gryphons showed off their comeback ability in their quarterfinal victory against Sarasota Riverview. To get to the next round, Sickles again will need big games by Amber Henson (19.4 ppg), Bre Crum (13.5 ppg) and Rachel Smith (9.3 ppg).

CLASS 5A: Guess all those free-throw practices paid off for Tampa Bay Tech (23-4). The Titans advanced to the region semifinals with a 41-40 victory against Land O' Lakes, a win that came from four free throws in the final two minutes. Tampa Bay Tech now gets a tough Wesley Chapel (25-2) team.

Courtney Jenkins (13.2 ppg) leads the Titans, while Jasmine Rodriquez is averaging a double-double (12.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg).

CLASS 3A: Tampa Catholic (25-2) owns a three-game win streak against St. Pete Catholic (21-6). Tonight, the Crusaders will try to make it four in a row. A little more than three points per game was the difference in each of the victories for Tampa Catholic.

The Crusaders have the benefit of three players in double digits - Colette Eule (19.8 ppg), Sarah Brennan (16.4 ppg) and Micah Kroll (11.5 ppg).

CLASS 2A: Tampa Prep is not satisfied with its first district championship since 2001. The Terrapins (17-10) want to continue their playoff run. They travel to Fort Meade (15-8) tonight.

Tampa Prep is led by Ayala Wasser, who scored 19 points in its come-from-behind victory against Lakeland Christian, and LaTora Lofgren, who had 16 points, including three 3-pointers.

CLASS 1A: Two rivals will go at it to determine who moves onto the region final. Cambridge Christian (13-10) and Seffner Christian (15-10) split their previous two meetings.

Cambridge will need a big scoring night from Rachel Bode, who led the Lancers in the quarterfinals with 17 points, and Melissa Olsson, who had 12.

The Crusaders have been looking for players to step up since leading scorer Jenny Moorer went down with a knee injury. Courtney Welch and Arielle Sadlowski answered in the quarterfinals with 22 and 13 points, respectively.

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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