Sports Illustrated is reporting the University of Alabama-Birmingham will anouunce this week that is shutting down its football program. The news leaves recruits with offers from the Blazers in limbo. Countryside offensive lineman Riley Metheney is one of them. Metheny's lone Division I offer came from UAB earlier this year. ...
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Sun. Nov. 30, 2014 at 5:09 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Mitchell senior pitcher Mike Freeman didn't have impressive stats in his junior year with the Mustangs, but his performance in summer leagues was enough to impress the University of North Florida. On Wednesday, Freeman signed a letter of intent to play next year. At Mitchell, Freeman pitched 18.2 innings and ...
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Wed. Nov. 19, 2014 at 8:37 p.m. | Rodney Page
East Lake senior pitchers Ryan Wall and Steve Plaskett made their college choices Wednesday. Wall signed a letter of intent with Ave Maria. Plaskett signed with the Air Force Academy. In two years as a starter for the Eagles, Wall is 14-3 with a 1.21 ERA. Last season he helped ...
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Wed. Nov. 19, 2014 at 11:18 a.m. | Rodney Page
TAMPA — Athletes at Plant showed that their high school is much more than a one-sport school as players from six sports signed letters of intent Monday afternoon. The baseball team had three players sign. Jake Woodford, who has a 95 mph fastball and a 0.43 ERA last season, will ...
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Mon. Nov. 17, 2014 at 7:48 p.m. | Andy Warrener
A week after coming home with a bounty of gold medals at the Class 4A state meet, East Lake held a signing ceremony for its six Division I swimmers during an assembley inside the school's gymnasium. The girls team had five Division I swimmers who all had a role in ...
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Fri. Nov. 14, 2014 at 5:11 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Palm Harbor twins Connor and Jared Prince, two of the bay area's top wrestlers, gathered friends and family inside the school's cafeteria, put shirts and caps from the colleges they were considering on table and made their decision. They each stood up and announced they would be attending Navy everyone ...
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Fri. Nov. 14, 2014 at 4:21 p.m. | Bob Putnam
East Lake receiver George Campbell, the nation's top athlete in the 2015 class according to ESPN, was presented with his jersey for his selection to play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Thursday during an assembly in the gymnasium. Campbell, a five-star recruit who committed to Florida State in ...
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Thu. Nov. 13, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. | Bob Putnam
River Ridge had a signing day bonanza Wednesday with three softball and three baseball players making their college plans official. The three softball players were Makenzie Goluba (Binghamton), Kenzi Maguire (South Carolina) and Madisyn Palmer (Florida Atlantic). Goluba, a pitcher, went 23-4 last season with a 0.34 ERA. Maguire (.598 ...
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Thu. Nov. 13, 2014 at 7:36 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Two Gaither High School seniors signed Wednesday with Division I baseball programs. Blake Hodgens, a left-handed pitcher, signed a letter of intent with Penn State. "Penn State is getting a polished lefty who should be able to help them as a freshman," coach Nelson North said. "Blake will get ...
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Wed. Nov. 12, 2014 at 9:41 p.m. | Times Staff
Mitchell's Taylor Anderson, one of the bay area's premier two-sport athletes, has committed to LSU for swimming and track. Anderson, who has won two straight state swim titles in the 50-yard freestyle and is the defending state champion in the pole vault, said her preference all along was to compete ...
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Wed. Nov. 12, 2014 at 7:28 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Through A
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Wed. Nov. 12, 2014 at 11:18 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Gibbs’ Barry Brown and Sajon Ford sat at tables in the school’s auditorium on Wednesday. With a pair of unwavering hands, Brown and Ford each took a pen and signed their national letters of intent to play basketball at Kansas State and Northeastern, respectively. The Gladiators are the only Pinellas ...
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Wed. Nov. 12, 2014 at 7:20 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Springstead senior Erin Blackwell will sign with Nicholls State for track on Nov. 12, Eagles coach Joel Myers reports. Blackwell was on the Times' all-North Suncoast track and field first team last year with a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A state meet with a time of 2:18.75. Blackwell was also ...
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Thu. Nov. 06, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
Seffner Christian guard Asia Royster has commited to Saint Leo, the senior announced Oct. 24 on Twitter. Last season while playing for Riverview, Royster averaged nearly 15 points and five rebounds per game, leading the Sharks to a Class 8A-7 district championship. In the offseason, Royster joined Armwood's Alyssa Nieves, ...
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Mon. Nov. 03, 2014 at 2:53 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
Armwood linebacker Jordan Griffin commited to Wisconsin on Oct. 25, choosing the Badgers from his nearly 20 Division I-A offers. As a junior Griffin had a team-high 150 tackles for the state runner-up Hawks, 58 more than the next best defender. This season the 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker leads Armwood with ...
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Mon. Nov. 03, 2014 at 12:20 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
Indian Rocks Christian, Armwood and East Lake are the last Tampa Bay football teams left standing, and all three hit the road Friday for their fourth-round games. Discover a little about each of the teams they’ll face. Victory Christian (12-1) Opponent: Indian Rocks Christian (12-0) What: Class 2A state final ...
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Mon. Dec. 01, 2014 at 6:12 p.m. | Rodney Page, Kelly Parsons and Bob Putnam
1. Tampa Prep (2-0, 0-0) This week: Thursday at Brooks DeBartolo Lowdown: So far, the Terrapins have been on cruise control, winning their first two games by 22 points or more. Juwan Durham has led the way with an average of 25 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. ...
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Mon. Dec. 01, 2014 at 5:23 p.m. | Bob Putnam
1. Seffner Christian (4-0, 1-0) This week: Monday at Bishop McLaughlin, Friday vs. Spruce Creek Lowdown: After a week off, the Crusaders play in their second district game of the season tonight in a battle of the unbeatens. With five Crusaders averaging double-digit points per game, we think they stand ...
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Mon. Dec. 01, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. | Rodney Page and Kelly Parsons
Team of the Week Indian Rocks Christian: The Golden Eagles improved to 12-0 with their 40-19 win over Belle Glade Glades Day. That sets up Friday’s Class 2A state final against Lakeland Victory Christian at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. It is the first time IRC has advanced to a state final. ...
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Sat. Nov. 29, 2014 at 11:23 p.m. | Rodney Page, Kelly Parsons and Bob Putnam
TARPON SPRINGS — A prodigiously proficient first-half offensive attack has East Lake headed to its second straight state semifinal. East Lake easily handled previously unbeaten Fort Myers 40-7 on Friday. East Lake (13-0) travels to Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in next week’s Class 7A state semifinals. Jake Hudson completed ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:54 p.m. | Darek Sharp
SEFFNER — As Armwood waited on its sideline just before kickoff against Gainesville in Friday’s Class 6A region final, the Hawks’ heads turned when the Hurricanes ran out onto Lyle Flagg Field in a cloud of smoke. The Armwood players were angered to see their opponent having its way on ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:49 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
LIVE OAK — Lakewood quarterback Ryan Davis became Pinellas County’s all-time passing leader with 6,760 career yards, surpassing the previous mark of 6,733 set by former East Lake standout Pete DiNovo. Davis needed just 68 yards to become the record-holder in Friday’s Class 5A region final at Live Oak Suwannee. ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:43 p.m. | Bob Putnam
CLEARWATER — With a berth in the Class 3A state championship on the line, it was a tough time for Clearwater Central Catholic to be nicked up. After suffering a severe ankle injury just a week ago, standout quarterback Jeff Smith willed his way behind center Friday night against Delray ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:40 p.m. | Chuck Frye
ORLANDO -— Trailing by one point in double overtime Friday night, second-year Jesuit coach Matt Thompson made arguably the gutsiest decision of his young career. After a 2-yard fourth-down touchdown run by Malik Davis put the Tigers an extra point away from forcing a third extra period against Orlando Bishop ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:37 p.m. | Jeff Odom
KISSIMMEE — In many ways, the final play of the game was a snapshot of Tampa Bay Tech’s historic season. Trailing 35-7 and facing a running clock for the entire second half, Deon Cain ran off left end for a 10-yard touchdown. On the ensuing extra-point try with the clock ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 11:36 p.m. | Brandon Wright
BELLE GLADE — Early in the third quarter of Indian Rocks Christian’s Class 2A state semifinal against Glades Day, the Eagles were in unfamiliar territory. They trailed by five points, which hasn’t happened all season, and needed to find a way to slow the Gators’ momentum. The answer turned out ...
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Fri. Nov. 28, 2014 at 10:38 p.m. | Rodney Page
Rabid shoppers will converge on area malls Friday for the latest high-tech gizmos and gadgets — all at slashed prices, of course. But on high school football fields around Tampa Bay and beyond, players won’t be entertaining dreams of steals and stocking stuffers. Instead, they’re focused on a attaining little ...
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Thu. Nov. 27, 2014 at 4:45 p.m. | Rodney Page, Kelly Parsons and Bob Putnam
Region finals 7A: Fort Myers (12-0) at East Lake (12-0) Winner plays: Royal Palm Beach-Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas champion Know the foe: Fort Myers, which is in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, won its first postseason games at home. But the Green Wave has not fared ...
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Thu. Nov. 27, 2014 at 4:44 p.m. | Kelly Parsons and Bob Putnam
EAST LAKE — On football nights, nearly 25 percent of the student population at East Lake High School seems to mobilize in the direction of the stadium. Swarms of Eagles faithful converge in the parking lot hours before kickoff to tailgate. During games, they file into a corner of the stands, wear ...
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Wed. Nov. 26, 2014 at 7:52 p.m. | Bob Putnam
TAMPA — Every single Armwood High School starting quarterback since 1995 has gone on to play Division I-A or I-AA football, a streak that is even more impressive when the Hawks’ defensive tradition is taken into consideration. But as Armwood’s undefeated season wore on this year, senior quarterback Noah Johnson ...
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Wed. Nov. 26, 2014 at 7:02 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
ST. PETERSBURG — Barring something unforeseen, Lakewood High School quarterback Ryan Davis should be Pinellas County’s all-time leading passer by the end of Friday night’s Class 5A region final at Live Oak Suwannee. He needs only 68 yards to break former East Lake quarterback Pete DiNovo’s record of 6,733 career ...
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Wed. Nov. 26, 2014 at 6:07 p.m. | Rodney Page
Clearwater Central Catholic’s Jakob Parks was thrust into a starting role this week after Boston College commit Jeff Smith went down with an ankle injury in last week’s 14-10 win over Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in the Class 3A region finals. Smith practiced Wednesday but had limited mobility because of his ...
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Wed. Nov. 26, 2014 at 4:26 p.m. | Bob Putnam
EAST LAKE — He does not prowl the sidelines frenetically. He does not scold his players with salty language. He does not get easily agitated. All East Lake High School’s Bob Hudson does is win. The highly successful coach has turned the previously ordinary Eagles into an extraordinary program that ...
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Tue. Nov. 25, 2014 at 7:52 p.m. | Bob Putnam
When Armwood hosts Gainesville on Friday, Sean Callahan will be nearing the end of his 25th season at the helm for the Hawks, 30th of coaching all together. Across the field on the opposing sideline will be Gainesville coach Mark Latsko, who was just a toddler when Callahan first began ...
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Tue. Nov. 25, 2014 at 7:01 p.m. | Rodney Page and Kelly Parsons
Male Hot Shot winner: Dayton Feiden, Sunlake The scores kept coming. The deficit was mounting. By the end of the first quarter, Sunlake trailed 17-0 in last week’s Class 6A region semifinal against Gainesville. That’s when Seahawks quarterback Dayton Feiden had the rest of the offensive players gather around him. ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 6:14 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Stars of the night • There has been much early talk about Northeast transfer Zoi Thompson, but senior guard Laura Fizell has been just as good in the early season. Fizell scored 16 points against Berkeley Prep in a 52-35 win Tuesday night. She has upped her average to 14.2 ...
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Wed. Nov. 26, 2014 at 12:32 p.m. | Rodney Page, Kelly Parsons and Bob Putnam
TAMPA — Last week Amanda Melosky missed a Wiregrass Ranch basketball practice because she had a soccer game for her Greater Tampa Bay Football Club team. Wiregrass Ranch protocol meant she had to miss the first half of the Bulls' game against Academy of the Holy Names on Tuesday night. ...
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Tue. Nov. 25, 2014 at 10:01 p.m. | Kelly Parsons
ST. PETERSBURG — Jesuit was well aware of what happened last season when it let Shorecrest rally for a one-point win. Late in the third quarter of Tuesday's rematch, the Chargers started to find their shooting touch from the outside and went up 44-40. This time, the Tigers showed their ...
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Tue. Nov. 25, 2014 at 9:42 p.m. | Bob Putnam
CLEARWATER — Juwan Durham scored 25 and sophomore guard Amari Goulbourne continued to impress, adding 16 points Monday in Tampa Prep’s 71-49 victory at Calvary Christian. The Warriors (1-2) hung around but an 8-0 Tampa Prep run midway through the third quarter was key for the Terrapins (2-0). It was ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 9:42 p.m. | Darek Sharp
G Darius Banks, So., St. Petersburg: The 6-foot-4 guard is among the area’s best in the 2017 class and will be one of the Green Devils’ top scoring options this season. G Marco Behori, Sr., Seminole: Last year, he was given player of the year consideration in Pinellas County after ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 5:43 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Female Hot Shot winner: Zoi Thompson, Northeast Northeast was already going to be a good basketball team this season. The Vikings became much better, though, when 5-foot-6 guard Zoi Thompson transferred from Boca Ciega . Her family has lived in the Northeast zone for two years, but she had attended ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 5:27 p.m. | Rodney Page
1. Gibbs (2-0): No bay area team displays as much defensive tenacity as the Gladiators. They allowed a combined 59 points in wins against Northeast and Pinellas Park last week. Despite losing guard Daniel Davis, who transferred to Tarpon Springs, Gibbs still has depth. Barry Brown, a Kansas State commit, ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 3:08 p.m. | Bob Putnam
1. Seffner Christian (4-0, 1-0) This week: No games Lowdown: Seffner Christian has proven why it’s Tampa Bay’s top team, beating its first four opponents 316-120, including a 102-6 trampling of Carrollwood Day. Five Crusaders are averaging double-digit points per game through the first four contests. 2. Calvary Christian (2-0, ...
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Mon. Nov. 24, 2014 at 12:26 p.m. | Rodney Page and Kelly Parsons
BROOKSVILLE — Nature Coast has been at the pinnacle of North Suncoast hoops for the past decade, but on paper, the team seemed vulnerable coming into this season. At the expense of their county and Class 5A, District 7 rival Hernando, the Sharks sent a message in their opener Friday ...
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Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 at 11:43 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere
Wednesday's stars Marco Behori, Seminole: The senior guard had 37 points, including four 3-pointers, in a 72-64 overtime loss to Tarpon Springs. Juwan Durham, Tampa Prep: The four-star recruit scored a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Terrapins' 76-29 season-opening victory over Dunedin. Hannah Kriston, Mitchell: The sharpshooter ...
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Thu. Nov. 20, 2014 at 8:57 a.m. | Bob Putnam
TARPON SPRINGS – Daniel Davis was the most talked about addition to Tarpon Springs’ already stellar lineup when he transferred from Gibbs this summer. But it was Davis’ younger brother, Donald, who had the biggest impact in Wednesday’s 72-64 overtime win against Seminole. Donald was a force in the middle, ...
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Thu. Nov. 20, 2014 at 12:04 a.m. | Bob Putnam
EAST LAKE — Neither frigid conditions nor feisty Seminole could slow down East Lake’s girls and boys teams Wednesday night. East Lake’s girls recorded a convincing 3-0 win over the Warhawks. The boys team followed with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. In the girls match, East Lake took advantage of two ...
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Wed. Nov. 19, 2014 at 10:43 p.m. | Rodney Page
ST. PETERSBURG — They became friends at Lakewood High School more than 25 years ago, a bond born through basketball. Barry Brown and Anthony Lawrence remained close, even as they continued playing miles away in college (Brown at Jacksonville, Lawrence at Miami) and continents apart as professionals (Brown in Israel, ...
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Wed. Nov. 19, 2014 at 3:07 p.m. | Bob Putnam
LUTZ — The Steinbrenner boys soccer team took down district rival Palm Harbor University 1-0 on a night so chilly soccer balls felt like bowling balls. The Warriors are the defending district champions but coach Chad Ebright doesn’t carry it around on his sleeve. Ebright has just two regular starters ...
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Tue. Nov. 18, 2014 at 10:42 p.m. | Andy Warrener
LAND O’LAKES — The Sunlake-Land O’Lakes girls soccer rivalry has been marked by close, generally low-scoring contests. But that concept went quickly out the window Tuesday night. Emphasis on quick. The Gators frontline, infused by freshman Sydny Nasello, raced to a 3-0 lead within 25 minutes and Land O’Lakes went ...
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Tue. Nov. 18, 2014 at 10:40 p.m. | Darek Sharp
