MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week presented by the Florida National Guard

The battle cry is now simple for the Bloomingdale (Valrico) baseball team: "Let's get to tomorrow."

The Bulls and coach Kris Wilken have had loads of success over the years, but getting through the district tournament has been a major obstacle.

Now that Bloomingdale has broken through that barrier, the Bulls are ready for the next step and Friday take on Park Vista (Lake Worth) in the state 8A semifinals in Fort Myers.

Following three straight state wins by a total of four runs, the Bulls have been selected the state's final 2013-14 MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

Wilken, whose team last week beat Riverview 6-5, Plant 5-3 and Winter Park 2-1, said the reason for the breakthrough season is two-fold. His teams have won 77 games the last four seasons.



"Number one, we coaches really tried to change the mindset of the kids going into the season," Wilken said. "We have had success the past few years in regards to win totals, but have struggled to get out of our own district. So we emphasized all year that our regular season games were going to be used to get better everyday in preparation for the district tournament. The kids really bought into it and have played at a different level ever since the district tournament.

"Number two, our district is extremely good from top to bottom. We played district opponents 11 times before entering the district tournament and I really believe that prepared us for right now more than anything."

In the win over Winter Park, winning pitcher Logan Crouse, freshman Justin Gross and Luke Moore combined on a six-hitter, while the offense made the most of four hits. Sophomore Austin James had an RBI single. Down 1-0, Bloomingdale got single tallies in the fifth and sixth.

In the win over Plant, winning pitcher Crouse pitched 3.2 innings in relief of starter Daylon Owens. They combined on a seven-hitter. Crouse also scored the go-ahead run in the eighth. Josh Mote and Crouse drove in runs, Conrado Skepple scored two runs.

Crouse is 8-2 on the year with a 0.69 ERA.

"Logan has really come on offensively since the regional quarterfinals," Wilken said. "He has had big hits and scored big runs for us. But there is no doubt that we play at a different level when he is on the mound. There is a higher level of confidence when he is out there and he's a special athlete that demands the best of himself and his teammates."



The Bulls almost didn't make it to the second round of the regionals, but fought back from a 4-2 deficit in the sixth against Riverview. They scored three in the sixth and two in the seventh and finished with 13 hits, including three by Crouse, who went the distance to pick up the pitching win.

He had a double and triple and drove in one, while Skepple, Doug Sandberg and Cody Wilson all had two hits.

The team is hitting .252, led by Skepple (.381) with 32 hits, including eight for extra bases. The Bulls love to run with 63 stolen bases, led by Sandberg and Skepple with 19 steals apiece.

"From a skill standpoint, Conrado is as talented as any position player that I've had," Wilken said. "He has really grown the past couple years mentally and really tries to stay within himself and not try to do too much. He has done that all year for us. I'm not going to say it was unexpected because we knew how talented he was, but what he has done this year from a numbers standpoint has been way more than we could have hoped for."

Beyond all the success on the field, the Bulls carry a 3.1 team grade point average as well.

"I'm so proud of all of them. They worked so hard since September on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom," Wilken said. "That makes me as proud, if not more proud, than the on-the-field success we are having."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
When Melinda Wyatt took over for the then-winningest softball coach in Florida State history, Charlene Varnell (597 wins), she could have only hoped for the type of team she has now.



The Tate (Cantonment, Fla.) Aggies are 24-3 and in the state Final Four of the 7A playoffs. They take on St. Thomas Aquinas in Friday's semifinals in Vero Beach, Fla., known as Dodgertown.

"We've never won a state (fastpitch) title, but this is definitely the most talented team I've had in 10 years as head coach," Wyatt said. "They could break the string."

Number one in the state according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, Tate has outscored opponents 263-61.

For their ranking, talent and accomplishments on the field thus far, the Aggies are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"It's a great honor and I hope we can back it up with a couple of wins," Wyatt said.

Tate is led by their five seniors, all of whom have signed college scholarships, and junior hurler Tori Perkins (20-2, 0.66 ERA, 180 strikeouts, 137.2 innings).

"At the beginning of the year I knew I had a strong senior class with a lot of talent and the junior class was strong and right there with them," said Wyatt. "We've kept our same practice routine and try to stay loose. I don't give them many days off because I want them to touch the ball everyday and stay focused."



Perkins has already committed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. That is also where senior second baseman Rachel Dunsford, who has smacked four of her team's 19 home runs this season, will head next year.

"Not only is Tori our workhorse on the mound, but she is also a tremendous athlete," said Wyatt. "She's a very good defensive position player. On the mound, if she gives up a fly ball or a grounder, she has all the confidence in her team behind her and vice versa. Her team has a lot of confidence in her and I think they compliment each other well. Last year, Tori was in some tough games and she's grown up a lot and worked hard to improve this season."

Tate is located just 12 miles from the Alabama border on the westernmost tip of the Florida panhandle.

Dunsford also leads the team with a .467 average to go along with 27 RBIs.

"Rachel is a multi-position player and a dual defensive player, so she has the whole package," said Wyatt. "She's been playing high school ball with us since seventh grade and she's been coming to our camps we put on since she was seven or eight years old, so I've known Rachel for a long time. It seems like she's been around and on the team forever, but I know next year I'm for sure going to notice when she's not out there. Rachel is our best hitter and a great student. She is one of those types of kids who you just really enjoy being able to coach."

Other senior players who have earned scholarships for the Aggies are infielder Brooke Howell, center fielder Bailey Burk, infielder Bridget Dall and catcher Kaylen Rowell.

Rowell (.414) leads the team with 35 RBIs and is one of four girls with three home runs. The others are Perkins, junior Casey McCrackin and junior Rachel Wright.



Lauren Brennan is second on the team with 32 RBIs, followed by Perkins and Dunsford (27), Dall (24) and Wright (23). Brennan and Burk are each hitting .412.

"It's a close-knit group," Wyatt said. "Most of them have been playing together forever. They do everything together."

Most important, they play the game together very well. Last week, they won 10-0 over Navarre and 5-1 over East Ridge.

"At the very beginning of the season, we sat down as a group and had a little talk to see what direction we wanted to take the team," said Wyatt. "I told the players that it was up to them to follow through with that plan. The whole year, the seniors have been accountable for the team. That has been their job and responsibility. This is what the senior group has been expected to do."

Last year, the Aggies went 21-5 but didn't play in the state tournament, despite a 14-0 district record.

In St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), the Aggies face a squad (28-2) that is ranked fourth in the state and won the state 7A title last season.



"We've never played them and we know they are very, very good," Wyatt said. "But I know we're very, very good also. ...

"We know that we can only control what Tate does, not what other teams do. Sometimes we don't know what our opponents are like and so we have to come out and play how Tate plays. Each game this year we have approached the same way and tried to come out strong and play our personal best. We look at games like a boxing match, where we have to win seven rounds and the girls have really bought into that and have taken that into their own hands."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
Something has clearly changed.

The Key West (Fla.) baseball program had produced just one winning season since 2007, and the last two seasons the Conchs were a combined 11-24.

But with new coach Ralph Henriquez, a familiar face on campus, Key West is a resounding 24-3-1 and ranked 19th in the state according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.

For their remarkable turnaround, the Conchs are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.



It's not like Key West doesn't have a rich baseball tradition. It's won 11 state titles, the last one coming in 2004-05 when Henriquez, who was a coach with the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees, last coached the team.

Key West also won five titles in the 1950s, one in the 60s, one in the 80s and three in the 90s.

"We have rebuilt the program to try to bring back the rich tradition that Key West has," said Henriquez. "We started off the season with training and preparing the kids in order to work on rebuilding everything. I wanted to hold the kids to higher standards and make sure they are fundamentally sound.

"As a coach, I want to prepare these guys for that next level, not just to be high school athletes. Our coaching staff wanted to create an environment that focused on player development and winning."

This season the Conchs have used a potent offense, scoring 225 runs while hitting .357 as a team.

They've whacked 14 home runs, four from senior co-captain Steven Wells (.459 average, 45 hits, 13 doubles and 36 runs). He leads the team in every one of those categories.



"Steven is a kid who has improved so much this season," said Henriquez. "He has learned how to have a serious work ethic and work really hard. That talent has always been there, but he just needed to believe in himself and what he has always been capable of doing."

Sophomore Greg Veliz (.449, 20 doubles, 28 RBI), Hugo Valdes (.409, 24 runs, 36 hits, 33 RBIs and eight doubles) and Darren Miller (.442, 23 hits, 19 RBIs) all have three home runs.

The team doesn't run often with 21 steals, but its only been caught stealing once.

The pitching is led by junior Jay Feathers (5-0, 3.07 ERA), sophomore Veliz (7-0, 0.95 ERA), Brandon Presley (5-2, 1.64 ERA) and Wells (3-0, 0.22 ERA).

Veliz has struck out 71 in 51 innings.

"The first thing I focused on was implementing a new pitching system," said Henriquez. "It's a piggy-back system that always has two pitchers a game, where one pitches 5 innings with about 70 pitches and then they're done for the game. I also developed pitchers who had never pitched before to come in and pitch two innings, like Steven Wells. This season, Steven has improved consistently. He's throwing harder, and he understands pitching more.



"Cutting down on the innings that they've thrown allows them to not be tired or worn out so that come playoffs, if needed they can pitch more innings. ... Our pitching coach, Randy Sterling has been great working with our pitchers. He coached with me during the 2005 season as well. It is definitely a bonus for the kids to have Randy around them.

Key West has gone 10 straight games without a loss (nine wins, one tie), including a 4-3 win over Gulliver Prep last Thursday.

Wells was picked as the Player of the Game in that one with two runs scored and two hits, including a double. He also pitched six innings and struck out 13 to pick up the victory.

"The environment at Key West baseball games is very unique and different," said Henriquez. "Especially at our home games, the atmosphere is great with big crowds, entertainment and concessions. We get the opportunity to play in front of 700-800 fans with a a very loud crowd. Coaches from other areas love to bring their teams down to play in the Key West area because its a great way to prepare for playoffs and get their players comfortable in that kind of environment.

"It is a very cool being a part of that and having those kinds of games for high school players to get to experience."

Key West opens the 4A state playoffs Thursday at home against St. Brendan (Miami) (5-12). Presley, the team's 6-foot-6 ace lefty will likely be a key member of Key West's playoff run.



"It has been very enjoyable as a coach to see where these kids started at the beginning of the year, to where they're at now," said Henriquez. "That was great (Presley) got the no-hitter and we also have other young players (Veliz, Feathers) who have contributed strong pitching for us this year.

"We wanted our program to be a combination of player development and winning because at the next level it is just about winning, so it has been our job to give these players all the tools in order to improve as individual players. Here we want to make sure they are ready for the next level, so we treat them like adults, not high school kids. This process was new to them, but they bought into it, have worked hard to improve, and the winning will take care of itself."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
The magic number for most baseball and softball players is .300. If you hit better than that, you're beating the odds as well as opposing pitchers.

If you're hitting .400, well, then you just about own opposing pitchers.

So imagine the poor softball pitchers around the Gainesville area who face P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), which sports a team .415 average. That's right. If you're hitting .405 on the Blue Wave you're not even pulling your weight.

No wonder Yonge has started the season 21-3 and is the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"The experience, more than anything else, is what has allowed us to be successful this year," said P.K. Yonge head coach Paul Silverman. "This group has really embraced it. They're very committed, very loyal, they look out for one another — all the positives of being together, we've got that without really any of the negatives. It's been a really enjoyable year for all of us."



The team has a perfect blend of youth and experience with three eighth-graders, one freshman, three sophomores, three juniors and four seniors, but at the K-12 school where young players are allowed to play on varsity, even the young players are seasoned.

Case in point — three of the seniors have been on the varsity team since sixth grade, the other since seventh.

The Blue Wave have piled up 180 runs while giving up 49, thanks in part to the efforts of senior Kalen McGill (.469, 27 RBIs, 10 doubles, three homers), sophomore Kaitlyn Burke (.553, 23 RBIs, four homers, nine doubles) and junior Garland Evans (.457, nine doubles, 20 RBIs).

"(McGill) has been outstanding," said Silverman. "She's done it both in the circle and at the plate."

Senior Kassidy Kennard (.386) and eighth-grader Bailey Ledvina (.377) have knocked home 17 runs apiece. Senior Sara Hendrix sets the table for everyone by hitting .521 with 38 hits and team-best 32 runs. She's also stolen a team-best 44 bases, followed by 32 from sophomore Nikkia Robinson.

"(Hendrix) is our leadoff hitter. She kind of gets us going. When she gets on base we're usually successful," said Silverman.

Silverman counts on McGill and Hendrix to be leaders in games and in practice.



"The talent is there. No matter how hard you work, if you don't have the God-given talent it's going to be difficult to get to the success at their level," he said. "What they do, they combine it with hard work. And that's what brings them to the next level. They don't take their talent for granted.

"Now for seven years, they come out and learn something at practice every day. They're willing to be coached and get better. They're humble. I think all of that allows them to continue to improve."

The Blue Wave have stolen a remarkable 154 bases, or about six per game.

McGill is the team's ace with a 20-2 record and 136 strikeouts.

She helped the team race to a 16-0 record to start the season after it went 25-3 last year, losing 7-0 in the state 3A regional final to Bishop Snyder, which lost in the state finals 1-0 to American Heritage.

Coach Silverman has built a solid program since coming over in 2011 with records of 18-5, 12-8 and last year's 25-3 team.



P.K. Yonge earned the nation's No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings after starting 11-0.

"We want to win the state championship," said Silverman. "We've knocked at the door. The last two years we've made it to our regional final, and both times we've lost to the same team. With this group of seniors, this is really their last opportunity to do it as a team.

"We've embraced the goal. We've talked about it from the beginning of the year. We want to win the state championship. We think we have the talent to do it, and that is the goal."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
When you're 21-0, everything works.

Just ask Clearwater Central Catholic baseball coach Todd Vaughan, whose team has opened the season with 21 straight wins, outscored opponents 200-34, compiled a .339 team batting average, stolen 79 bases, made just 20 errors and sported a 1.01 team ERA thus far.

For all their excellence, the Marauders are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.



Central Catholic has picked up from last season's 27-5 record and state semifinal finish.

"We really have not done anything different," Vaughan said. "We always stress a team concept and ask players to support each other. We also ask the players to challenge themselves both physically and mentally to be able to honestly say they put forth their best effort today."

It helps to have a player like Brenden Overton in the middle of your lineup. Overton is hitting .520 with team highs of seven home runs and 30 RBIs.

"Brenden sits in the middle of our lineup and has for the last two years," Vaughan said. "He works good at-bats and is a good clutch hitter. It is always a good feeling when we have runners on and Brenden is coming up."

The Marauders have plenty of other big bats, including Nicholas Dohse (.304), Zuriel Collins (.409), Tyler Simmons (.320), Derek Gibree (.328), David Paul (.327) and Andrew Mink II (.350).

On the mound a pair of standouts, David Paul (7-0, 0.95) and Jeffrey Smith (6-0, 2.59), have led the way.

"David is an outstanding competitor," Vaughan said. "And has been our ace since he was a sophomore. He wants the ball in big games and against good competition."



The Marauders have speed up and down the lineup, led by Britton Araujo with 14 steals, followed by Smith with 12 and Collins with 10. Dohse has nine steals and Gibree and Overton have eight apiece.

With all those ingredients, there's no reason to think Clearwater Central Catholic can't win its first state title since 2007. Its also won state crowns in 2002, 1979 and 1971.

Since Vaughan arrived in 2008, the team has gone 27-4, 12-14, 15-8, 19-11, 11-15 and 27-5 last year. Vaughan isn't counting another state crown out, but he certainly doesn't bring it up every day either.

"We treat each game with the respect that it deserves and just try to do our best and improve," he said. "Our ultimate goal, like everyone else, is to win a state title."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
With a school named after the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a former Tampa resident, one should probably expect success. Especially from its baseball team.

Coach John Crumbley and his Warriors have delivered, starting the 2014 season 15-4 after going 24-3 last season. The program started in 2010 and had records before that of 18-6, 19-5 and 17-7, all under Crumbley.

For their strong start and young tradition of success, Steinbrenner (Lutz) has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.



Crumbley said the secret to the team's success is pretty simple.

"Coming in with experience from the previous school I was at, I was able to take those championship team skills and bring them to Steinbrenner," he said. "The main focus for me has been discipline and organization. They say great programs have talented kids and we have been blessed to have our talented kids buy into our plans."

It helps to have players like Kevin Merrell (.474 average, 24 runs, 27 hits, 19 stolen bases) and Alex Hanson (.448, 26 hits, 15 RBIs, 17 stolen bases). Both are Division I signees and Merrell is a four-year letterman.

Hanson is a former football player who has focused on baseball the last two seasons.

Crumbley says when you have athletes like Merrell and Hanson, you let them go.

"We have our go signals for green light and stay signals and both these guys had great junior seasons," he said. "They both have speed, agility and experience. We are taking the talent that these kids have and putting it into our game plan and right now it's working for us."

The Warriors, who opened the season with a 26-1 victory, have plenty of offensive firepower. The team is hitting .351 and led by senior Cole Gordon who is hitting .417 with 20 hits, 20 RBIs, three doubles and three homers. He's a three-year star who led the team in homers and RBIs last season and is headed to Mississippi State.



Other big hitters including Mijon Cummings (.327, 17 hits, 15 RBIs) and Chase Debonis (.439) and Brennan Garcia (17 hits, 16 RBIs).

The Warriors have stolen 59 bases (three per game) as a team.

"We are lucky to have four Division I signees on our team," Crumbley said. "As a baseball program, we are going to continue to utilize our players' abilities to help our team win games."

The Warriors also sport a nifty 1.92 team ERA, led by Garcia (6-2, 2.29 ERA) and Gideon Dunn (3-1, 1.12 ERA).

"We have been able to progress one step every year and last year, we won our first regional game," Crumbley said. "This year we want to win our district playoffs and then we will get ready to play solid regional play. Our goal is to always progress. Right now we are working hard to obtain those goals."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
Timely hitting and pitching is historically an unbeatable combination on the diamond. Throw in some nearly flawless defense and it's easy to understand how the softball team at Harmony has opened the season at 18-1.



The Longhorns have combined a powerful offense with the remarkable pitching and overall play of senior pitcher and shortstop Aleshia "Lele" Ocasio to outscore its first 19 opponents 150-20.

With a defense that has committed less than one error per game — 14 overall — coach Jeff Fiorelli's team has backed up last year's 26-4 campaign with an even better one thus far.

For their outstanding performance, the Longhorns have been selected as the Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"As a coaching staff we have been focused on two main things: our team chemistry and bonding and also our speed and agility," said Fiorelli. "We focus on our speed and proper footwork. ... We emphasize proper hand movement and proper footwork because the key role in routine plays on the field is making sure your movements are under control and properly done."

Fiorelli even went as far as to set up a training course with various exercises that is used to supplement regular practice.

The Longhorns started the season with five straight shutouts, while scoring 58 runs of their own, and have added three since giving them eight on the year.



"(Ocasio's) demeanor on the mound is — that is her world," said Fiorelli. "She dares you to try to get a hit on her and she thrives on that. The other girls can tell and they see that intensity that she brings and they feed off of that energy.

"Lele lives for being in that circle, but she doesn't like the spotlight and she doesn't like to talk about it. She had five consecutive no-hitters to start off the season and in the sixth game she was in the sixth inning when she gave up a hit. I felt sorry for the next batter who was up at the plate because I think she threw it 70-mph. When asked by a reporter after one of her no-hitters, 'What are you going to do to celebrate?' she replied, 'Go home and do my homework.'

"She isn't someone who is going to throw her glove up in the air — she see's it as a game within a game. Lele is going to throw a strike and dare you to hit. Her mentality is that when the game is on the line, she wants the ball."

With only 12 on his roster, Fiorelli's team is small but mighty, while being ranked seventh in the very large state of Florida.

Harmony is hitting .371 as a team, lead by Ocasio (.491) who has six homers. She's back up by Lily Mann (.453) and Brooke Harris (.412). Oscasio and Madison Urquiola (.364) lead the team with 20 RBIs each.

On the mound Ocasio is almost untouchable with a 15-1 record with a 0.34 ERA. In 82 innings she's struck out 164, exactly two per frame.



Molly Baker (3-0, 0.91) with 29 strikeouts in 31 innings is also more than capable on the mound.

"They are a very tight knit group and as coaches we had to talk about taking the twelve players we did because the JV team has strong players as well, but we knew we had a set group we wanted and then a few great role players, so we felt we could get away with the twelve," said Fiorelli.

To increase team bonding the coaching staff set up drills where the girls were divided into teams, with the winners receiving a reward. They also attended a Florida State vs. Florida softball game together.

"This was great to have the girls all there, sitting together, bonding and watching these two teams play," said Fiorelli. "As a coach, that was one of my main goals this season, was to come together as a team and have that chemistry."

The Longhorns hope to erase a 1-0 loss to eventual 7A champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the semifinals. STA went on to beat Freedom (Tampa) 1-0 in the championship.

Clearly the softball in Florida is clean and crisp.



The Longhorns have risen swiftly up the power rankings over the years. In 2009, Harmony was 19-8-1, followed by seasons of 20-8-1, 13-10, 22-8 and 9-5 in 2012 before last year's breakout season.

"No question, their ultimate goal is to win a state championship," said Fiorelli. "Our school is 10 years old and no sport has won a state title yet. As coaches, we put an emphasis on needing to play every single game like it is the state championship game. Before every game we talk to them and say, 'This is the state championship game, how are you going to go out there and play tonight?' That way they won't be nervous when they are really there.

"They know they have the talent and if they focus on each game at a time they can reach their goal."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
"If you can't beat them, then join them" is an old political saying that's been tossed around since the 1940s.

"If you can't score on them, then you can't beat them," is something the Sarasota baseball team might have conjured up thus far in the 2014 season.

The Sailors are off to a 13-0 start while outscoring opponents by a 110-12 mark. They've recorded seven shutouts and allowed two or fewer runs in all but one game, including a 4-2 triumph over two-time defending state champion Venice, which was ranked No. 6 in the country.



For their fast start, lights-out pitching and stellar defense, the Sailors are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

Coach Clyde Metcalf had a good hunch the Sailors would be strong with such a fantastic pitching staff.

"We have three senior pitchers who have signed Division I scholarships and a junior pitcher who is a strong recruit," he said. "We are averaging just over one walk per game so they do a really good job and are a very talented group.

"Defensively, we've been playing exceptional. We have nine errors in 13 games. They say that pitching and defense wins the game and those two things have been the key for us."

In the win over Venice, Brandon Chapman scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on a balk and Sam Carillo added insurance with a sacrifice fly, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Zach McMullen, a lefty, was the winning pitcher, striking out five in two innings of relief.

"I wanted the ball," McMullen said. "I was feeling good and I was already loose at that point since I was already in the game."



McMullen took over for Evan Mendoza, who went the first seven and gave up just two runs on six hits.

"We were very prepared," Metcalf said about the win over Venice. "It's a big rivalry since they are 20 minutes south of us and the kids always look forward to that game. Both teams played great and we were lucky to get those runs at the end. We've had some great games with them over the years and they've knocked us out of playoffs the last two years. That adds an extra incentive to the game.

"It was a very exciting game. There was a big crowd and a great atmosphere with two really good high school baseball teams. It was a pleasure to be a part of that. We play them again later and I'm sure the next game will have a very similar atmosphere."

Under Metcalf, Sarasota has gone 142-50 since 2007, including 22-7 last season. The Sailors reached the second round of the 7A playoffs, losing to — of all teams — Venice, 3-0.

Metcalf has been coaching for 33 years total. He doesn't appear interested in retiring any time soon.

"I always loved the game and had a passion for coaching," he said. "I was an assistant coach for six years and then my alma mater Sarasota called and I was lucky enough to get offered this job. It was a dream job because I was born and raised in this community and I grew up on our little league fields, so it was a pretty good fit."



Besides McMullen and Mendoza, right-hander Joey Cavallaro has been a standout. He's headed to the University of South Florida.

Other big hitters for Sarasota are Matt Schlabach, Mason Dancer and Cody Brickhouse. The Sailors have gone 8-0 against Class 7A-District 10 play.

Metcalf likes the outlook and makeup of his squad.

"Our guys prioritize well and are good at taking it one game at a time," he said. "Our first goal is to win the district championship. They don't talk about it, but I know it's in the back of their minds to want to make it down to Fort Myers. We talk about the process a lot and what we need to do to win the district championship and they know we have to keep going through that process."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
News alert. Not only does St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) possess the best softball team in the state of Florida, but the same girls are also evidently superb long-distance runners.

Well, that is if you listen to coach Bryan Baucom.

"It's not a sprint, but a marathon," the coach said after his defending state champions have started the season 14-0.



The Raiders aren't just 14-0 — they've outscored foes by an astounding 133-6 count. On top of that, they started the season with five straight shutouts and 10 in 11 games.

So when asked about repeating as state champions, Baucom said it's not even on the radar.

"Our team works hard each day and they know it won't be easy to repeat," he said. "One game at a time is our approach."

For that approach and their fast start, the Raiders have been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

The pitching is led by Meghan King, who is already 8-0 and has allowed just two earned runs in 55 innings. In that time she has 91 strikeouts and has allowed 15 hits.

"Meghan loves the big game," Baucom said. "She prepares herself mentally for those big games and has worked hard this off season to improve from last year."

If she falters, which doesn't appear likely, the Raiders have two other capable hurlers in Katie Behm and Olivia Saviskas, a freshman. Both are 3-0.



All the pitchers have plenty of offensive support.

Five girls are hitting at least .500 (with at least 10 at-bats), led by senior Gwen Svekis, who is hitting .621 with three home runs and 16 RBIs.

"She is the rudder of our boat," Baucom said of Svekis. "She steers the team in the right direction. She is a special talent that doesn't come along too often."

Other top hitters include Tayler Hishon (.500), Brianna Stella (.531), Thais Gonzalez (.516) and Brooke Stock (.500). Hishon, Stella and Stock are sophomores.

"We have a talented group of kids and there are 11 to 12 players who could be in the starting lineup," Baucom said.

But even with that much talent, the Raiders take nothing for granted.



"I think the goal is always win the last game you play," said Baucom. "Our team understands that no one is going to hand over the championship to them. Last year we played all of our playoff games on the road, which will benefit this team because they know how hard that was. There is no talk about states, just the next game."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
It's one thing to get to the top. It's another to stay there.

Bruce Aven and his American Heritage baseball team have built quite a dynasty in Plantation and, judging by their 8-1 start, the Patriots plan to keep it.

For their fast start and track record, American Heritage has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We put an emphasis on the players to pass the torch from one season to another. We want to teach them that there is more after high school baseball and we want them to reach that next level," said Aven. "We have 13 college players from the last two seasons and already four or five this season who have signed to play with a college."

The two-time state champions have racked up more than nine runs per game while allowing less than three per contest en route to their fast start.

The Patriots are currently No. 9 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings.



"We want them to have a commitment to be the best you can be and not just with high school baseball," said Aven. "In order to do this, they know they need to put in the extra effort. These players sacrifice a lot of time and they give up things that their friends get to do in order to put in that effort to get extra swings and lift when they don't want to lift. We also want our players to fight to lead the team. When a leader graduates, we want someone to step in and take that role."

Louis Beck and Justin Hernandez have notched a couple wins each while riding the bats of Alec Acosta (.500), Milton Ramos (.500) and David Villar (.391) in the early going. Ramos and Villar already have a couple home runs each.

"(Beck) is different than our other aces the way he can hit every single location and changes speed drastically," said Aven. "Beck really frustrates you as a hitter. He is very crafty and smart. He does his research and knows his opponents."

Beck, a senior right-hander, fired a four-hitter with six strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Pompano Beach on Feb. 21. He's 2-1 with 1.11 ERA with 12 strikeouts and three walks in 19 innings thus far.

"He trusts his stuff and we trust him," Aven said of his senior ace. "No matter who we are playing, we are very comfortable with him on the mound. He's great because he wants the ball and wants to be out there and we just watch him do his thing. He recognizes how hard others before him have worked and knows how hard he needs to work and that it's his time to have the torch."

Villar had a home run in that game, while Justin Lamazares and Villar each picked up two hits in the game. It was one of three shutouts in the early going for the Patriots, who also recorded a 16-0 win over Dillard last week. Dallas Perez had a pair of doubles in that one and six American Heritage pitchers combined on a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts.



American Heritage has recorded an impressive 166-32-1 record since 2007-08, including back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2008 and 2009. In Aven's first season in 2012, the Patriots went 28-4 and won the 5A state title.

"Right now, we want to keep getting better," said Aven. "We have some players who came right in from other sports, so we are still trying to get our swings down and into the groove of things. We have a different team than we've had in the past. Last season we had a pitching staff known as 'murderer's row' because they were all deadly. This year it's different because we have more guys who can beat you at the plate with solid hitting one through nine. We know we have to execute a little better and play better defense."

Last year they were 25-4, but lost in the state semifinals to Estero 3-2 after recording a pair of 10-0 wins to open the playoffs. That defeat no doubt has haunted the Patriots throughout the offseason, and has been at the center of a battle cry for hard work.

"Right now the team is trying to get on the same page," said Aven. "As the season keeps progressing and we have more games, we'll start playing together more and things will start to gel. We'll come together and play together as a team. Once we get there, I know we'll be happy with our results."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
Step aside boys, it's the girls' turn.

At least that's what they are saying around Miami High School after the girls basketball team, No. 25 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings, captured its second state 8A crown with a 49-33 win over Treasure Coast last week in Lakeland, Fla.



Junior post Beatrice Mompremier earned 8A tournament MVP efforts for scoring 13 points and adding 15 rebounds in the title game, a contest in which it never trailed.

Miami won its second crown — the first coming in 2005 according to Andre C. Fernandez of the Miami Herald — and now is starting to compete with the school's vaunted boys program that has piled up a state-record 18 Florida basketball titles.

"The boys team has always been an inspiration to us, and we always loved looking up in our gym and seeing all the banners up there," Miami coach Sam Baumgarten told Fernandez. "At Miami High, basketball is treated like family. We had our little one (in 2005) in the corner for a long time. Now, we can put another one next to it."

For their title and 31-1 record, the Miami girls have been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"Winning this year's 8A state championship was our ultimate goal," Baumgarten told MaxPreps. "Since losing to Dr. Phillips in last year's championship game, we vowed to dedicate ourselves to get to this level and be champions.

"If I was asked at the beginning of the season if we could win 30 games I would have told you 'no.' We knew we were going to see some really good teams and we assumed that we would have a loss a couple games here or there. Our kids accomplished this goal by putting aside personal accolades and statistical records for the betterment of the team and the 30-plus win season and a state championship. Preparation for this year's team was easy, seeing that they had a chip on their shoulder and wanted that ring that got away last year."

Mompremier, a 6-foot-4 post, also had a big semifinal game, a 55-37 win over Seminole, with 16 points and 15 rebounds. She's one of the top junior prospects in the country.

Although Mompremier returns, five seniors played pivotal roles in the team's championship, including Antranae Alvin, who scored 13 points in the title game.



"Antranae Alvin is our best defensive player, averaging more than four steals per game. She was a newcomer for us this year at Miami High, spending most of the season getting acclimated to her teammates and learning her role. After getting comfortable she took off as a player and became a major contributor."

Amanda Mendoza, a senior guard, had a team-high 14 points in the victory.

"Amanda Mendoza has been a four-year starter," said Baumgarten. "She is our floor general and our best three-point shooting threat. Standing only 5-foot-2, she has the heart of a lion and is a kid that never let her size get in the way of her being the best that she can always be. She will be missed."

After the championship win, Mendoza was still savoring the moment.

"This is an amazing feeling," she told Fernandez. "It's breathtaking."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
Life coaches will tell you balance is the key to all happiness. Basketball coaches often preach the same message.



Berkeley Prep (Tampa) coach Bobby Reinhart sure does, and it's a large reason why his squad is 27-3 and barreling down the bracket in the Florida 4A playoffs.

Following a regular-season ending loss to Haines City, the Buccaneers have rattled off five straight postseason wins while piling up points by the bushels.

In those five games they've scored 88, 68, 75, 76 and 80 points, utilizing at least five big scoring threats.

For its balance and strong season, Berkeley Prep has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We lost our last regular season game after coming off successive overtime wins over rival schools, Jesuit and Tampa Prep," Reinhart said. "I think it was a timely wake-up call to our guys that we have to remain focused and stay in the present. The guys have worked very hard since and it shows in our play on the court."

The team has been led all year by three core scorers: Justin Gray (17.6 ppg), a 6-foor-4 senior headed to Texas Tech, 6-3 point guard Craig Bowman (15.4) and 6-3 shooting guard Marshall Holmes (14.5).

Add in 6-4 sophomore power forward Jacob Mathis and N'Namdi Green, and Reinhart has lots of offensive weapons to choose from.



"Offensive balance is the key to our success," he said. "It makes us hard to guard. In addition to our big three, Mathis and Green combine for almost 16 points per game. Our chemistry shows on the offensive end."

The Bucs have won at least 20 games in seven of the last eight seasons, including back-to-back 22-8 years coming into 2013-14. This is the team's most wins since 2005-06.

The team has a nice blend of experience and youth with five seniors, four juniors, a sophomore and a freshman. Nobody on the squad is taller than 6-4, so they rely on quickness.

"We played a very tough regular season schedule in order to prepare for the mental and physical rigors of the postseason," Reinhart said. "Our guys are tested and feel confident going into any game."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
As a first-year Ribault (Jacksonville) boys basketball coach, Dale Green evidently knew what he was getting into.

Despite the fact that the Trojans were a combined 15-31 the previous two seasons, Green has led Ribault to a 26-3 record in hopes for a fifth state championship.



The last title was in 1995, after winning crowns in 1994, 1990 and 1989.

Nobody could have possibly seen this coming.

For their remarkable turnaround, the Trojans are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"Rebounding has been something that we knew was important and wanted to do better," said Green. "Ribault used to have a strong program, so we went back to the glory days where the expectation of Ribault was high. I tried to get the guys to buy into that and the old school ways to restore the glory. We got the students more involved and the community more involved to bring back that tradition."

After losing two of four games in late January, Ribault has won four straight games including a 62-58 regional playoff win over Trinity Christian.

The Trojans host Jackson in a regional semifinal game on Tuesday.



Led by three leading scorers, Hari Hall (16.8 points per game), Daishon Smith (12.8) and Torien Moore (10.0), all seniors, the Trojans opened with 12 straight victories, scoring more than 90 in three of those games, including a 110-47 win over Baldwin.

In that game, Smith led the way with 20 points, Hall had 15, Khaliq Williams 12 and Eric Jones and Chris Johnson with 10 each.

"There are so many things that I could say about (Hall)," said Green. "The two words that immediately come to my mind are 'game changer.' He is a game changer and the difference for our team."

Four other players average at least 5.5 points per game. The Lions average 70.4 points per game.

"Our main goal was that we wanted to be able to compete. We wanted to be able to play at the highest level that we could and if we did that, we knew that everything would take care of itself," said Green.

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
The goal for the American Heritage (Plantation) girls soccer team was simple. Win another state title.

The Patriots made it look simple with a 29-0-1 record while outscoring opponents 207-7 en route to a third straight state 3A title.



American Heritage secured that crown with a 3-0 win over Merritt Island behind two goals from junior Melanie Monteagudo and one by Kopecki Michela.

For their success on the field and cohesion as a unit, the Patriots have been named the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"For us as a team, it is a great feeling," said American Heritage coach Cindy Marcial, whose team has won 86 games in three seasons against three defeats and four ties. "We worked really hard all year. Our goal was to get to the championship and win another, so to achieve that was a great feeling."

It helped to have a goal scorer like Monteagudo, who finished with 63 goals and 29 assists on the season.

"She is not the type of player who plays for Melanie," Marcial said. "She plays for her team. If there's an open player in front of the goal, Melanie will pass them the ball. It is very important to have a player who is as good as her to be a team player."

Michela finished off her senior season with a team-high 30 assists.

"She runs my whole team and runs the midfield," Marcial said. "She is a player who gets the tempo up and going for our team. She will definitely be missed next season."



The Patriots had too many contributors to count, but Jessica Blair and Zandy Soree had 21 goals apiece, Martha Thomas had 16 goals as did Isabella De Almagro. In goal, Julia Kingsley, Jennifer Ocampo and Cristina Garwacki all performed superbly.

The team's lethal offense and stingy defense was a perfect storm, which led to a nearly perfect season.

"We have a very strong defense and we play the ball out of the backfield," Marcial said. "The whole team gets it before we score. We don't just kick it up to our offense. Our defense has to start passing and move the ball. As a team, we focused on possession ball and not just booting it up the field."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
The progression is eye-opening. The current team, outstanding. The cause, inspiring.

There's much more to the Strawberry Crest (Dover) girls basketball team than a nifty 24-4 record.

Coached by La'Tosha Lewis, the Chargers were 0-21 in 2009-10, and have steadily improved to 15-12, 11-11 and last year 20-8 before this landmark season and team, which is currently riding a four-game win streak.



Beyond the steady rise and the success on the court, the Chargers are raising awareness off of it.

The team is raising money for domestic violence awareness following the death of an aunt two years ago of the team's top scorer Aliyah Gregory, a University of Central Florida-signee.

Gregory's aunt, Nicole Bush, 35, was a victim of domestic violence.

"She was very important to me," Gregory told Tampa Tribune staff writer Nick Williams. "She helped raise money whenever I needed money for sports equipment. In honor of her, I figured I can help raise money for anybody else dealing with that so they don't have to go through the same thing I went through."

Through the "Assist and Score" program, Gregory and her family accepts pledges through an e-mail account (aliyahgregory.ats@gmail.com). The family sells purple wristbands and the Strawberry Crest team wears purple sneakers and socks. Purple is the official color of domestic violence awareness.

For the team's greater awareness, superb season and steady rise to success, the Chargers are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Army National Guard.

Gregory, a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 21.5 pints, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season, earning her college offers from such places as Pittsburgh, James Madison, Georgia Tech and South Alabama.



This season, she's averaging 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 6.7 steals per game.

She had 37 points in the team's opener, a 75-49 win over Lakewood, and 33 in a 96-7 win over Spoto. She had three consecutive games of 27 points starting on Jan. 10.

Gregory has plenty of scoring help from 5-9 junior guard Maiya Trigg (12.1 ppg), 5-9 sophomore forward Terra Brooks (8.7) and 6-3 junior post Nandi Jorden (8.4).

The team averages 63.7 points per game while allowing just 30.4.

Last year the Chargers lost in the first round of the state 6A playoffs to Sickles 51-49. They figure to make an even stronger state-title push this season.

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
Southeast (Bradenton) girls basketball coach John Harder won his 700th game in December. He's coached 30 years, won a pair of state championship and has basically done it all in Florida.



But talk to the longtime head coach about his current Seminoles and it's like he's starting all over again. He's like a kid in a candy store.

"We want to get a few more wins, but we have had a great year," he said.

What's not to like? Southeast is 24-1, ranked fifth in the state and has won 20 straight games.

For their win streak and ranking, the Seminoles are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

They are led by a pair of fourth-year starters Keshawna Robinson (15.1 points per game) and DeAngela Mathis (15.0), who have each piled up amazing numbers in their career, including each reaching the 1,000-point plateau. Robinson needs just 20 rebounds to reach 1,000 in that department as well.

The most impressive number for each is that they are closing in on 100 wins for a career. Both have 94 against 16 losses.

"They are seasoned veterans," Harder said of the pair. "Both are four-year varsity starters, which is very rare. ... They have played together for a long time. Both of these girls have reached incredible milestones."



So has the team over the years. Since 2009, Southeast has gone 22-3, 28-2, 25-5, 23-6 and 22-4.

The team's only loss of the season was a turning point, a 62-50 defeat to Sarasota in November.

"In that loss to Sarasota, there was a lot of individualism," Harder said. "Within those seven days until we faced Sarasota again, they turned it around and haven't looked back. They started passing more and doing the offense how it needed to be run. We have been down at halftime in many of our games and they fight back. We have a good mix of players with four starters who are seniors. They are motivated and peaking at the right time."

One of those players is Bevin Mays who is third on the team at 11.9 points per game. She's second on the team in steals at 3.1 per game, just behind Mathis (3.2) and ahead of sophomore Breyonna Reed (3.0).

The Seminoles average a remarkable 18.2 steals per game, helping to lead to 55 points per game.

Southeast hopes to continue those trends through district play. The next portion of their season is upon them.



"We want to win the district and that has been our big focus," Harder said. "We reached our 20-win goal, we won the Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments and our front five is looking really good. We want to get a few more wins, but we have had a great year.

"We are in the toughest district in the state, but our main goal is to win the district championship. It will be Southeast's 19th district championship if we can get that on Friday night."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.{PAGEBREAK}
It's not easy to replace a 10-year NBA veteran player. Tougher still to take over a program coming off a school's first state championship.

But that's what Jason Vallery has done and thus far he hasn't missed a beat. Or many shots.

The Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) coach has the Highlanders off to a 17-4 start in defense of the school's 4A state title.

Led by one of the state's leading scorers, Joel Berry (25.1 points per game), Lake Highland Prep is No. 7 in the state computer rankings.

For their drive and success, the Highlanders are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.



"We try to focus on the same thing all season long — play outstanding defense, run whenever we can in transition and set up our teammates for high-percentage shots," said Vallery.

Vallery replaced Jeff Turner, who played 10 seasons in the NBA, and was the Highlanders' coach for eight seasons. Turner was in the Orlando Magic front office before taking Lake Highland's leadership development program.

Turner is still at the school as an associate athletic director, but handed over the reigns to Vallery, who was the head coach at Lake Highland for two seasons before being replaced by Turner.

Vallery has been on the staff ever since, so the transition apparently has been smooth.

The Highlanders were in full flight last week with wins over Osceola (91-66) and Crooms (73-18).

In the win over Osceola, the North Carolina-signee Berry had 26 points on 10-of-14 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Highland Park made 10 3-pointers on the day in just 22 attempts.



"(Berry) is not just a great player, but a great person," said Vallery. "He is both the best player and best person I have ever coached."

Senior Jay Henderson had 17 points, Jaren Lewis 12 and Devon Giddens and Michael Albertson added eight apiece. A 25-12 spurt out of the gate was all the Highlanders needed against a strong Osceola squad (15-6).

In the win over Crooms, sophomore Arlen Bockhorn led the way with 16 points, Lewis had 12, John Gall 11 and Henderson 10.

For the season, the 6-foot, 185-pound point guard Berry averages an impressive 7.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. His season high is 40 points in a 73-68 win over Apex.

"Joel is not just a scorer — he leads us in several other statistical categories," said Vallery. "He scores when we need him to, but does a great job of setting up his teammates as well. He is truly an extension of the coach on the floor."

He started the season making a strong statement with games of 36 and 34 points and since then he's been pretty much a model of consistency.

In his last five games, he's gone for 26, 26, 24, 22 and 31. Like most good scorers, he's very effective at the foul line, shooting 86 percent (136 of 159).



He's not a one-man show by any means.

Henderson, a 6-4 guard, is averaging 11.7 points per game and Lewis, a 6-3 junior, is averaging 9.4. No one else averages more than 6.0 points per game.

Lewis is the team's leading rebounder at 8.6 per game.

The Highlanders have five scheduled games in the regular season. They host Trinity Prep (18-4) on Friday.

"The team wants to repeat as state champs on the court but leave a legacy off it," said Vallery. "If we play within our core system and values and bring intensity and focus to everything we do in our daily lives, we will achieve both come season's end."{PAGEBREAK}
It was an excruciatingly tough loss to be sure.

Freedom (Tampa) girls basketball team lost 79-73 last season in the state 7A semifinals to eventual champion Buchholz (Gainesville) to complete a 25-4 season.



Rather than mope, the Patriots have shown more resolve while streaking to a 16-3 start of the 2013-14 campaign.

Under coach Laurie Pacholke, Freedom has fought back from three losses in early December to win eight straight, including three games last week.

For their response to the losing streak and overall good play, the Patriots are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We have been staying the course," said Pacholke. "We were inexperience coming into this season, so our goal has been to get better everyday. We know that we will be fine down the stretch if we keep working hard each day and continue to get better. Things will fall into place."

The Patriots have rebounded from last year's heartbreaking defeat and the loss of leading scorer Faith Woodard (22.0 points per game), now a freshman at Georgetown, thanks largely to the remarkable play of 5-foot-10 junior point guard Taylor Emery and the fast development of five freshmen.

Emery is averaging 26.3 points per game and has had games of 41, 36, 32 and 31 points.

"(Emery) is a big guard and is able to score in so many different ways," said Pacholke. "She has the best mid-range game I've seen in a high school kid in a long time. Taylor is able to create a lot defensively, which leads to layups. We are very fortunate to have a kid like her. She has taken on the leadership role and knows that she needs to bring it every game."



The Patriots' only other double-digit scorer is sophomore Nari Garner (13.4), though freshman Megan Clark is averaging 8.3 and junior Bianca Igwe has added 7.0 per contest.

Since Pacholke arrived in 2009-10, the Patriots have hovered around the 20-win mark, going 19-6, 20-6 and 18-11 before going 25-4 last season.

Though Freedom averages 62.6 points per game, Pacholke is more of a stickler on the defensive end, where the Patriots allow just 37.6. Five times they've allowed 20 points or less.

Freedom next plays state powerhouse Steinbrenner (Lutz) (20-3) on Friday.

"Last year our team made it to the state semifinals, so it would be cool to get there again and even one step further and get to the state championship," said Pacholke. "We are a really young team, so we are taking it one game at a time. Our goal is to come in and work hard everyday and we'll see how far we can go."{PAGEBREAK}
The boys basketball team at Boone (Orlando) evidently has things all worked out.

After starting the season 6-6, the Braves have rattled off five straight victories thanks largely to the state's leading scorer, B.J. Taylor, who averages a whopping 34.2 points per game.



For their recent flurry, Boone has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

Boone has a rich basketball history with state championships in 1978 and 1984, along with six district titles and five regional crowns.

But last year's 23-7 season under coach Greg Shirley was the Braves' first 20-win season since 2004.

"Our goal is to improve daily," said Shirley. "Last year we were ranked pretty high and we have a couple returning veteran players, but also some new guys. Our main goal and focus this year is to play together. We want to be able to root for each other and be happy for each others' success."

Taylor, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard who has signed with UCF, averaged a team-best 18.7 points per game on that team. However the Braves graduated two double-digit scoring seniors in Robby Irwin and Schuyler Rimmer.

Filling that void was been a challenge for Boone early as it dropped its first two games, 65-60 to University and 73-44 to Evans.

But following a 63-62 win over Apopka, the Braves (11-5) really got it going with a 100-69 win over Lake Brantley as Taylor exploded for a career-high 59 points.



He connected on 22 of 29 field goals, including 10-for-14 on 3-pointers.

"I have never seen a young man in my 29 years of coaching who has such a strong work ethic on and off the court," Shirley said of Taylor. "He is all about his team first. He conditions and works on and off the floor. Right now he is leading our team in every category, except rebounds. We are playing very tough teams and against a very good Lake Brantley team, B.J. was double-teamed the whole game, still scoring 59. He is a leader for our team and a very special young man."

Shirley added that Taylor now holds the all-time scoring record in a single game in the Orlando Metro.

Following a 65-57 loss to Winter Park on Dec. 18 Boone dropped to 6-6, but has since rattled off five straight wins, all but one by double-digits. The lone close game was a 70-67 triumph over Mainland in the semifinals of the Vero Beach Hoopla Tournament, the 1,000th win in school history.

Taylor had 38 in that one and Q Bargnare added 13 points.

The following night, the Braves won the title of the tournament with a 64-49 win over Jupiter. Taylor had 39 points on 16-for-28 shooting, while Jeremy Bouton and Bargnare combined for 17 points.



On the season, Bargnare, a 5-10 sophomore guard, is second on the team at 9.0 per game and Bouton, a 6-5 junior guard, is averaging 6.5 points per game.

Taylor also scored 52 in an 82-72 win over Oak Ridge and has scored at least 20 in all but one game this season.

He's made 51 percent of his shots (195 of 384), including 32 of 115 on 3-pointers. He's made 160 of 216 from the line.

Boone continues its season this week with home games against Timber Creek (Orlando) and Cypress Creek (Orlando) before a Showdown in Otown game with Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) on Saturday.

"We have been concentrating our focus on defense," said Shirley. "We are learning to play for each other and work as a team. We are working on improving everyday and wanting to use everybody's strengths."{PAGEBREAK}
Following a 22-3 season and boasting one of the top junior guards in the state in Shambria Washington, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) had much promise heading into the 2013-14 girls basketball season.

Even though the Celtics started 0-2 and 3-4, there was no cause for alarm.



Washington has been on a tear and Trinity Catholic has ripped off six straight wins, including triumphs last week over The Villages Charter (66-30) and Hudson (51-41).

For their efforts, the Celtics have been named the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We are working on playing together more as a team and focusing on lots and lots of defense," said head coach Greg Long. "We have a very inexperienced team — only one player on our team has played in more than five varsity basketball games. So, we are working very hard and trusting each other."

Washington, a 5-foot-7 guard, is averaging a whopping 28.2 points per game, which ranks second in the state.

She isn't just a scorer. She also averages 7.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 5.3 steals per game. Washington has scored at least 30 in seven games for the now 9-4 Celtics.

Her high game is 41 in a 60-53 win over Citrus on Nov. 19. She's made 44 percent of her shots, including 33 of 92 on 3-pointers, and she recorded two triple-doubles this month — one being a quadruple double.



In a 52-27 win over Fort White, she had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and in the win over Hudson she had 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals.

"(Washington) is not only our leading scorer, she is the team's leader," said Long. "She has worked hard for every accomplishment she's gotten. It is a very big task for a junior to be the only one left from last season who has experience. Shambria does everything that we're asking of her and the girls look up to her as their leader."

The Celtics have much more in a pair of freshmen, Janae Morrison (7.5 ppg) and Rebekah Di Lavore (6.1), and sophomore Savanna Freimuth (4.5).

Lavore leads the team in rebounds at 8.1 per game and Morrison is a superb 3-point shooter with 12 makes thus far.

After a 55-51 win at Ridgewood Monday, the Celtics next play Dec. 26-28 at the Palatka Christmas Tournament.

"We want to make it into the state playoffs and win our district," said Long. "All our games are preparing us for that state game."{PAGEBREAK}
Sometimes, in the immortal words of Al Davis, it's just about winning, baby.



Armwood (Seffner), a program rich in tradition and championships, didn't play its best on Friday and for much of the night was outplayed.

But the Hawks (14-0) figured out a way to win, in triple-overtime no less.

Quarterback Noah Johnson scrambled around and scored on a third-and-11 play to help his team pull out a wild 35-28 6A state semifinal triple-overtime win over Bartram Trail.

Armwood advances to the finals 1 p.m. Saturday against nationally-ranked Central (Miami).

"He is the straw to stir the drink," said head coach Sean Callahan. "When you have a quarterback who is very involved in the running game, it makes it tough on your opponents. He is very gifted because when plays break down, he can make things happen."

The defense had to stop Bartram Trail and on fourth down, and sophomore Dedarallo Blue broke up a pass to seal the win to send Armwood to its sixth title game since 2003.

For its tenacious win and commitment to excellence, Armwood has been picked as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.



"It was truly evident out on the field, the kids played so hard," said Callahan. "Their team is very good and well-coached. There was great sportsmanship on the field between these two teams."

Armwood has outscored opponents 560-137 this season and is led offensively by Johnson, who had thrown for 1,910 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 724 yards and 13 touchdowns heading into the semifinals.

The Hawks also rely on running backs Craig Carrington (87 carries, 462 yards, six touchdowns) and Caylon Holloway (59, 403, 7).

Armwood is balanced on the passing game as well, with three receivers sporting almost identical statistics.

Trevor Laurent, only a sophomore, leads the team with 32 catches for 532 yards, but Austin Gallon (24, 458) and Talvin Bailey (23, 477) aren't far behind.

"Our kids are growing up this year," said Callahan. "We only have 12 seniors, so the other players have had to mature and we knew we were going to have to play hard to win. There was a high level of excitement because they fought hard."



Defensively, the Hawks are led by junior linebacker Jordan Griffin, who has piled up a remarkable 132 tackles, which is much more than sophomore Justin Manning (82 tackles), senior Hyraim Fredricks (73) and junior Bryon Cowart (67), who leads the team with 12 sacks.

Defensive backs Phillip Smith, Aaron Covington and Kyle Gibson lead the Hawks with four interceptions apiece.

Callahan led the Hawks to state titles in 2003 and 2004. The team also won a state title on the field in 2011, but was stripped of it for using an ineligible player and of 26 victories during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

On the field, not counting those forfeits, the Hawks have won a staggering 128 games since 2004. But Callahan and his team face a tough test with Central this week.

"Praying everyday," he said. "In all seriousness we are trying very hard. We will have to play with the same type of intensity that we have had. We have our work cut out for us."{PAGEBREAK}
Start the year 0-5 and it's time to start thinking about next season.

That, fortunately, was not the attitude of Bartram Trail (St. Johns) football coach Darrell Sutherland, who guided his ship straight and led the Bears to eight straight wins, including a 17-14 win over Choctawhatchee Friday in the Florida 6A quarterfinal playoffs.



For their resilience and the deepest playoff run in school history, the Bears have been selected the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"This sounds like coachspeak, but it is the truth, we haven't done anything differently," said Sutherland. "We just kept working hard and did not get discouraged. We came back out each week ready to work. And our improvement has shown in the last couple weeks.

"Some of our best practices were on Mondays after a weekend loss. The kids bought into it and kept working hard and now we are able to see the results of that dedication."

Tyler Gallitz kicked a 31-yard field goal in the drizzle with 4:59 to play that proved to be the game-winner.

Much like the Bears themselves, Gallitz had failed earlier in the game, missing field goals of 35 and 37 yards according to Jacksonville.com.

Bartram Trail plays perennial national power Armwood in the regional final Friday night.

"I never doubted (Gallitz). Tyler practices hard, and we've got so much faith in him," Sutherland told Jacksonville.com.



The Bears' faith was tested after such a slow start this season. They didn't play that poorly early, but just didn't know how to close out games after losing contests 47-43, 28-27, 49-36 and 24-21.

Bartram Trail finally got its first win on Oct. 11 with a 28-17 win over Ponte Verde thanks to 146 yards rushing from David Coleman and two TD runs by Ryan Magden, and the Bears haven't lost since.

They pulled out a 29-24 playoff win at Columbia behind 152 rushing yards from Coleman and 158 yards passing and two scores from P.J. Blazejowski.

On Friday, Blazejowski passed for 230 yards and rushed for both touchdowns. The Bears also got nine tackles and two sacks from junior linebacker Hayden Good.

"(Blazejowski) is truly a team player. He makes the whole team better," said Sutherland. "He is able to spread the ball around a lot and get everyone involved. He has a great football IQ and is very smart, watches a lot of game film and does a great job of being a team leader."

On the season, the Bears have shown great balance offensively, led by Coleman (1,342 yards rushing, 11 TDs) and passing, thanks to Blazejowski (2,277 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, 834 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns).



Romello Bentley is the team's top receiver with 60 catches for 754 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior Will Tillo is by far the leading tackler with 114, but Travis Boller (86 tackles), Good (91) and Malik Rivera (62) also have had superb defensive seasons.

Sutherland has led the Bears to a record of 74-44 since 2004, including a 13-1 year in 2011. That team was eliminated 46-38 by Armwood, the same program it faces on Friday.

Nathan Peterman, who is now the quarterback at Tennessee, called signals for that 2011 Bartram Trail team. Peterman threw for 2,950 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2011.

"Every week we try to focus on our team and how we can improve and get better instead of focusing on our opponents," said Sutherland. "The last 13 weeks we have just tried to get better as a team. Once playoffs start, everyone is a great team. We have been focusing on us and our execution and trying to play the best that we can."{PAGEBREAK}
State championships are always sweet, but this one must have been that much sweeter.

That's because of the bitter taste that was left in the mouths of the Winter Park girls volleyball players and coaching staff after a five-set loss to Boca Raton in last year's state final.



There would be no disappointment this season, however, as the Wildcats completed a 30-3 season with a 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 25-12, 25-20) victory over Lake Mary to win the 8A state championship.

"It feels amazing to bring home a state championship for our school and our community," said head coach Stephanie Gibson. "It's even more special to pull out a win over a very tough Lake Mary team."

For completing an unbelievable season by winning its fourth state title, Winter Park was selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

Christina Ambrose, a Purdue signee, had a team-leading 28 kills and added 14 digs in the title match. Senior Courtney Stephens led the team with 18 digs, while two juniors, Olivia George (29) and Glenna Miller (25) paced the Wildcats in assists.

"Winter Park is very fortunate to have such an amazing group of young women," said Gibson. "Everyone on the team filled a roll and worked hard to do whatever was necessary for our team to succeed. Our high-profile athletes are a triple-threat and a big physical presence."

"Big" might be an understatement. Senior middle blocker Beth Nordhorn, who had 14 kills in the championship match despite playing with an injury, stands an intimidating 6-foot-6. Fellow senior Brittany Kelly (6-0) led the Wildcats with four blocks, while Ambrose, the team's offensive leader, is 6-foot-4.



"Beth Nordhorn solidified the middle of the net on offense and defense despite playing with a sprained ankle she sustained in the semifinals," said Gibson. "Brittany Kelly was outstanding with thundering blocks on defense and attacking from all three positions in the front row, often through a triple block. Christina Ambrose was unstoppable on offense, clutch on serve receive, and relentless on defense."

Despite the star power, Gibson said the strength of this team was its unity.

"This group of girls is special because they truly care about each other and they are not afraid to push each other to play their best," she said. "They really allowed themselves to be vulnerable enough to discover their weaknesses so we could improve as a team."

It was the sixth overall state title for Gibson, four at Winter Park. To win, the Wildcats had to beat a Lake Mary team they were meeting for the third time this season (Winter Park won all three).

"We were very prepared for Lake Mary," said Gibson. "The championship match was the third time these two team faced each other this season. Also, the girls all play club together. Our team knew their game situations and responsibilities, and the executed that game plan beautifully."{PAGEBREAK}
Under Bob Hudson, the Eagles of East Lake (Tarpon Springs) have enjoyed great football success over the last decade.

But never had they gone undefeated in the regular season.



That all changed Friday when East Lake defeated host St. Petersburg 54-0 to finish 10-0 for the first time in the 27-year history of the program.

The Eagles, who have gone 45-13 since 2009, outgained their opponents 339-97 while recording their fourth shutout of the season, but first since starting the year with three consecutive shutouts.

They've outscored opponents 472-56.

"We set a mission earlier in the year at our summer camp and we are reminding them of that mission daily," said Hudson. "We know that we need to come prepared every week to face our opponent because there are some really good teams in our area. We know we need to come out with our 'A' game or someone could upset you."

For their historic season and defensive prowess, the Eagles are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"This team is special," senior defensive back Devin Abraham told tampabay.com. "We knew from the beginning of the season that we could go 10-0. It's a great feeling."

Senior Weston Fordham rushed 11 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles' offensive attach. Junior quarterbacks Jake Hudson (6-11-163) and Brandon Swift each threw for touchdowns.



Artavis Scott had three catches for 83 yards and a score, George Campbell added three catches for 80 yards and Tristan Zullo added a TD catch.

Defensively, senior linebacker Brendan Goettel led the way with 11 tackles, junior Justin Strnad added 10 and junior Carson Lydon had eight tackles, three for losses. Lydon, Hunter Snyder and Regis Steighner each had sacks and Noah Vazquez added an interception return for a touchdown.

Hudson was doused with a water bath after the game. "I knew that one was coming," he told the newspaper. "They said ‘Coach, you got your phone?' Hey, it's school history."

The Eagles have been getting great contributions all around on offense all year. The leading rusher is Fordham with 893 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior Scott (514) and Drew Couto (425) have also added key yardage.

Hudson has passed for 899 yards and eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. Scott is the leading receiver with 26 catches for 434 yards and four scores. Campbell is a great deep threat with 18 catches for 473 yards and four touchdowns.

"They prepare really well each week and they practice hard for their opponents," said Hudson. "The defense has been doing a really great job of executing. They take pride in keeping the other team away from the end zone. We felt like we had to get better from last year and our guys are causing big turnovers, which gives our offense more opportunities to score points."



Defensively, Lydon and Goettel lead the way with 95 tackles apiece. Abraham leads the secondary with six interceptions.

East Lake opens regional 7A playoff action Friday against Palmetto, which is 5-5 after coming off 9-4 and 12-2 seasons.

"We set three goals at the beginning of the season and so far we have reached two," said Hudson. "One — to win a league championship, two — to go undefeated in regular season, which is the first time in our school's history to do that. And three — to win a state championship, and that's what we are shooting for right now."{PAGEBREAK}
It was a brutal defeat. Brutal because it appeared a victory appeared so safe, satisfying and secure.

Instead the Sickles (Tampa) High School football team came away with a bitter 24-20 loss to perennial state and national power Plant.

Gone was the chance of a perfect season. Gone was the chance to hand Plant a rare regular season loss. A huge second-and-23 conversion in the final three minutes keyed the win for Plant.

Rather than fold up or feel sorry for themselves, the Gryphons have toughened up and responded with three straight wins by a combined score of 118-21, including a 35-8 win over Tampa Bay Tech on Friday.



For their near perfection and superb response to adversity, Sickles is the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"After the (Plant) game the kids were angry," said head coach Brian Turner. "They felt like they let the win slip away from them and they didn't want to lose again the rest of the season or feel that way again.

"It wasn't necessarily a bad thing because they felt what it was like to lose and it made them want to work harder. After that game, we came together more as a team and got stronger."

In the win over Tampa Bay Tech, junior Ray Ray McCloud III rushed 30 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns. That gave him 1,685 yards for the season, which ranks fourth in the state, and 19 touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Issac Holder was an efficient 8-for-9 for 112 yards and a touchdown in Friday's win and Jaaron Barrett caught a touchdown.

On the season Holder has completed 87 of 160 for 1,324 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions. That leads to a nifty QB rating of 108.



Barrett has 28 catches on the season for 549 yards and six touchdowns while senior Chett Levay leads the squad with 39 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, the Gryphons got huge games Friday from senior Wes Harris (13 tackles) and sophomore Jake Hampton (12 tackles). Mike Smith had nine tackles and Anthony Janezic, Deven Santana and Joey Breheny added eight tackles.

Sickles put constant pressure on two Tampa Bay Tech quarterbacks while recording nine sacks, three by Santana and two each from Josh Black, Logan Braswell and Janezic. Hampton added an interception.

"Our coaches watch a lot of game film and our players watch film the week of the game, so when they get on the field they are prepared and have already seen what the other team is going to do," said Turner. "Our kids are doing what they are told to do and are doing their assignments. We have a hard-working group of kids."

Turner has helped revitalize and stabilize the program. Since taking over in 2010, the Gryphons have won 31 games and lost 11. This is the third straight year Sickles has won eight games, but with a home game against Alonso and the playoffs to follow, the team should break that barrier.

"(Winning a state title) has been our main goal all year," said Turner. "Every year we want to be playing in the last game of the year. Sickles has never won a playoff game, so we want to do that and then get to state."{PAGEBREAK}
It was a rough start of the football season for coach Mickey Lindsey and his Pace Patriots.



They lost their first three and four out of five, but have rallied nicely to win four straight, including a wild 56-42 triumph over visiting Escambia on Friday.

Led by the state's leading rusher Quaide Weimerskirch, the Patriots piled up 601 yards of offense while improving to 5-4. Pace outscored Excambia 35-7 in the middle quarters to take control.

For the victory and its perseverance throughout the season, Pace has been selected the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We knew that it was a big district game and that if the other team won, they would clinch," said Lindsey. "The players knew what was at stake and knew that they needed to fight. We had the best week of practice we've had all year leading up to that game. I could see the intensity and concentration in their eyes. They were focused the whole week."

Weimerskirch broke loose for a remarkable 451 yards on 42 carries and seven touchdowns. He now has a state-leading 1,958 yards on a state-most 301 carries and 24 touchdowns.

He had four other games of more than 200 yards, including a 292-yard, five-touchdown game in a 46-0 win over Washington.



"Quaide is a great character kid. He has this tremendous work ethic and God-given talent," said Lindsey. "His teammates look up to him and respect him, so they are willing to fight for him on the field. He is the total package."

Jon Jon Martin also had a nice game against Excambia with 13 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Daniel Smyers was efficient, completing 4 of 5 passes for 75 yards.

Defensively, junior Dillon Draughn had a whopping 18 tackles while senior Seth Forehand added nine tackles and an interception.

Martin has 599 yards rushing on the season and six touchdowns.

Lindsey has guided his team to eight winning seasons in nine years heading into 2013. His teams went 13-1 in both 2005 and 2007 and 11-3 in 2011.

"We are more positive now as coaches and as a team. We learned to have fun and love each other," said Lindsey. "We know that we need to take one game at a time and to never quit believing in ourselves. We learned to never give up on each other and we built a strong team bond, which taught us to trust one another."



The Patriots close out the regular season at home against Milton (2-7).{PAGEBREAK}
Forget the school name for a moment. The Eagles from Niceville can't be all that kind. Not on the football field anyway.

Football players simply don't have that nice reputation. They are traditionally rough and tumble and tough.

But these Eagles, despite the assumed niceties, are ranked the No. 9 team in Florida and after a 28-21 win at Fort Walton Beach they are 8-0.

For their perfect record — and a 336-86 point differential on the season — the Eagles are the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"We are fortunate to a have a solid group of seniors who truly lead our football team," said assistant coach Adron Robinson. "We have had many players contribute offensively, defensively and scoring. We do have offensive and defensive players that have stood out, but our success thus far has been a team effort, from our players and coaches, our band, our fans and the our student section, which is one of the best nationwide."

In the win over Fort Walton Beach, Tyre McCants rushed 11 times for 138 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the way. He got 101 yards rushing on 23 carries from running back mate Tayjon Culley.

Junior Drew Frederic also rushed for a touchdown on one of his nine carries for 65 yards. All told, Niceville piled up 298 yards rushing and with an efficient passing game — junior quarterbacks John Secord and Frederic were a combined 8-of-9 for 69 yards, the Eagles remained perfect.



Cody Moore earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for recording one of his team's three interceptions along with Eli Stove and Austin Willis.

Zach Bailey was once again perfect on his PAT attempts — 4-for-4 — making him 40-for-41 on the season, the second most PATs in the state.

Culley leads the team in rushing with 703 yards and eight touchdowns on just 111 carries, while McCants is second with seven rushing touchdowns on just 28 carries and 347 yards.

The team's starting quarterback, Ashton Hooker, has missed the last two games with a hand injury, but has still completed 85 of 124 (69 percent) for 1,218 yards and nine touchdowns. He's also rushed for 358 yards and five scores.

"Fort Walton Beach is an in-county rivalry so motivation was not a problem," said head coach John Hicks. "The biggest challenge was to prepare without our starting quarterback and center. We ended up using three quarterbacks with Tyre McCants being more of a wildcat quarterback. They all did a good job."

McCants, the state's No. 97 recruit according to 247Sports.com, is also the team's top receiver with 31 catches for 377 yards and four touchdowns, followed by Jalen Douglas (25 catches, 362 yards).

The Eagles fly all over the field on defense and are led by a trio of tacklers in Austin Willis (57 tackles), Zantiago Zamora (55) and Jacob Clark (50).



Under Hicks, the Eagles have won 84 games since 2004, with a 13-1 campaign in 2009 and 12-2 season in 2005. They won their only 4A state championship in 1988.

"When you have had good teams year after year it is sometimes hard to make them hungry," said Hicks. "This group has the desire to be great. They won’t settle for good. I just hope injuries don’t stop us from achieving our goals."

If Hooker gets healthy, this team could make history.

And that's not just being nice.{PAGEBREAK}
It's been 23 years since the Fort Myers (Fla.) girls volleyball team captured a state title.

It's not like the Green Wave, coached by Stephanie Martin, haven't been close or competitive. Fort Myers has piled up at least 23 wins every season since 2006 while compiling an impressive 202-35 record in that span.

After three wins in as many tries last week, the Green Wave is off to a 19-4 campaign in 2013.



For all their success, Fort Myers has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

The Green Wave responded to a three-set loss to Evangelical Christian on Oct. 3 with wins over Estero (25-10, 25-15, 25-13), Riverdale (25-12, 15-14, 19-25, 25-22) and Ida Baker (25-8, 25-9, 25-13).

That brought Fort Myers' district record to a perfect 6-0.

"We have been training hard with conditioning all summer and season to be at peak performance during district play," said Martin. "It is always a team goal for us to win our district. We have a new district this year and had not played two of schools (Charlotte and Gulf Coast) in a few years. But we knew they have had strong programs."

The team has been led all season by setter Amy Oxton, whose 674 assists rank fourth in the state.

"Amy Oxton has been working super hard in the off season with club volleyball, sand volleyball and of course during our season," said Martin. "She has stepped into a role as a junior to lead our offense. Her goal is to get our hitters in one-on-one situations whenever possible. She is quick and good on the run with her decisions."



The 5-8 junior has a number of weapons to set to including senior Chelsea Oliver (202 kills) and juniors Macy Jerger, Briana Correa (151) and Anna Cedarburg.

Cedarburg leads the team with 52 aces, Jerger is second with 47 and Correa has 39.

The team also plays superb defense led by junior Alexis Athens (111 digs) and Correa (102). Oxton (88 digs), Haley Galewski (83) and Gillian Flanagan (80) also are effective defensive players.

The Green Wave close the regular season at Venice and at home against Bishop Verot (Fort Myers) this week.

"Our team word for the season is 'tenacity' — never give up," said Martin. "We know that we can learn from our losses and use those losses to gain a better understanding on how we can make changes and attain our ultimate goal to go far in playoffs and make the state tourney. We have been to the state final four the last four years and hope to make it back."{PAGEBREAK}
A perfect record is one thing. But what the University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) football team is doing to opponents is downright scary.

The Suns have put out the lights of all seven of their opponents, by a cumulative score of 356-54, but it's what they've done the last three weeks that has been particularly noteworthy.



They've outscored Somerset Academy, Boyd Anderson and North Broward Prep by a combined score of 170-0, including a 63-0 win last week over North Broward.

For their near perfect play last week — and all year — University has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

"Our seasonal goal is to remain undefeated, win another state championship, and end the 2013 campaign with a national championship," said head coach Roger Harriott. "We’re fortunate to be in a position where our schedule and classification have numerous nationally-ranked teams. In order to accomplish this mission, our daily objective is to execute with precision and produce a state championship effort in all three phases of the game every play."

According to the Miami Herald, highly-touted quarterback Sean White completed 13 of 15 passes for 172 yards and two scores, Jordan Scarlett ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns and Lajuan Hunt added a first-quarter touchdown run to make it 21-0.

White was at his all-time best in a 50-0 win over Boyd Anderson the week before. He completed 21 of 29 for 437 yards and six touchdowns, two each to seniors Chris Taylor and Hunt, and two more to sophomore Sam Bruce. Taylor finished with five catches for 190 yards against Boyd Anderson.

Heading into the North Broward game, White had completed 64 percent of his passes (80 of 126) for 1,302 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Bruce had 28 catches for 427 yards, Taylor 20 for 428 and Hunt 11 catches for 191 yards heading into last Friday's game.



Scarlett, a junior, had a team-best 488 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.

The leaders on defense have been Andrew Korakakos (9.5 tackles per game), Brandon Russell (7.8) and Brandon Boyce (7.7).

Harriott was quick to deflect praise to his coaching staff.

"Chad Wilson, defensive coordinator, and his positional coaches (DL coach Joseph Firm, LB coach Jerry Johnson and DB coach Henry Colombi) do a great job of placing a heavy emphasis on running to the football with purpose and a sense of urgency during practice each day," he said. "Our objective is to establish the point of attack, early and often, between the whistle of play — we encourage our players to practice like they intend to play on game day.

"As a result, this has become our defensive identity and expectation with the goal being to produce shutouts, which ultimately solidifies victory."

Under Harriott, University is coming off a 13-0 record and state championship. The Suns have won a remarkable 46 of their last 48 games and boast a record of 71-11 since 2007 with Harriott as coach.



"As a coaching staff, we’re committed to educating our players on the ethical and intrinsic aspects of life through football," said Harriott. "Subsequently, we have successfully cultivated a healthy relationship with our players that holds them accountable to exemplify humility and integrity on and off the field."

"In addition, we have a tradition called the CAP award — which is an acronym for character, attitude, and performance — that supports this charge to inspire our players to be habitual, positive role models. This philosophic coaching approach validates our pursuit to ensure that all team members — players and coaches — take full advantage of this privileged experience, which contributes to their appreciative and interdependent attitudes; hence, eliminating potential signs of compliancy and ungrateful behavior."{PAGEBREAK}
As the state's No. 7 football team, Columbia (Lake City, Fla.) has the right — and probably talent — to take its respective foot off the proverbial pedal now and again.

But judging from its scores, the Tigers have done no such thing including a 59-0 win at Englewood on Friday night.

Junior running back Lonnie Underwood rushed 19 times for 182 yards and five touchdowns as the Tigers improved to 5-0 on the season. They've outscored foes by a count of 233-44 or an average score of 47.9.

For their early-season success and non-complacency, Columbia has been selected the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.

Coach Brian Allen said Columbia is simply playing like it's practicing in the early going.



"We believe in the philosophy 'play the way you practice'," he said. "We try to make practice competitive to make the team work hard. With offense and defense, each play or drills has points. The athletes don't want practices to be the same thing or monotonous every day, so we try to keep things competitive."

More competitive than their games to this point.

Against Englewood, Terry Calloway, a senior middle linebacker, was awarded the team's top defensive player after recording nine tackles while junior Zedrick Woods and senior Carlos Vega added six tackles apiece.

Sophomore quarterback Nathan Taylor did a solid job by completing 6 of 9 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, a 51 yarder to Akeem Williams.

For the season, Underwood, a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, ranks fourth in the state in rushing at 967 yards on just 112 carries and a whopping 22 touchdowns. Without any college offers yet, Underwood continues to put up big numbers week after week.

"He has God-given abilities and is naturally a great athlete," Allen said. "We brought him up last year for the playoffs and the coaches could tell right away that he was naturally blessed with talent. But, he also puts in the work to get to that next level. He never misses school, practices or workouts. He is always willing to get after it. All year long, even in the off season he is in the weight room working and getting stronger and that is starting to pay off for him."



Taylor has improved with his accuracy and has thrown for 323 yards and five touchdowns and just one interception.

Williams has five catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Calloway leads the team in tackles with 18 followed by junior Woods and sophomore Laquavious Paul with 15 apiece.

Columbia hosts Orange Park (2-2) on Friday night and hopes to win more than two playoff games as it did in last year's state 6A playoffs to finish 11-2.

"We are a one-game-at-a-time team," Allen said. "We believe in trying to be better than we were the week before. We try to get better each week so that we peak at the right time, so that we're ready for the playoffs."