By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
The accolades continue to pile up for Tampa Sickles’ John Henson.
On top of being selected to play for the U.S. Junior National Team and participate in the Jordan Brand Classic game in April, now Henson has reached the pinnacle for a high school basketball player: McDonald’s All American.
The game, featuring just 24 high school seniors from across the nation, will be played April 1 at the University of Miami. Henson, a 6-foot-10, 200 pound forward who has signed with North Carolina, is averaging 17 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks per game.
Meanwhile, there is still the business of the playoffs for Sickles (24-4). Henson scored 21 points, had nine rebounds and three blocks to lead Sickles to a 66-40 regional playoff opening win against Sarasota Riverview.
“It’s playoff time,” Henson said after the win. “I just wanted to step up for the team. The team as a whole is playing well and has stepped up. I wanted to bring my game up with them.’’
And as for those awards and honors piling up?
“It’s an honor,” he said. “I’m looking forward to McDonald’s game and the Jordan game. It’s kind of like a reward for all my hard work.”
Wrestling: Brandon on top again
Brandon added to its wrestling legacy, winning its 20th state championship Feb. 21.
The Eagles crowned seven individual champs while scoring 270 points to outdistance second-place Manatee by 145 points to claim the Class 2A championship.
Brandon’s seven champions were Ryan Renkey (112 pounds), Rossi Bruno (119), Clark Glass (130), Eric Grajales (135), Kevin Timothy (140), Joey Cozart (145) and Mike Ettore (189).
Glass and Timothy’s titles were their second at the state level while Cozart’s was his third. For Grajales, the individual state title was his fourth and ended his prep career with a record of 218-0.
The Eagles’ program has claimed nine straight state championships and the title was the 19th for coach Russ Cozart.
Other Bay area wrestlers to bring home titles were Tampa Bay Christian eighth-grader Kevin Norstrem, who took the 112-pound individual championship in Class 1A and Valrico Bloomingdale 160-pounder Chris Figari, who won his first state title in Class 3A.
Soccer: Boys state finals
Three Bay area squads had shots at a state championship during the Feb. 20-21 weekend.
Palm Harbor University, Tampa Freedom and Tampa Berkeley Prep made it through the playoffs to be in a position for the crown but with PHU and Freedom squaring off in Class 5A and Berkeley Prep facing Jacksonville Bolles in Class 3A, at best, only two teams at best could capture titles.
It turned out to be just one.
PHU (24-4-4) scored goals in the first half (Alexandre Millette and Andrew Smith) and used stellar defense to outlast Freedom, winning 2-1. The victory earned PHU its third state title in program history.
Meanwhile, Berkeley Prep (29-3) scored first on a goal by Joey Rosati in the first half but watched as Bolles scored the equalizer in the first and the winner in the second in a 2-1 match.
Girls Basketball: Final fours set
Two Bay area girls basketball teams have advanced to the state Final Fours in Lakeland.
Tampa Catholic topped Melbourne Central Catholic 57-44 in the regional final to advance to its first Class 3A state semifinals. Colette Eule scored 27 points in the win, which improved the Crusaders to 29-2 on the season.
Tampa Catholic will face Miramar Parkway Feb. 27.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Boca Ciega overcame an early deficit to Tampa Jefferson to storm back and win 68-51 in the Class 5A regional finals. Tory Stephens scored 30 points to lead Boca Ciega (28-3) to the win. Boca Ciega will play Davie Nova Feb. 27 for the right to advance to the state championship game.
Two other Bay area teams had shots at the state semifinals but lost in their regional final games.
Cambridge was blasted 71-26 by Sarasota Christian in the Class 1A regional championships and Wesley.
