Girls basketball: Pasco County district preview

Class 7A-District 9

WHERE: Steinbrenner High School, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz

SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Chamberlain (4) vs. Gaither (5), 7 p.m.; Wednesday: Freedom (2) vs. Wiregrass Ranch (3), 6 p.m.; Steinbrenner (1) vs. Chamberlain-Gaither winner, 8 p.m. Friday: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Wiregrass Ranch coach Jon Gant has guided a program that in the beginning of the season had many questions marks to a 17-7 record in a tough Hillsborough County-laden district. Area powers Steinbrenner and Freedom are the two favorites to reach the district final, but don't count out the Bulls as they feature one of the top playmakers in the area in forward Kelly McCaffrey (18.7 points a game, 8.8 rebounds). The Bulls split regular-season contests with Freedom and in the first game against Steinbrenner lost 59-35, but the second go around only lost 41-32. Wiregrass should have an excellent opportunity of making things interesting in this district.

Class 6A-District 10

WHERE: River Ridge High School, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey

SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Land O' Lakes (4) vs. Sunlake (5), 7 p.m. Wednesday: Mitchell (2) vs. River Ridge (3), 6 p.m.; Tarpon Springs (1) vs. Land O' Lakes-Sunlake winner, 7:30 p.m. Friday: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: No team has made a more dramatic improvement then Tarpon Springs, who last year finished 6-23 and now is 12-9 and holds the No.1 seed in 6A-10. The Spongers picked up two 5-point victories over River Ridge 43-38 and 45-40 and split regular-season matchups with Mitchell. The Royal Knights have been on fire as of late and are winners of eight of their past 10 games, including an eight-game winning streak. River Ridge will rely heavily on Leah Ford (15.6 points a game) and Vashoula Kostogiannes (10.4). Mitchell has played good defensively all year but has started to drop off, losing two of its past four games. It is a coin toss between who will win the River Ridge-Mitchell semifinal game, with both teams evenly matched.

Class 5A-District 8

WHERE: Anclote High School, 1540 Sweetbriar Drive, Holiday

SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Gulf (1) vs. Hudson (8), 6 p.m.; Pasco (2) vs. Zephyrhills (7), 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday: Fivay (4) vs. Anclote (5), 6 p.m.; Ridgewood (3) vs. Wesley Chapel (6); Friday: Pasco-Zephyrhills winner vs, Ridgewood-Wesley Chapel winner, 6 p.m.; Gulf-Hudson winner vs. Fivay-Anclote winner, 7:30 p.m. Saturday: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: The Buccaneers about over a month ago probably would've been the all-out favorites to take the 5A-8 title with no questions asked, especially after a dominating 49-31 victory over second-place Pasco. The Gulf-Pasco rematch on Jan. 13 played out a different scenario as the Pirates lost 68-57 but proved they can compete and stay with the Bucs. Gulf is led by its three-guard trio of Lexy Schulman (9.5 assists a game, 7.5 steals a game), Kayla Kivinski (20.0 points a game) and Kadejah Saunders (16.2 points). Pasco is led by Allahon Marbra (16.7 points) and point-guard Brianca Roberts, who is averaging 14.8 points and four assists a contest. Ridgewood could be a darkhorse to upend the Pirates' dream season, though, as the Rams have lost narrowly to Pasco, 44-39 and 50-44. The Rams are led by guard Natasha Morris, who is averaging 17.1 points a game and broke the 1,000-points mark for her high school career a couple weeks ago.

Class 3A-District 8

WHERE: Seffner Christian Academy, 11605 East U.S. Highway 92, Seffner

SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Bishop McLaughlin (4) vs. Carrollwood Day (5), 7 p.m. Friday: Brooks-DeBartolo (2) vs. Tampa Prep (3), 5:30 p.m.; Seffner Christian Academy (1) vs. Bishop McLaughlin-Carrollwood Day winner, 7 p.m.; Saturday: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Bishop McLaughlin is the No. 4 seed and went 2-6 in district play this season, with both wins coming against 2-13 Carrollwood Day, who went 0-8 in the district. Seffner Christian dominated district play by going 8-0 and are led offensively by three scorers, including freshman power forward Peyton Walker (18.3 points a game), Sabrina Whiting (15.3 points) and Ally Parimore (11.3 points). Brooks-DeBartolo is the No. 2 seed and should reach the 3A-8 championship game against Seffner Christian.

Class 2A-District 8

WHERE: Cambridge Christian School, 6101 North Habana Avenue, Tampa

SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Tampa Bay Christian (4) vs. Cambridge Christian (5), 6 p.m. Thursday: Hernando Christian (2) vs. Citrus Park Christian (3), 6 p.m.; Academy at the Lakes (1) vs. Tampa Bay Christian-Cambridge Christian winner, 8 p.m.; Friday: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW: Academy at the Lakes has cruised through 2A-8 this season and should have no problem reaching the championship game as the Wildcats have defeated opponents within the district by an average of 57.6 points, according to Maxpreps.com. The Wildcats are led offensively by point-guard Samantha Fernandez and guard Amelia Oliver.

Andy Villamarzo