LAKE PLACID — Virgil Cooper had 10 points and Alonzo Robertson and Teddy Allen each added eight on Friday night as the Avon Park boys basketball team held off an inspired Lake Placid squad for a 44-39 victory in a cross-county showdown. "We played as a team and were focused," said Cooper, whose team watched its eight-point halftime lead dwindle to four with five minutes left before finishing off the Dragons late. "When we play together, we share the ball, and it's a lot more fun." ...more

February 3, 2008

Streaks Roll Past Dragons LAKE PLACID — Jake Trussell scored 19 points and senior Sam Robinson chipped in 12 as the Sebring Blue Streaks raced past Lake Placid 75-29 in the final meeting this season of the cross-county rivals. The score wasn't indicative of the performance by the Blue Streaks, who led by only 14 points at the half and played lazy at times against the Green Dragons. ...more

February 1, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Goalies are often across the field when their teams score and usually miss out on the celebration. But in her last game at home, Lake Placid senior keeper Sydney Stewart got a little taste of what it was like to battle for position and see the ball hit the back of the net after she scored two goals within two minutes in the second half of the Green Dragons 6-0 victory over cross-county rival Avon Park at Roger Scarborough Stadium on Thursday. "This was the most amazing moment of my soccer career," Stewart said. "I'm still in disbelief. I wanted to score at least one goal before my career was done and God gave me two of them." Stewart's first goal came moments into the second half, when a pass from Erica Resendiz found her in single coverage. Some nice footwork and a shot from the left side found the net and a priceless expression came across her face as her teammates swarmed her. ...more

January 12, 2008

WINTER HAVEN — Three Red Devils scored in double figures on Thursday night as the Avon Park girls basketball team started slow but finished strong during a 52-32 victory over Class 2A All Saints Academy. It was the Red Devils' first action since Dec. 21, though AP coach Paulette Daley said the team showed little signs of holiday rust. "We tend to start slow anyway," she said. "But once we got our rhythm back, we picked up the pace and played at our level." ...more

January 5, 2008

SEBRING — Speed has its place on the highway, but nothing slows a team down more than the inability to deal with an opponent that's fleet of foot. The Lake Placid boys soccer team had no antidote to the team speed of the Sebring boys soccer team, which was quicker to the ball, faster in the open field and were quick on defense in their 4-2 victory over cross-county rival Green Dragons at Firemen's Field. Sophomore Buck Schroeder's speed was on display early, as he broke away from his man on the left wing and watched his chip shot dribble into the net for the game's first score just four minutes into the contest. ...more

December 12, 2007

It was the road less traveled. Maybe never traveled. If it's been traveled, I'd like proof. On Wednesday, I set out on, dare I say, an unprecedented journey that reached the far corners of Hillsborough County to witness, in as many instances as possible, arguably the biggest day for high school senior athletes: National Signing Day. ...more

November 15, 2007

SEBRING — All T.J. Williams was missing was a cape. That was the kind of performance the senior tailback put on for the home crowd on Friday night during Sebring's 36-14 victory over arch-rival Avon Park in front of a capacity crowd at Firemen's Field in the Class 3A-District 12 showdown. ...more

November 4, 2007

T.J. Williams rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a third touchdown to lead the Sebring Blue Streaks to a 36-14 victory over cross-county rival Avon Park at Firemen's Field on Friday. ...more

November 2, 2007

AVON PARK –– Red and blue paint have been in short supply this week in Highlands County, as all eyes fall on tonight's showdown between cross-county foes Sebring and Avon Park. Many fans have been painting their cars, signs or themselves this week in anticipation of the big game. The bad blood between Avon Park and Sebring brews all year, with one team looking to keep possession of bragging rights while the other looks for payback. ...more

November 2, 2007

SEBRING — It was on everyone's mind. Looming in the shadows like a thief in the night, the DeSoto Bulldogs. That was the hot topic of conversation for the Avon Park Red Devils after defeating the Palmetto Tigers in four games (18-25, 25-20, 25-10, 25-16) during the Class 4A-District 10 volleyball tournament on Tuesday to set up a match against the top-seeded Bulldogs. ...more

October 25, 2007