Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Jonas Bukh returns to Gaither for his senior season

By Kyle LoJacono

Gaither’s boys soccer team reached the Class 5A final four last season but lost its top two scorers to graduation.

The departures of Zach Wheeler and Jordan See, who scored 24 and 15 goals, respectively, last season, created major voids, but the Cowboys’ (12-4-1) losses went even deeper. Gaither racked up 75 tallies a year ago, but 58 of those were put in by players who have since graduated.

Cowboys coach Eric Sims was unsure where his squad’s offense would come from this year.

“I knew we had talented players, but yeah that’s a lot of goals we got from players who have graduated,” Sims said. “I knew we’d need to get offense from new people. I was a little worried because losing people like Jordan and Zach isn’t something you can just fix easily. … When I heard Jonas (Bukh) was coming back I thought he had a chance to help with the scoring.”

Bukh has done just that, scoring a team-high 13 goals. His total is more than a third of Gaither’s total tallies. He is also setting up his teammates as illustrated by his seven assists, second most on the squad.

The senior forward played for the Cowboys his freshman and sophomore years but returned to his native Denmark as a junior. Sims said he learned Bukh was coming back not long before practices for the 2011-12 campaign began and was excited to see what improvements his returning pupil had made during his year in Europe.

“You could see he had a lot of skill his first two years here,” Sims said. “Getting back a kid like Jonas is a big plus for us. He’s come in and been a big threat to score. We were very fortunate to get him back this season. Not just for his scoring, but he goes about things in a very professional way. He’s a really good example for the younger guys.”

Cowboys senior goalkeeper Carlos de Oliveira was also pleased to see Bukh once again donning Gaither gear.

“He was my first friend here and he works really hard,” de Oliveira said. “He always scores and is really strong. He’s a really good player. … I’m so happy to have him back.”

Bukh said he was a bit nervous returning to a team that came two wins from the program’s second state championship a year ago.

“I think we’re doing pretty well,” Bukh said. “We’re going to have our ups and downs like any team. Even Barcelona has its downs, but we have to get up after losses and just move on.”

Bukh, whose first language is Danish, originally came to the United States while in the fifth grade, but that was not the first big move for him. His family moved to Kenya from Denmark when he was 2 and later went to South Africa and finally back to Denmark before coming to this country.

“Yeah I’ve lived in more countries than most kids in my classes have even been too,” Bukh said with a laugh. “It wasn’t too hard because I learned English when we moved to Africa and most people speak that there.”

The one constant for Bukh regardless of his location has been soccer. He can’t remember a time when he wasn’t kicking around the black and white ball up and down the pitch.

“I just love the sport,” Bukh said. “It’s a great sport and I just love the intensity. It takes a lot of skill. I grew up with it. Me and my dad (Per) would watch the World Cup or whatever, and I’d get caught up in it. He’d get excited and I’d get excited. Then we’d go play soccer after the game, and that’s what really motivated me to keep playing.”

Bukh has also done competitive swimming and judo, but neither gave him the same joy he has while playing soccer.

“Soccer is just such a great sport to play,” Bukh said. “I want to try and play in college and see where it takes me from there.”

The Cowboys host Jefferson on Friday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.

Jeff Odom

Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Steinbrenner girls basketball team’s worst nightmare came true with less than 5 minutes to play in the third quarter at Class 7A-District 9 rival Wiregrass Ranch on Jan. 6.

Freshman center Rachel Briere, who averages 11.1 points per game, yelled out in pain as she lay on the court holding her left knee. That’s when Warriors coach J.R. Allen turned to his bench and gestured for senior center Rebecca Cohen to go in.

“After Rachel went down, coach told me ‘we need you’ and everyday he told me I needed to be physical, but really it’s for the team and I’m a senior so I stepped it up,” Cohen said.

Cohen’s eight points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals gave the Warriors the late push needed to beat the Bulls 41-32 in a key district meeting.

For Allen, it was a moment 16 games in the making as he said Cohen, who scored six of her eight points in the fourth, got over a psychological hump that has plagued her all year.

“She has the physical gift, she knows that, I know that, but it’s all been a mental block for her, and for whatever reason she was able to shake that off,” Allen said. He then added, “It was huge and if she didn’t I feel like maybe the game goes the other way, and we don’t get it done because everything she did when she came in was a positive.”

The Warriors (14-2) found themselves locked in a tight game against Wiregrass Ranch (13-6) as shots didn’t fall for either team in the first half. Steinbrenner led 17-15 at the break thanks to a buzzer-beating layup by senior guard Alexis Wright.

“You talk about poor shooting, I wanted to joke and ask if they put any lids on the rim before the first half because no shots were going in,” Allen said.

The Warriors defense picked up the offense, forcing the Bulls to settle for outside shots.

“We kind of communicated that the defense had to pick up (with the lack of offense), and it did tremendously,” Allen said.

In the second quarter, Steinbrenner junior guard/forward Baylee Hooker, who injured her head during a collision the day before in practice, began to set the pace offensively. She finished with a team-high 18 points.

“I had to push through it,” said Hooker of her injury. “I had to come out with the mindset that it wasn’t there and it wasn’t a big factor because the adrenaline in the game made it go away.”

In the second half, the Bulls kept chiseling away at the Warriors lead, which got as small as five before Briere’s injury. Allen said he’s not going to speculate on the extent of the injury, but did say Briere will have an MRI to check for any major damage.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulls kept it close as senior guard Kelly McCaffrey hit a pair of 3-pointers to keep Wiregrass Ranch within five late, but the Warriors defense stifled the comeback.

Bulls coach John Gant said while the loss hurts, he was glad to see his team maturing.

“We grew up a bit tonight,” Gant said. “I was really pleased with our effort on defense and we adjusted well on their pressure. We just didn’t play well on offense tonight, which was our Achilles heel. That’s why we didn’t win the game.”

On the boys side, Wiregrass Ranch got revenge against Steinbrenner, defeating the Warriors 91-69 to leap back into the district title conversation.

In the first meeting between the district opponents, Steinbrenner (8-5) won a shootout over the Bulls (7-7) at home 108-101.

Wiregrass Ranch adjusted from that game, and coach Jeremy Calzone said it was all about keeping the Warriors off the scoreboard.

“We’ve had trouble with our defense all year and I feel like we finally came together as a team,” Calzone said. “Just to see our guys come out and commit to playing defense, it was awesome.”

Steinbrenner coach Steve Williams said the Bulls adjustments made from then to now made a huge difference.

“I thought that we were just outplayed tonight,” Williams said. “It was a great ball game when we played them in our place, it went down to the wire, but tonight we just couldn’t make the shots like we did and they did a good job.”

Junior forward Rico Kerney led the Bulls with 36 points and junior shooting guard Drake Wagner led the Warriors with 14.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner boys soccer team showed it has the firepower and defense to make a deep playoff run with its 6-0 dismantling of Plant on Jan. 6.

The Warriors (10-1-2) scored in a variety of ways, including two goals off free kicks and another on a corner, while the backline stifled the Panthers attack for most of the evening.

Five Steinbrenner players scored, with Jason Collister notching a pair.

“It felt really good to score two goals to help our team,” said Collister, a junior forward/midfielder. “Trying to accomplish our goal of winning states.”

Logan Siben got the Warriors on the board in the 20th minute, while Derek Gebhard and Elliot Smith added goals before halftime. Collister recorded his tallies in the 52nd and 59th minute, and Brett Wilkosz found the back of the net with just more than 8 minutes left.

Steinbrenner coach Chad Ebright said the offense is improving, but still needs some work.

“We’ve really had a hard time finding the back of the net this year, but the guys are coming together,” Ebright said.

The defense limited Plant to six shots, many of which posed little threat.

“Our defense was playing really organized,” said senior defender Austin Renz. “Everybody was talking and doing what they needed to get the ball out to our forwards so they could do the rest.”

Renz was also a factor in the attack. He took a free kick around midfield that set up Collister’s second goal. He also made the heads-up decision to execute a short throw-in deep in Panther territory to Gebhard, who sent a cross pass to Collister for his first tally.

“We do a lot of long throw-ins and teams push back, so every once in a while you can do a short one just to catch them off guard,” Renz said.

Ebright said of Renz, “He’s been a captain since his sophomore year, our first year when we opened up, and he has been the most consistent player we have had in our history. He’s going to be missed, and not just on the field because he’s one of the best kids I’ve ever met.”

The Warriors girls tied Plant 1-1 in the early game, but the defending Class 4A state champions controlled the ball for most of game.

Steinbrenner (12-3-2) forced eight corner kicks, including five before the water break midway through the first half, but seemed to lose focus following the stoppage. The Panthers (12-1-1) capitalized with a goal in the 33rd minute.

The Warriors regained the upper hand after halftime, peppering Plant goalkeeper Kara Looby with seven shots. Steinbrenner broke through in the 74th minute off a corner kick by Alexis Bredeau that was buried home by Jessica Taylor. It is only the third goal the Panthers have allowed all year.

“The first 20 minutes we were pretty much in control,” said Steinbrenner coach Robert Woodard. “We had five corner kicks, we just didn’t finish our opportunities. Then they got that one little goal and we went through a little dead spell. I’m really happy we did what we did. We were pushing for a game winner at the end. I was really happy with our effort. … If we can beat Plant, and in my book we pretty much did that today, I think we can go deep in the playoffs.”

Taylor said scoring late gives them self-assurance they can get goals when they need to.

“When you score a late goal like that it gives me confidence and the team confidence,” said Taylor, a freshman midfielder.

Warriors goalkeeper Stephanie Hirsch, who had seven saves, gave a solid performance despite having a painful knee injury. Woodard gave credit to the junior for fighting through.

“I try to talk them out of playing when they’re hurt, but that isn’t going to happen especially with Stephanie,” Woodard said. “I know better because they’re going to play. I knew she was going to give a great effort tonight and she really made a big difference.”

Steinbrenner hosts Bloomingdale on Friday, Jan. 13. The girls play at 6 p.m. with the boys following around 8 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

The boys and girls soccer games between Freedom and Gaither on Jan. 4 were near carbon copies of each other.

The Cowboys dominated the pace of play for most of the evening, but the Patriots capitalized on their opportunities to sweep the Class 4A-District 8 contests. The Freedom boys (5-6-1) won 1-0, while the girls (9-3-2) were 2-0 victors.

The wins were more than just another W on their record as they secure the No. 2 seeds for both Patriots squads in the 4A-8 tournaments.

“We always like playing them because they’re very similar to us in skill,” said Freedom forward Alyssa Daniello. “It’s been a great rivalry, so we always come in really pumped up. It’s a really great feeling to come out on top.”

The loss locks the Gaither boys (11-4-1) into the No. 3 seed, while the girls (5-6-1) are the No. 4.

The district rankings have included the Patriots girls near the top all season, but the boys have been around .500 and were on a three-game losing streak entering the 4A-8 showdown at Death Valley.

“We played a good game against (Gaither) in the Wharton Invitational, but lost,” said Patriots forward Evan Kruk. “We’re feeling good coming in because this was the game that mattered for districts. Obviously we bounced back from that in a positive way.”

The Cowboys outshot Freedom 7-2 in the first half, but Patriots goalkeeper Nathan Brown turned away all attempts including several crosses that seemed destined for the back of the net.

“(Brown) stepped in with the starting role last year and got six or seven starts under his belt, which is a big help for this season,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger.

Brown finished with 10 saves, setting up Kruk in the 74th minute for the winning goal.

Midfielder Michael Sacco took a shot in front of Gaither’s net. It ricocheted around before setting in front of Kruk, which he buried home.

“It’s a feeling you can’t describe,” said Kruk. “It’s the reason you play. … My first thought was that I was offside, but I finished it anyway. Obviously I wasn’t offside.”

Brown made a big save less than 2 minutes after Kruk’s goal to preserve the win.

“I was thinking I’m not letting anything get in my net,” Brown said. “Nothing is scoring on me.”

Cowboys goalkeeper Carlos de Oliveira finished with five saves, including two in the final minutes to keep the game close. Derflinger said he saw the late-game pressure as a sign of his team playing more aggressively.

“We’re finally getting some of our injured players back, so that’s helping with our skill level,” Derflinger said. “We’re starting to play a little better as a team. It’s starting to come together and luckily we have a few more games to build on that.”

As for the girls, the Patriots managed four shots in the contest but made the most of the chances.

“We didn’t have many shots, but we were able to capitalize on our opportunities,” said Freedom coach Jenna Ball. “That’s important, and we did a good job of getting our whole team up and supporting together. I feel like we just played as a team.”

The opening tally came in the 33rd minute on the Patriots only shot of the first half. Midfielder Chloe Stokes stole the ball from a Cowboys defender and found the top left corner.

Daniello added an insurance tally in the 64th minute. She settled a pass from Leah Stiling and hit a rocket into the top left corner to seal the win.

“I was really happy,” Daniello said. “Watching it go past their keeper is just indescribable.”

The story was the opposite for Gaither, who managed seven shots and several crossing attempts that missed the mark.

“We’ve got to hit the target,” said Cowboys coach Trevor Scott. “If you don’t hit the target you can’t score. It’s as simple as that.”

Gaither was without starting keeper Amanda High, who has had a nagging hip injury that has limited her during the last month. Freshman Kelsey Ristad started in her place.

“Ristad did a good job,” Scott said. “We also just lost another player — Nicole Hoban — who’s a good freshman defender who broke her arm. So it’s been a little unlucky, but still we had a chance to win tonight.”

By clinching the No. 2 seeds both Patriots squads earn byes into the district semifinals, meaning they would earn a playoff berth with just one win in the tournament.

The 4A-8 girls tournament is at Freedom Jan. 17-20, with the championship on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The boys event is at Steinbrenner Jan. 23-27, with the finals on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

Former Zephyrhills resident David Reutimann will be behind the wheel for his eighth NASCAR Cup series season thanks to a new deal with Tommy Baldwin Racing.

Reutimann, 42, was released by Michael Waltrip Racing following the 2011 season, a year where he won zero races and finished 28th in the points standings but did have one runner-up and two top-10 performances.

It is the first time the Zephyrhills High graduate will compete in a Cup series race with a team other than Waltrip’s. Reutimann said the change will be positive for his career.

“One of the things I like about Tommy and what’s refreshing about him is that he is just a racer,” Reutimann said. “There are a lot of things he could be doing, but instead he is at the shop every day working hard to build the organization from the ground up. … It’s the way I was raised with my dad, so we are on the same page.”

Baldwin released a statement which says they plan to have a two-car team this year, but added it is unclear how many races Reutimann will compete in as there is no full-time sponsorship lined up yet.

Dave Blaney is also part of Baldwin’s team. He finished 32nd in the points standings last year and is also looking for a new sponsor after Golden Corral decided not to return with the 41-year-old racer.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team has been a constant in the playoffs since Vicky King started the program in 1987.

The Gators (11-5-2) have reached the playoffs 16 times since the 1993-94 season, including 11 straight berths from 2000 until last year when the perennial power was knocked off in the district semifinals.

Land O’ Lakes lost 13 seniors from a squad that went 12-6-3 last year. The departure of so many veteran players left multiple holes in the lineup and created a lot of questions for the Gators entering this season, but early wins have given the Gators confidence they can start a new playoff streak.

“With a lot of seniors leaving everyone was a little nervous,” said senior midfielder/forward Arielle Le-Tran. “We thought what are we going to do, but we ended up getting a lot of good freshmen and transfers and things have really worked out.”

King was also unsure how the current campaign would unfold.

“I just didn’t know what to expect, but this team has really come together,” King said. “We started really strong, and I don’t think anyone would have expected us to play like this. I give (the team) a lot of credit for stepping up.”

Junior goalkeeper Ariana Bailey has filled one of the biggest voids. She moves in for Tara Marshall, who was a four-year starter between the pipes for Land O’ Lakes and amassed 177 saves and 10 shutouts last season.

Bailey, who is Marshall’s cousin, said she was nervous taking over for Marshall because of what the latter meant to the program the last four years and also because she had never played in a varsity game before this season.

“Our first preseason game I didn’t do really well because I was so nervous,” said Bailey, who has recorded 112 saves and 10 shutouts. “After preseason we faced some hard teams and we were better than most of the teams we were playing. The winning gave me confidence in myself and my team.”

Much of the Gators’ success this year can also be attributed to a new cast taking over in the defensive core. Land O’ Lakes brought back one starting defender, senior Kelsee Larson, but three freshmen and two transfers have solidified the unit.

One new defender is Holly Nasello. The junior moved from Jacksonville and spent the second half of the year at Sunlake before coming to the Gators. She has played on three different high school teams and said the bonding is what sets Land O’ Lakes apart.

“We’ve come together as more than just a team — we’ve come together as friends,” Nasello said. “We’re more about picking each other up if we make a mistake instead of yelling at each other.”

Nasello wasn’t worried about being a part of a new defense.

“I don’t think it matters what grade you’re in or whether you’re new or not,” Nasello said. “I think it’s about how you come out here and how hard you work.”

The defense also got a boost when senior Joelle Stewart moved from midfield.

“At tryouts coach King asked me to play back,” Stewart said. “I’ve been trying to push myself into that position. … We work together well and I just love our backline. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Freshman Mitsy Audate’s play at defense also allowed King to move former defender Alyssa Lonsway to forward, giving the Gators’ attack some much needed speed.

“I came in with the expectation of playing defense again, but I just happen to score some goals and help the team,” said Lonsway, who has a team-high 10 goals after scoring zero the year before.

King added, “Alyssa has a lot of speed and it’s hard to knock her off the ball. That’s something we’ve lacked.”

Lonsway’s new aptitude for scoring has fit in with a mentality shift for Land O’ Lakes’ offense, which scored only 46 goals last year.

“We have a lot more offense as a team,” King said. “We’re not afraid to shoot or push forward, so we’ve had a lot more people contribute, which has been a benefit to our team. I think it’s just their mindset.”

Also helping the attack is Le-Tran’s focus on setting up others. She has five assists, tied for the team high.

“I’ve been more focused on crossing the ball and assisting to help everyone else finish,” Le-Tran said. “We have more forwards, so I think that’s where I’ll help the team the most.”

The Gators play in Class 3A-District 7 tournament semifinals at Zephyrhills on Wednesday, Jan. 18 against the Bulldogs. The championship is on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches