By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Tampa Prep entered the Class 2A girls state soccer championship game as an outstanding team. But their opponent seemed unreal - and unbeatable. After all, Delray Beach American Heritage was 31-0 and ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA/adidas national poll.
But there was Tampa Prep, tied at 1 with American Heritage after regulation and two overtime periods. And after three penalty kicks by the Terrapins and, inexplicably, shots by American Heritage that sailed high and hit a post – Tampa Prep was the state champion.
The victory lifted Tampa Prep (27-1-1) to its first girls state soccer championship in the school’s history. Tampa Prep’s Chelsea Klotz, who scored the Terrapins’ lone goal in regulation off a pass from Megan Wall, had a total of four in the state tournament to be named MVP.
Terrapin’s goalkeeper Jordan Hatton also came up big, stopping 11 shots, including American Heritage’s first shot during the penalty kicks.
Basketball: Sickles vs. St. Petersburg, Round 3
The budding rivalry between Tampa Sickles and St. Petersburg boys’ basketball team has added another chapter.
For the third straight season, Sickles is the Class 6A, District 7 boys basketball champion. And for the third straight season, the Gryphons had to knock off St. Petersburg to get there.
In the latest edition of the rivalry, Sickles overcame a four-point fourth quarter deficit, clamped down on defense and rallied for a 55-49 victory.
This comes on the heels of the team’s last regular season meeting, a 48-46 thriller won by the Green Devils on Sickles’ home floor back in December.
"Each time we play, it’s really competitive," Sickles coach Renaldo Garcia said of the rivalry. “Both teams play hard, every possession is critical and a four-point lead when these teams play means nothing."
Sickles (21-6) will open regional play at home against Plant City while St. Petersburg (17-8) will travel to Lakeland.
Boys District Basketball Roundup
In other district championship action, Lakeland topped Plant City 68-64 in 6A-8, Brandon got past Tampa Wharton 42-38 in the 5A-8 title game and Tampa Plant defeated Tampa Middleton 71-61 in 5A-10.
The Class 5A, District 11 championship game St. Petersburg Lakewood held off St. Petersburg Gibbs 46-44, Pinellas Park used free throws to get past Clearwater 38-37 (5A-9), New Port Richey Ridgewood slipped past Land O’ Lakes 66-65 (5A-7) and Dade City Pasco beat Hudson 60-48 in Class 4A-8.
Vanderbilt football signee Archie Barnes scored 35 points to lead Tampa Berkeley Prep’s basketball squad to a 74-54 rout of St. Petersburg Catholic in Class 3A-11. Also, St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut topped Northside Christian 61-45 in 2A-11, Tampa Prep beat Clearwater Calvary Christian 67-45 in 2A-9 and Tampa Bayshore Christian defeated Seffner Christian 56-53 to win the Class A, District 10 title.
Wrestling: More of the Same From Brandon
For the 19th straight season, Brandon won its regional wrestling tournament. In its latest victory Sean Padgett (103 pounds), Eric Grajales (130), Kevin Timothy (135), Joey Cozart (140), Wally Figaro (145), Zaq Berridge (160) and Phil Uno (215) all won Class 2A Region 2 championships for the Eagles.
Brandon advances to the state tournament seeking its eight straight state team championship.
Other individual regional champs included Tampa Hillsborough’s Moses McCray (285 pounds), New Port Richey Tyler Fleming (119 lbs.) and Dunedin’s Danny Miller (171 lbs.).
In Class A, Region 3, standout eighth grader Rossi Bruno (Tampa Jesuit) ran his record to 36-0 this season, capturing the individual crown. Other Jesuit wrestlers advancing to the state meet as regional champs include Ben Reid (152 lbs.) and Chris Kavouklis (189 lbs.)
At the Class 3A, Region 2 meet, Plant City Durant and Valrico Bloomingdale each had individual champions. Durant’s Yamil Crespo and Christian Reed won titles at 145 and 125 pounds, respectively, while Bloomingdale’s Chris Figari won his second straight regional title at 140 pounds.
Class A, Region 2 individual champs included Richard O’ Connor (103) and Jordan Holding (130) from New Port Richey Gulf, Ray Perez (189) and Eric Stroud (215) from Dade City Pasco and 171-pound Devinlee Brown of Hudson.