Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Entering the 2011-12 season the Land O’ Lakes boys basketball team had reached the playoffs seven times in the program’s 36-year history, but had failed to advance past the first round.

Scratch that off the list.

The Gators (22-6) defeated Lakeland Lake Gibson (9-14) 53-30 in their home gym on Feb. 16, sending them to the regional semis for the first time.

“I don’t want to tell them if they don’t know,” said 23-year Land O’ Lakes coach David Puhalski with a laugh.

The Gators knew they were part of program history, including senior point guard Justin Thomopalos.

“I’m elated right now,” Thomopalos said. “This is a whole new feeling. I can’t even describe it. This is the moment we’ve been working for since Day 1. We’ve talked about trying to do this all four years I’ve been here.”

Senior forward Jackson Cannon said Puhalski has told them a playoff win was achievable since the first few practices this year.

“Coach told us we had something special, and as long as we followed through this would be possible,” Cannon said. “We just have to play to our potential.”

The victory is the 15th straight for the Gators, a far cry from a team that started out 0-2.

“We had our ups and downs,” Thomopalos said. “When we played in our winter tournament in Lemon Bay, that’s when things really turned. We lost one game there and haven’t lost since.”

Land O’ Lakes started out slow offensively against the Braves, scoring 17 points in the first half. The defense made up for the sluggish scoring, holding Lake Gibson to just 10 through 16 minutes.

“Ten points in the first half we’ll take that any game,” Puhalski said. “If we only allow 10 at the half I think we’ll be in most games. … Even guys off the bench, Justin Forchion and Randal Ackett, all helped defensively. Everyone contributed.”

The defense was helped by the rebounding of Cannon and junior center Victor Obi, who pulled down nine and 12 respectively.

“I was just focusing on boxing out,” said Obi, who added four blocks. “If you do that the ball will just come to you. Then you just have to grab it with both hands and look for the outlet pass.”

The offense picked up after halftime, exploding for 18 in the third quarter despite the Braves switching to a press defense.

“I think we handled (the press) a lot better than we normally do,” Puhalski said. “The guards really handled the ball well in the press, and we got some easy looks off it.”

Thomopalos handled the ball skillfully through the press, finding the open man for high-percentage shots. McClendon feasted on the passes, scoring 11 of his 13 points after halftime.

“(McClendon) can score at will, so it’s nice to pass to someone like that,” Thomopalos said. “Then we’ve got Mike Morrow and Jackson scoring and Victor Obi altering the other team’s shots. It’s fun to play point with players like that.”

Cannon finished with a team-high 14 points, while Morrow kicked in seven with seven rebounds. Mike Obi scored nine. Thomopalos had four steals, three rebounds and four points.

The Gators play at Winter Haven on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Class 6A regional semis.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Academy at the Lakes boys basketball team continued sailing into uncharted waters with a 49-48 victory at Lake Wales Vanguard on Feb. 16 in the Class 2A regional quarterfinals.

The win is the Wildcats’ first in the playoffs, just one of a line of new things done by the program this year.

The trip to the postseason is also a program first as is finishing a season above .500.

“This whole year has been so great,” said junior guard/forward Igwe, a Freedom High transfer. “I love it here.”

The academy (15-8) had an interesting fight getting to Vanguard (16-3). Their pregame meal was delayed and then they got lost on the way to the game.

“We had to change into our gear in the bus,” Igwe said. “A couple of the guys fell asleep, so we had to wake them up, and they were all confused. We got there like 15 minutes before the game. … We weren’t into the game like we should have been until the half.”

The academy went 3-17 shooting in the first quarter but trailed only 22-20 entering halftime.

Much of the poor shooting was thanks to Vanguard’s 6-foot-7 center Jean Remy Esor.

Wildcats sophomore center Evan Gordy has faced players as tall as 6-foot-10, so he has experience looking for ways to break down such giants.

“I realized he wasn’t as fast reacting back to the ball,” Gordy said. “He’d shift to one side and I’d stay on the other to cut to the basket. Then I tried to use my strength to box him out to get put backs. I also saw he would jump on pump fakes because he’d always go for the block.”

The game stayed close to the end and included a last-second shot. Vanguard stole the ball with about 3 seconds remaining and got up a floater that hit the backboard and fell harmlessly to the ground.

“It was one of the games that was really intense back-and-forth,” Gordy said. “Both teams played with a lot of energy. They had a few good players who made big shots and we had to answer. … We stayed strong and kept pushing in their court.”

Igwe led the Wildcats with 16 points while kicking in two blocks. Gordy added 10 points and five rebounds.

The academy hosts Winter Haven All Saints’ Academy on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

By Eugenio Torrens

More than 20 minutes after the final buzzer had sounded, Wharton fans riddled the stands and court, waiting for their team.

The Wildcats boys basketball team finally emerged from their locker room. Some wore solemn expressions and some had faint outlines from tears streaming down their face.

They were welcomed by authentic, but somewhat hollow clapping.

It was not the ending Wharton had envisioned.

The Wildcats (24-4) fell to East Lake (16-8) in the Class 8A regional quarterfinals 64-63 at home on Feb. 16.

Wharton slogged through an offensively challenged first half to explode with 26 in the third quarter to set the one-point contest. The Wildcats had a last-second game-winning tip attempt that hung on the rim before falling out to dash their dreams.

“The ball hung on the rim, I thought it was going to roll in and it just rolled out,” said Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli. “Just couldn’t get that oomph to get over the rim.”

The Wildcats managed 20 points in the first half, but were down only eight at halftime despite the Eagles entering the locker room on a 7-1 run.

Wharton found its shooting touch in the second half, increasing its accuracy from the paint out to the perimeter to gain momentum. The Wildcats trailed by only two entering the final period.

Patrik Hauri hit a jumper early in the fourth quarter to tie the contest and set up a back-and-forth tussle to the finish.

Every time the Eagles needed a big bucket one of the Mogged brothers responded, combining for 36 points. Jeremy Mogged had 25 points, including six 3-pointers, while brother Kyle tallied 11.

Despite those gaudy long-distance stats, Wharton had a look at the end of the game.

Sir Patrick Reynolds corralled the rebound off a free-throw attempt and dished it down the court. Jaken Grier drove toward the basket and tossed up a layup that didn’t go in. A sea of hands went up for the rebound or tip in. Hauri got his hands on it, but the ball wouldn’t fall in.

The buzzer sounded, ending Wharton’s playoff run.

“They gave 16 minutes of everything you could ask of them,” Tonelli said. “We got a decent look, we had a great tip attempt, but in hindsight I wish I would’ve called time out and got us a little more organized. … I’d give anything if I could go back and use that time out.”

CJ McGill led Wharton with 23 points.

Wesley Chapel falls 68-53

The Wesley Chapel boys basketball team was unable to win at Nature Coast in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals, losing 68-53 on Feb. 16.

The Wildcats (24-5) were led by Erik Thomas’ 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Sasha Mentor kicked in 14 points, six rebounds and three steals.

St. Petersburg stops the Bulls

The Wiregrass Ranch boys basketball team fell 77-50 at St. Petersburg in the Class 7A regional quarterfinals on Feb. 16.

The Bulls (17-11) were seeking consecutive regionals semifinals appearances after losing seven seniors, including four starters from a year ago, but were unable to hang with St. Petersburg’s offense.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Land O’ Lakes High has been found guilty of six violations by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) involving two students who are siblings.

The Gators must forfeit 44 athletic contests, including 23 football games, 16 junior varsity volleyball matches and five boys weightlifting meets. The school was fined $3,200 and the entire athletic department is on probation until June 1, 2013.

The FHSAA’s report states a “concerned parent” told Land O’ Lakes about the potential violations on Feb. 3. The school conducted an internal investigation and the two students withdrew from Land O’ Lakes on Feb. 6.

Corey Sobers, FHSAA spokesman, said the final ruling was given to the school on Feb. 13. Land O’ Lakes can appeal.

The FHSAA report states the family was “assisted by a coach and a football booster parent, who helped them to obtain and submit a false address to allow the students to attend Land O’ Lakes High School, though they actually lived outside the district.” The same address was used in August 2012 when the younger sibling enrolled at Land O’ Lakes as a freshman.

Sobers said the football coach was Matt Kitchie, who was hired in 2009 but was relieved of his duties following an unrelated off-the-field incident at the end of the 2010 season.

Portions of Land O’ Lakes’ self-report released by the FHSAA state Kitchie knew one of the students’ parents because they both coached together at a college in Kentucky. The parent told Kitchie the player wasn’t happy at his school in Hillsborough County.

“(Kitchie) talked about how to orchestrate the documents needed that would allow (name redacted) to enroll at LOLHS,” the self-report states. … “Upon further review by the school, we determined that the address being used was at a local business, owned by football booster-parents.”

The self-report states the booster, who was not identified, was “hesitant” to go along with the plan “but complied because he did not want to fall out of favor with his son’s coach.”

Kitchie, now the coach at Leto, denies any involvement.

“I had nothing to do with this,” Kitchie said. “It’s completely false.”

Summer Romagnoli, spokeswoman for the Pasco School District, said no other Land O’ Lakes faculty was part of the investigation.

The booster involved is banned from any contact with Gators athletics.

The Laker/Lutz News has learned the football player in question is quarterback Ryan Bird. The senior transferred from Hillsborough High for his junior year.

Ryan, who was an International Baccalaureate student at both schools, started two games as a junior and 10 contests, including the kickoff classic, in 2011.

FHSAA bylaws state a team must forfeit any contest in which an ineligible player was on the active roster even if they did not play. Ryan was on the Gators’ roster for all 23 games, including two kickoff classics, the last two years and was a part of five Land O’ Lakes’ boys weightlifting meets last season.

The Gators went 9-2 in 2010, reaching the playoffs for the 14th straight season. Sobers said the program must vacate that postseason appearance, ending the streak at 13. Land O’ Lakes finished 7-3 in 2011 without making regionals.

Ryan has one sibling, a younger sister named Madison.

Steve Bird, Ryan and Madison’s father, is an assistant football coach at the University of South Florida. He coached at Eastern Kentucky University from 2005-06, the same time Kitchie was a graduate assistant at the college.

Steve Bird did not return multiple phone and email requests for comment on this story.

Land O’ Lakes could have been fined $2,500 for each of the 32 contests that either of the ineligible students played in for a total of $80,000. Sobers said the amount was lessened because the school self-reported the violations.

Sobers said the Gators are eligible for the postseason in other sports this year, but another violation by any Land O’ Lakes athletic program during the probation could result in playoff bans.

The FHSAA report states the school is “making changes to the enrollment requirements.” It also states Land O’ Lakes principal Ric Mellin “accepted full responsibility for the administration of these sports.”

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Sunlake football team had a record-setting day on Feb. 15.

That’s when the fifth-year program had four players sign to play in college, a record for a single Seahawks football recruiting class.

Nick Morrison will play linebacker at Morehead State University, a Division I program in Kentucky. Cornerback/running back Rashaud Daniels, fullback/defensive end Jerome Samuels and quarterback Jacob Jackson will attend Central Methodist University, an NAIA school in Missouri.

“They’ve been a huge part of building the program,” said Sunlake football coach Bill Browning. “They’ve persevered and all their hard work paid off. They’re great leaders for their new programs and great role models.”

Morrison was the team’s leading tackler each of the last three years, posting 366 career tackles and nine fumble recoveries. He did that despite playing most of his junior year with a torn ACL in his right knee.

“I’m blessed to keep playing,” Morrison said. “I had the knee injury, and to be able to keep playing after that is exciting.”

The other three said getting to play together at Central Methodist, which went 5-5 last year, was a reason why they became Eagles.

“Now we can bring a little bit of Sunlake to our new school,” Samuels said.

Daniels added, “I wanted Jerome to come there too because he’s like a brother of mine. Then getting to play with Jacob again makes it even better.”

Jackson, who transferred from Gulf as a junior, graduated last year. He originally signed with the College of DuPage but wound up going to Bluefield College. He will use his remaining three years of eligibility at Central Methodist.

Jackson threw for 1,258 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2010 while adding 1,058 rushing yards and 12 more scores.

Jackson said he was “relieved” when Sunlake made the postseason for the first time in 2011 even though he wasn’t with the program.

“I called coach Browning right away when they beat Land O’ Lakes for the first time and then when they made the playoffs,” Jackson said.

Samuels and Daniels have attended the central Pasco County school since their freshman year, a season when the Seahawks went 1-9. Sunlake went 10-2 this season, including making its first postseason.

“This has been a great process here because now I’m going to a school that hasn’t gotten to its top yet,” Daniels said. “I have the chance to go there and help them get to their top.”

Samuels had a team-high 536 rushing yards last year on 93 carries while adding 39 tackles and five sacks. He will likely play running back in college.

Daniels led the team in minutes played the last three years, posting 35 touchdowns, scoring nine two-point conversions and picking off seven passes during his career. He’ll start out at cornerback at Central Methodist.

“I’m ready to go out there to Missouri now,” Daniels said. “As a Florida boy I’m going in there with some swag and try to get a starting position.”

 

 

 

Sunlake High hosted its second annual Pink Out softball game on Feb. 14 against district rival Land O’ Lakes to raise awareness for all forms of cancer. The event was started last year by seniors Courtney and Meghan Durbin, whose mother, Kay, is a cancer survivor. The Seahawks (5-1) bested the Gators (0-2) 15-5.

By Eugenio Torrens

Two Wiregrass Ranch boys cross country runners signed letters of intent to add to the area’s total number of scholarship signees.

Sam Hippely and Daniel Hill made their college decisions official on Feb. 8.

Hippely, the reigning All-Laker/All-Lutz News boys cross country Runner of the Year, signed with the University of West Florida. He took a college visit a month ago and that pretty much sealed it.

“When I visited, I liked the team a lot,” said Hippely, who will study accounting. “The team was cool and I just liked the campus. The fact that I could live on campus, away from home, kind of was the selling point.”

He’s just as content with the prospect of college as he is relieved with the fact he knows which he’ll attend.

“I’m happy to finally make my decision and decide where I’m going to college, and the fact that I know I’m going to run in college,” Hippely said. “That’s what I’ve wanted to do since my freshman year, I’ve wanted to run in college, so I’m happy with my decision.”

Hill inked his letter of intent with St. Leo, where he plans to major in criminal justice.

Hill started talking to the Lions at one of Wiregrass Ranch’s meets.

“I kind of just got hooked on them,” Hill said. “Then I went and visited and I liked it, so basically set on there since the end of cross country season.”

Bulls coach Chris Loth was in the crowd of family and friends when the pair signed.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than that, knowing that you’re helping somebody get their college education, and they did it through hard work and commitment and perseverance,” Loth said.

 

By Eugenio Torrens

Harold Givens wasn’t happy and he decided to do something about it.

His daughter, Jade, was playing AAU basketball in 2003 when Givens decided there was room for improvement.

“We figured we could do it better, we could do it more effectively,” Givens said. “So we started Tampa Bay Inferno.”

And with that spark, Givens and his no-nonsense basketball regime began.

Givens called AAU pressure packed, noting how kids aren’t there to solely have fun. They’re there to learn and win in the process.

“If you don’t measure up, you don’t play. If you don’t compete and win a spot, you don’t receive a spot,” Givens said.

Givens has applied his philosophy to his recreational league as well, the Junior Magic, which practices in sync with the Inferno.

“We serve a clientele that’s being underserved, and that’s for people that want the truth and want their kids to be taught,” Givens said.

Currently, Inferno includes seven girls teams ranging from sixth-grade to high school players. The AAU season goes from late February to October — including roughly 15 tournaments and traveling within Florida, to Georgia, all the way to Virginia.

Givens’ success didn’t come without trials and tribulations. He said people originally took his kindness for weakness, including sticking their hands into the organization’s pocket.

“I learned on the fly how to run a business,” Givens said. “I watch where the money goes. I watch my people, I watch the parents. If we have to dismiss a parent and a kid, we have no problems.”

Givens also has shied away from dealing with parents and politics. He has no qualms cleaning house.

“They want things their way and they don’t want to follow the rules as far as Tampa Bay Inferno,” Givens said. “That’s really not accepted here. … We’re going to do this thing right.”

Part of the reason Givens strives for a nonpolitically charged environment is because his organization serves kids from different backgrounds. Kids come from Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and from as far away as Zephyrhills and Polk County.

One thing that translates, no matter where kids come from, is Givens’ yelling.

“You have two types of kids: kids that can deal with aggressiveness and some kids that can’t,” Givens said.

While Givens has tried to temper his attitude, there’s a lot of yelling. He wants kids to have fun and achieve, so long as they don’t mind a bit of screaming along the way.

Anika Moffitt, 12, is in her first year with the Inferno and said she has no problems with Givens’ techniques.

“Anybody can go out there and tell themselves to quit, but you have to have a strong mind to tell yourself to keep going,” Moffitt said. “He’ll even walk over to the door and tell you to leave.”

Givens added, “It’s not for the faint of heart. That’s why I love this country so much — this country has choices. You can choose to keep your kids here or you choose not to. It doesn’t bother me.”

And Givens’ at-times abrasive attitude has attracted kids more than it has scared them off.

“You gotta let Coach (Givens) coach,” said Carol Brower, whose daughter, Stephanie, is in her third year with the Inferno. “If he’s gonna yell at your kid to get your kid motivated, that’s what you gotta let him do.”

Brower said she noticed immediate improvement in her daughter’s game and Stephanie wouldn’t play anywhere else.

Anne Dykeman said Givens’ intimidating and gruff exterior isn’t the whole story.

“He might tell you what you’re doing wrong, but he builds you back up,” Dykeman said.

Some of Givens’ colleagues don’t agree with his coaching mentality, but none can argue with the results. The Inferno’s sixth-grade team was the Youth Basketball of America national runner-up in addition to the AAU state champions.

“I want to be a national powerhouse,” Givens said. “The ultimate goal, we may not reach it, is for everyone of our kids to get to college. Every single one. I want them all to obtain college scholarships.”

For more information on the Inferno, call Givens at (813) 997-9933 or email .