Tampa Bay Tech guard Fredrick Drayton scored five of his team-high 13 points in the final minute of the fourth quarter to give the Titans a 59-53 win against King in a Class 5A-District 8 boys basketball game Monday. ...more

December 4, 2007

Class 5A REGION 2 FINAL Kissimmee Osceola at Chamberlain WHERE: John Adcock Stadium, 9401 North Blvd., Tampa RECORDS: Osceola 12-0, Chamberlain 9-3 OUTLOOK: Unranked Chamberlain hosts top-ranked and undefeated Osceola for a trip to the Class 5A state semifinals. Osceola eliminated defending state champ Lakeland in the region semifinals and also snapped the former national champion Dreadnaughts' win streak of 53 games earlier this season. The Kowboys are led by running back Bubba Brown, who has rushed for 1,936 yards and 34 touchdowns this season, including 109 yards and three touchdowns in last week's playoff win against Lakeland. Chamberlain has lost only two games at home this season, that being to Hillsborough and Plant. Junior quarterback Dontae Aycock leads the Chiefs' offense with 1,065 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and 853 passing yards with five touchdowns. ... Chamberlain's secondary has a total of 14 interceptions, three of which have been returned for touchdowns. Senior defensive back Justin Bell has been the defensive catalyst, recording 99 tackles, three interceptions and has also been a standout on special teams with six blocked punts and two blocked kicks. Nick Williams REGION 3 FINAL Cape Coral at Largo WHERE: Packers Stadium, 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo RECORDS: Cape Coral 10-2, Largo 12-0 OUTLOOK: The first real test to see how legitimate of a state playoff contender Largo is comes tonight when the Packers play a team from outside Pinellas County. Largo coach Rick Rodriguez stated emphatically Cape Coral is "the toughest team we have faced so far." Rodriguez noted Cape Coral has a balanced offense with a strong offensive line. Like Largo, its best players play on both sides of the ball. Spencer Boyd is Cape Coral's leading rusher with 1,027 yards. Quarterback David Pasquale has thrown for 1,707 yards. Fortunately for Largo, the Packers have faced a quality quarterback before in Clearwater's Luke Loucks and solid running backs like Dunedin's Adaris Bellamy, and effectively handled them. But Largo has yet this season faced an opponent with as many weapons. Despite having Pinellas County regular-season rushing record holder Brynn Harvey (2,237 yards and 26 touchdowns through 12 games), don't be surprised if Rodriguez opens up the offense utilizing quarterback Leonard Johnson's arm as well as his legs (862 yards rushing, nine rushing touchdowns) which excites Johnson. "I have to admit, handing the ball off to the same guy 20 or 25 times can get a little boring," Johnson said. If Johnson can hit some key passes to open up the field for Harvey, the Packers just might advance. Lee Diekemper ...more

November 30, 2007

November 9, 2007

In one of the more uncharacteristic performances by the Berkeley Prep volleyball team this season, the Buccaneers managed to hold off a determined Academy of the Holy Names team in three games 25-12, 25-22, 25-19 Tuesday to advance to the Class 3A-Region 4 final. ...more

November 7, 2007

November 2, 2007

October 26, 2007

The Brandon volleyball team hadn't won a district title since the early 1990s and had only advanced to regional play twice as a district runner-up under sixth-year coach Amy Watson. ...more

October 26, 2007

The Durant volleyball program has not won a district championship since 2002, when the team won its third state title. ...more

October 25, 2007

October 18, 2007

Gaither senior libero Elissa Hausmann is one of the digs leaders in the state. She has committed to play for Florida Gulf Coast University. ...more

October 15, 2007