Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Morgan Crescent never tied herself to one sport while growing up.

The Land O’ Lakes High graduate did almost everything, including playing volleyball and softball for the Gators, while also being one of the nation’s highest rated amateur wake boarders.

“I just liked all of them, and I’m really competitive,” said Crescent, a sophomore goalkeeper at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg.

Crescent, a business administration major, picked up soccer at age 10, but originally saw playing outside hitter in volleyball as her chance at college ball.

She gave up club soccer at age 14, but kept playing for Land O’ Lakes throughout high school as a midfielder. She turned back to the sport after being lightly recruited for volleyball, but not at her primary position.

“My senior year I decided to try out for goalie for Hillsborough County United,” Crescent said. “I ended up liking it, got offered from Eckerd and thought it was a great opportunity.”

Vicky King, who coached Crescent at Land O’ Lakes and at the Central Pasco United Soccer Association (CPUSA), said she knew her former pupil had the ability.

“She’s extremely athletic and wanted to learn how to be a better goalkeeper,” King said. “We had another keeper (Tara Marshall) who had started for us for a few years, so she knew she’d be a backup, but she still wanted to do it.”

Crescent got into four games as a senior at goalkeeper, making 11 saves and allowed seven goals in 141 minutes.

“At first I just wanted to know if I could do it,” Crescent said. “I didn’t have the technique, but I knew I could throw myself out there and make some of the saves even without any techniques.”

There was something about her competitiveness and raw ability that stood out to Tritons third-year coach Danielle Fotopoulos.

“Not only her athleticism, but she’s an all-around great person,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s a very good student. She’s someone that you want on your team. She always puts her arm around somebody if they need to be picked up. She’s a great leader on the field as well as off the field.”

Crescent began last year as Eckerd’s backup, but forced a platooning situation by the end of the season. She spent last summer training with the semiprofessional Tampa Bay Hellenic club.

“I didn’t really get to play, but I got so much good practice time,” Crescent said. “It really helped me with my form and what I’m supposed to do as a goalie.”

Fotopoulos said she’s seen a huge difference in Crescent’s game this season, which helped her win the starting job during the first two weeks of practice.

“Morgan has come up big in every single game and every half,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s been making some out-of-this-world saves. It’s all due to her preparation, but really her athleticism and competitiveness.”

She has played in 11 of the Tritons’ 12 games this year, including 10 starts. Crescent has gone 6-2-2 with 76 saves, five shutouts and a goals against average of 1.05 in 1,030 minutes.

Eckerd has also started to make waves in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC).

After going 0-1-2 to start SSC play, the Tritons won their next three, the first against Saint Leo University Sept. 26 to snap a 46-game winless streak in conference matchups.

“We had a lot of freshmen come in this year like we did last year,” Crescent said. “Last year, I know the scores didn’t show, but I think we competed better than before. I think that was the starting point for this year. The girls in my grade, I think that helped us realize what we wanted to accomplish because we lost so many games the year before. I think we’re rubbing off on the freshmen.

“We’ve been working really hard, and it’s starting to pay off,” Crescent continued. “We’re starting to realize that we can beat any team as long as we play with our hearts in it. It’s not always who has the best players, but who wants it more. We have some really talented players, but they’re putting their all into it, and that’s what’s helping us win.”

Crescent has made 18 saves and allowed just two goals in Eckerd’s conference victories, and was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week for helping her squad to 0-0 draws against Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern Sept. 18 and 22, respectively.

“All the other coaches respect her,” Fotopoulos said. “Whenever I come off the field the other coaches say, ‘Wow, you have a great keeper.’ There’s a lot of respect for her not just with the team, but in the conference.”

Crescent and the Tritons host SSC rival Rollins Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Bishop McLaughlin girls soccer team has been one of the area’s most consistent the last few seasons.

The Hurricanes have made the postseason the last two years and three of the last four. Being a part of the seventh-year program’s budding winning tradition helps drive the squad.

“It gives you something to look forward to, and to work harder to get farther than you went last year,” said junior forward/midfielder Rickelle Vetzel. “It’s fun to try and live up to the standards of the past.”

A return to the playoffs would be accomplished by a new cast of characters, as Bishop McLaughlin lost 10 seniors from last year’s squad that went 13-6-3 and finished as the Class 1A-District 7 runner-up.

“We had a good nucleus of talent come in right when I took over as coach,” said fifth-year ‘Canes coach Tim Gronau. “Any time you get quality, club-level players you can have some type of success.”

Among the graduates are the Bishop McLaughlin’s top scorers from a year ago in Spencer Valdespino (18 goals, 17 assists), who signed with Nickle State University, and Corrie Bexley (12 goals, 11 assists).

“Between the two of them there was 120 goals during their time here,” Gronau said. “It’s hard to discount their contribution. Along with that, they were leaders on the field. Corrie, she wasn’t a captain, but there was a certain field generalship that she had. They’re both gritty and played hurt a lot. They just had that drive and determination. Any time your teammates know you’re competing while hurting it inspires them to give their best too.”

The squad does return four starters from a year ago: senior forward/midfielder Katie Hellman (15 goals, six assists); junior midfielder Sarah Kyle; sophomore midfielder Katie Comfort; Vetzel (13 goals, nine assists).

Gronau said Vetzel and Hellman will be leaned on to help replace the production from the departures.

“They’ve demonstrated that they can play at a high level,” Gronau said. “What we need is for them to play with a lot more confidence. They’ve been on the team for three and four years, so they need to be more tenacious and gritty.”

Vetzel said she also wants to do more than just score goals.

“I’m hoping to be kind of a leader for the new girls coming in, and help them when they need something,” Vetzel said. “I want to get better myself, score more goals and be a big part of the team.”

Gronau said a number of players did get significant playing time last year because of injuries, such as sophomore defender/midfielder Beth Heidrich.

“I didn’t think I’d get to have that much playing time,” Heidrich said. “I expected to be riding the bench, so being able to start really made me a better player.”

Heidrich said the time on the field also gave her confidence in what she and her teammates can do.

“We know we can work hard and still be good,” Heidrich said. “We have a good coach and good players. We just need to work hard.”

The 1A-7 tournament is at Calvary Christian Jan. 15 to 18, with the final on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

For the first time, the Carrollwood Day School (CDS) volleyball team is feeling expectations.

The Patriots (17-6) have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A-District 8 tournament with a 3-1 record, the first time they’ve finished better than .500 in league play in their seven-year history.

“It’s been unbelievable,” said senior setter/rightside hitter Nicole Neugebauer, who has been playing with the squad since her eighth-grade year. “When I decided to come to CDS for high school, I wasn’t anticipating having a strong sports program because we haven’t had it in the past. As I’ve been progressing through high school, the program has gotten so much better. This season has been unbelievable. I didn’t expect it when we started this season.”

Neugebauer and senior libero Grace Kerkvliet, both team captains, said the program has come a long way the last four years.

“We started as a very small team my freshman year, and we’ve grown so much,” Kerkvliet said. “We’ve got a great group of girls who work really hard. We’ve got a great coach who teaches us new plays. It’s been great to see us all come together.”

Third-year CDS coach Travis Nead said it’s all been about building the program.

“The first year we got here it was about teaching the fundamentals,” Nead said. “Getting the right people in here who were committed, wanted to play and enjoyed the sport. We built on that last year to have the best season as of yet.”

The returning Patriots were also fueled by how close they were to making their first playoff appearance a year ago.

CDS lost a five-set marathon in the 3A-8 tournament to district host Bishop McLaughlin. A victory would have sent the Patriots to the postseason.

“When we were in districts against Bishop McLaughlin it was 12-11 in the fifth, and we ended up losing, unfortunately, by two points,” Neugebauer said. “It was heartbreaking, but going into my senior season it made me want to beat them that much more and do that much better in districts this year. I have a goal of making it past districts. … It’s fueled me a lot more.”

Kerkvliet added, “We knew what we could have done in districts last year. We know that, so we take that into practice each day.”

Along with the motivation to take another step is a new feeling around the program.

“Confidence I would say is different,” Nead said. “Last year, we didn’t have that season defining win. We didn’t beat anyone we weren’t supposed to. This year we do, and in each game we’ve got hope. That’s the biggest mindset changes.”

Nead said winning at Bishop McLaughlin 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 on Sept. 27 is one of those big wins. Not only did it help ease the pain from districts last year, but it also locked up the No. 2 seed in the 3A-8 tournament this season.

“It was one of our most constant and complete games,” Nead said. “In the past we might lose focus and let them win a set or come back and beat us. They didn’t let that happen this time. … We’re taking care of business. They’re going all the way in those tough games this year, and I’ve got to give it to my seniors because it’s coming from their leadership and their work ethic.”

Neugebauer said the extra effort will all be worth it for a trip to the playoffs.

“I don’t even have words for what it would mean to make it to regionals,” Neugebauer said. “I’ve only ever dreamt of it. When we started four years ago, I thought it would never happen for us. Now that we’re close, it would be incredible.”

The 3A-8 tournament is at Seffner Christian Oct. 22 to 25, with the championship match Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

The Patriots hosted Academy at the Lakes Oct. 15, but results were not available by press time. They close the regular season at Bayshore Christian Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

 

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

CDS volleyball roster

No. Player Pos. Yr.

1 Casey Brynjolfsson S/RH Fr.

2 Kelsey Bridges DS So.

3 Aisling Sheehan OH So.

4 Nicole Neugebauer S/RH Sr.

5 Madison Ghodsi DS So.

6 Kylie Saigol OH Fr.

8 Nicole Ianni MH Jr.

13 Stevie Schweitzer MH Fr.

16 Grace Kerkvliet L Sr.

 

By Jeff Odom

 

While most of their fellow classmates are still sound asleep at 6 a.m., the Steinbrenner girls basketball team is busy conditioning to defend its Class 7A-District 9 championship.

Three days a week, fourth-year coach JR Allen gets his players together before the break of dawn for an hour of workout drills, telling them to “bring the juice” every morning before heading to their first class.

The squad performs sprints, bleacher runs and other exercises with certified athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Ward to stay in top shape well before the first game of the season tips off.

“We set the bar pretty high having a great year last year going 22-3, and then winning the district championship,” Allen said. “We realize that that was last year. We’re not the same team. We don’t have the same players. We still want to make sure we achieve the goal of defending that title at the very least, but we have higher aspirations of going further.”

The Warriors lost multiple seniors at the conclusion of last season that saw the Lutz program go perfect in district play. Principle among the departures is starting guard Alexis Wright, who is attending the University of Miami after averaging 6.3 points, four rebounds and two steals in 2011-12.

The squad also lost much of its depth and size, as 6-foot-2 center Rebecca Cohen (5.3 rebounds, 4.4 points, 1.5 blocks) and 5-foot-10 guard Gabby Sebastian (2.1 rebounds) also graduated.

Allen said the loss of his five seniors, all of whom grew up playing together in youth leagues, was like nothing he’s ever felt. He added that the early conditioning gives him a better eye for who can fill the void while helping the girls develop chemistry.

“Those girls are irreplaceable in my eyes,” Allen said. “Last year, we were one deep, sometimes two deep, on the roster. When (starting forward/center) Rachel Briere went down against Wiregrass last year, I had a senior in Rebecca Cohen who stepped up and just played great that night in a huge win that gave us confidence to win the district. Depth like that will certainly be missed until we find out what these new girls are capable of doing, which is why we do this.”

Many of Allen’s returning players are showing plenty of confidence early on.

Four-year starters like guard Justice Thigpen (4.6 assists, 3.4 points, 2.5 steals) and forward/guard Bailey Hooker (19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 2.1 blocks) are keeping the team focused with senior leadership.

Steinbrenner also returns junior guard Taylor Thigpen (four points, 2.8 assists), and may be close to getting back senior forward Lauren Shedd, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in five games before being diagnosed with breaks in L4 and L5 vertebra of her back.

Allen said he has been very impressed with the workouts by sophomore center Rachel Briere (10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals), freshman Courtney Hall and senior forward Jessica Weatherman.

Weatherman, who is a kicker on the Warriors’ football while competing in track and flag football, said it works to her advantage with both football and basketball conditioning in the fall.

“It keeps me conditioned and keeps me in shape,” Weatherman said. “In football, I don’t have a big say because I’m the only girl. In basketball, I kind of show that a little bit more, and I like it.”

Hall, who played at Martinez Middle for Steinbrenner assistant coach Chip Geraghty, said it is a lot different, especially with the early schedule.

“The first week, it was tough because we were just starting, and I was out of shape,” Hall said. “I still am, but I’ve gotten better as we’ve gone on. It’s gotten easier.”

One of the team’s biggest rivals and 2011-12 district runner-up Freedom added power to its roster in the offseason with Faith Woodard, who transferred from Riverview.

Allen said he’s not concerned despite the Patriots’ addition of the 6-foot-2 senior forward who averaged 21.4 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, 3.1 blocks and three assists last season.

“They’re no disputing the fact that they’ve got great players over there, but sometimes it takes more than a great player to win a championship,” Allen said. “You’ve got to have some great chemistry, a little bit of luck and the talent doesn’t hurt either. When you can get 13/14 girls all buying in and believing one common goal, then special things will happen. I’m not worried with what’s going on over on Bruce B. Downs. I know our girls will be ready to go.”

Steinbrenner wraps up the morning team workouts this week, but will still have early conditioning for individual positions once the team is selected.  The first day of official practice is Oct. 22, with regular season games beginning Nov. 12.

–Stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Steinbrenner girls golf team has accomplished nearly the impossible the last two years.

The Warriors (12-0) have recorded 23 straight victories, dominating one of the most difficult and frustrating games ever created.

“It’s very rewarding to see all the hard work from the girls pay off,” said Mark Mann, the only coach in the program’s four-year history. “They worked hard to keep the perfect regular season intact. They strived for it from the start.”

Steinbrenner completed its second straight perfect regular season with a 173-216 win at Wharton’s (5-5) home course, Hunter’s Green Country Club in New Tampa, the same place the Warriors last lost.

The winning streak started with the final match of the 2010 regular season, meaning the squad’s four sophomores and one freshman have never suffered a loss in high school.

“The team has been really close; our bond has been really big,” said sophomore Claire Becker. “To be undefeated on top of that makes it even sweeter.”

Marlena Gumpher, Steinbrenner’s only senior, said the squad’s closeness mixed with its personalities is a big reason why they’ve been able to continue winning.

“The chemistry and everyone’s personality fits together so well,” Gumpher said. “It’s perfect. It goes together.”

New to that chemistry is sophomore Kayla Poff, who played at Plant in 2011.

“Last year at Plant our only loss was to Steinbrenner, so I knew they were already a great team,” Poff said. She added, “People ask us at school how did we do after each match. To tell them that we’re still undefeated is a great feeling. I don’t think we just have a great shot at winning districts and regionals, but states too.”

The Warriors, who are 41-5 in regular seasons since the school opened in 2009, did a little streak snapping of their own this year.

They ended Plant City’s 26-match win streak and beat the Raiders again on the road later this season.

That’s not to say everything has been easy for Steinbrenner.

The Lutz squad snuck by Class 2A-10 rival Freedom Sept. 25 on the road by three strokes, the closest score during the streak.

The Warriors were without Kelsy Holbert and Brooke Deal due to illness and Becker, the squad’s ace, played despite being sick.

“I thought we were going to lose because our other two best players were sick,” Becker said. “I was overwhelmed with joy when we won. … (The streak) means the world to me. It’s been the best two years of my life, ever.”

The next challenge for Steinbrenner came at the 2A-10 tournament at Walden Lake Country Club in Plant City Oct. 15, but results were not available by press time.

The Warriors won a district title two seasons ago, but had to settle for the runner-up spot last year by five strokes.

 

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

Steinbrenner girls golf scores*

Name Score Yr.

Kayla Poff 41 So.

Claire Becker 42 So.

Hannah Crosby 45 So.

Brooke Deal 45 Jr.

Kelsy Holbert 45 So.

Marlena Gumpher 50 Sr.

*Oct. 11 at Wharton

 

Land O’ Lakes boys take gold

 

By Jeff Odom

 

It was a day of firsts for the Wiregrass Ranch girls cross country team, as it dominated the inaugural Run with the Bulls Invitational Oct. 13.

Competing without senior Nikita Shah, who was on a recruiting trip, Wiregrass Ranch totaled 41 points to beat out Monteverde Academy by 24 to finish first in the eight-team race.

The event was even more special for Bulls junior Elise Cedre. She finished the 5-kilometer race in 19 minutes 49.72 seconds, edging out teammate Berlin Waters (19:57.44) to claim her first career individual title in front of the home crowd.

To top off the day, Cedre was celebrating her 17th birthday.

Cedre couldn’t hold back the tears as she was presented with a first-place medal and the team trophy. She said Bulls coach Don Howard never stopped believing in her.

“It’s been pretty great,” Cedre said. “I’ve never finished first in a race before. Coach said before the race, ‘Hey you might get first in this race,’ and I did and I owe it all to God. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Cedre said it is a big accomplishment for the squad to be able win without its best runner.

“Nikita is always far ahead,” Cedre said. “She always wins, but yeah she’s good by herself, and when she’s not here we can all pull up the team, and I think all our girls we always run together. We’re always together, always working hard and it’s just a really big team effort today.”

Other top times by Wiregrass Ranch were turned in by seventh-place finisher Addie Cornwell (20:24.84) and Chelsea Ginn-Davis (21:13.80), who placed 15th. Fellow Bulls runners Emily Payne (21:22.98) and Savannah Goode (21:31.87) took 16th and 19th, respectively.

Katie Monds (21:25.35) was the best finisher for Land O’ Lakes, coming in 17th, while Gators freshman Lindsey Weilant (22:23.3) was 27th.

Academy at the Lakes’ lone representative Alex Gittens (23:39.51) crossed the line 36th overall.

On the boys side, it was Land O’ Lakes that took the crown, placing in three of the first four spots to win the team title. The Gators finished with 30 points, defeating runner-up Nature Coast by 12.

Junior Travis Nichols led all runners to the finish line with a time of 16:13 for his first title of the year. Teammates Tyler Stahl (16:34) and Jake Poore (16:39) took second and fourth,  respectively.

Land O’ Lakes had its top-10 runners complete the course in less than 18:30. Gators coach Kris Keppel noted that as a program first.

“Now that we have so many people fighting for that seventh and last spot on varsity really helps with the competition in the postseason,” Nichols said. “I think it’s only going to make us faster.”

Keppel also pointed out that his squad’s average finish of 16:49.4 is just two tenths of a second slower than when Land O’ Lakes took seventh at the Class 3A state meet in 2008.

Wiregrass Ranch finished fifth with 131 points. Senior Ermais Bireda (18:10), who is recovering from a shin injury, took 20th, while teammate Jarred Lanier (18:11) was 21st.

—Sports Editor Kyle LoJacono contributed to this report

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Steinbrenner junior defender Miranda Gonzalez committed to play at the University of Tampa (UT) Oct. 9.

The lockdown defender said she has wanted to be a Spartan (11-3-1) since going to one of their camps at age 12.

“It’s always been on top of my list,” Miranda said. “I thought it was so cool. I visited other schools, but nothing else really compared to UT.”

Miranda will be joining her sister, Cici, who is a freshman forward at UT.

“I wanted to play at UT first of all because my sister is there, and I wanted to play with her,” Miranda said. “She’s having an awesome experience at UT, and that really helped me make my decision. … UT is a winning program, and it’s a beautiful school. The team is great, and I wanted a smaller school and I wanted to stay close to home, so I thought it was the perfect fit for me.”

Miranda helped the Warriors win the Class 4A state championship in 2011. Steinbrenner allowed 12 goals in 25 games that season and 16 tallies in 22 contests last year.

Miranda said it’s “a big weight lifted” off her shoulders knowing where she’s going for college.

“Now I can just work on my strengths and get better for college, and just keep improving my play.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Freedom senior girls basketball player Faith Woodard committed to Georgetown University Oct. 14 on her 18th birthday.

Woodard, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, made the announcement via Twitter: “Officially a Georgetown Hoya! Just verbally committed! I’m all in.”

Woodard transferred from Riverview during the summer. She averaged 21.4 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, 3.1 blocks and three assists last year. She also won the Class 4A state high jump championship as a junior by clearing 5-feet 8-inches.

Georgetown is a Division-1 program in the Big East Conference. Woodard also had major interest from the University of South Florida, another Big East team.

Patriots fourth-year coach Laurie Pacholke said Woodard is the first player in the program’s 10-year history to commit to a program in one of the so-called power six conferences, which are the same as the BCS leagues for college football. She is also the second to pick a Division-I program, following Pacholke’s daughter, Kaitlynn, who signed with Jacksonville State University following the 2009-10 season.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Wharton football team wasted little time on the road Oct. 12, smashing cross-town rival Freedom 38-0.

Wildcats (4-2) junior quarterback Chase Litton completed his first four passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores were caught by senior wide receiver Keith “KJ” Hopkins, the first for 31 yards and the second for 27.

“Rivalry game,” Hopkins said. “I was so pumped up and ready. On the first touchdown, Chase scrambled, and I was just standing in the end zone waiting. On the second, I was supposed to run a hitch, but I saw the middle wide open, and he saw me break off my route and touchdown. … He always finds us when we’re open.”

Hopkins finished with 214 all-purpose yards. Litton went 15-of-23 passing for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also added a 1-yard rushing score in the third quarter.

Litton said it felt good to get back on the right track after dropping their last two contests.

“It wasn’t a statement game, but it was a game where we needed to reboot,” Litton said. “When I say that, I mean we need to realize we’re not some turnover team. We started out 3-0, and then went 0-2. We got to realize that when we were 3-0 we were on top of the world. Now we were facing adversity, and when you face adversity you have to respond. We did that tonight.”

The Wildcats started to establish a bit of a run game in the second half.

Junior Jeff Keil ran for 31 yards after halftime, including a 2-yard plunge up the middle to put his team ahead 35-0. He also scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and finished with 40 yards on the ground.

“Originally I didn’t feel too good, and we weren’t running the ball well,” Keil said. “We came out in the second half ready to run, and we came out running. … I think the scheme that we used in the second half confused them. We were putting a lot of guys in motion, and just the heart. We just found the holes and went.”

Litton added, “Keil just ran all over them. There was that one run where everyone was just clogged up the middle. He just broke two tackles shook a safety and got a 30-yard run. When we establish that it makes the passing so much easier.”

Wharton’s defense locked up the Patriots (2-5), allowing only 49 yards of total offense and two first downs, one coming on a holding penalty. The D also recorded four sacks.

“They’ve done that the whole season, really,” Litton said. “They’ve given up a total of 30 real points on defense. They balled out. These past three weeks have been defensive games, defensive games. They shut down Durant. They shut down Plant. The past two games we just didn’t respond. This game we just responded to let them know that we’re still here.”

The combination of high-powered offense and shutdown defense forced a running clock with about three minutes left in the third quarter.

“I love getting running clocks on them,” Keil said.

It is the third straight victory for the Wildcats against the Patriots. While the win over their rival is nice, Wharton coach David Mitchell said they need to be ready for what looms on the horizon.

“The timing was down, which is good because we really need to get back on the horse here,” Mitchell said. “As I always say, we’ve got to have amnesia right now, and put everything behind us because you know we’ve got Bloomingdale on a short week. Play them on Thursday, and that’s a district game. We need to win it to get in.”

Freedom hosts Class 7A-District 9 rival Gaither Oct. 18, while the Wildcats travel to 8A-6 opponent Bloomingdale. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker