By Kyle LoJacono
The Wiregrass Ranch boys basketball team handed Class 7A-District 9 rival Freedom its second loss Jan. 11 — a 21-point home victory 67-46.
The Bulls (13-4-1, 4-3) fell 66-57 in the first meeting with the Patriots (12-2, 5-2) this season. It snaps an 11-game winning streak for Freedom, which last lost by one Nov. 29 at Chamberlain.
Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeremy Calzone stopped short of calling the victory a statement win in part because his Bulls will play the Patriots in the district semifinals next month for a playoff berth.
“It will be a statement win when we make the playoffs if we do beat them in that district tournament,” Calzone said.
Freedom took an early 9-3 lead, but Wiregrass Ranch closed it to 12-10 to end the first quarter.
The Bulls went to a full-court press defense in the second quarter that stifled the Patriots’ offense. Wiregrass Ranch took the lead for good with 6:48 left in the first half on senior forward Rico Kerney’s second of three 3-pointers and entered the locker room ahead 34-18.
The Bulls kept up the defensive effort after halftime.
“If we play defense we’ll win games,” Calzone said. “That’s it. If we don’t play defense we don’t win games. … We’re good offensively, there’s no doubt about that. Defensively, sometimes we forget what basketball is about. Tonight they decided to play defense.”
Wiregrass Ranch’s offense was led by senior guard Chris Parra, who scored a team-high 23 including seven 3-pointers.
“I was just feeling really confident,” Parra said. “Coach said if I got an open shot just shoot it right away, so that’s what I was doing.”
Kerney had 20 points and senior guard Larrentz Manora had 11.
Freedom was led by senior center Brandon Patchan’s 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Bulls host district rival Gaither Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., the same night the Patriots play at 7A-9 opponent Steinbrenner at 8 p.m.
Freedom stays perfect in district
The Freedom girls basketball team remained undefeated in Class 7A-District 9 play with a 58-38 win at Wiregrass Ranch Jan. 11.
The Patriots (17-3, 7-0) beat the Bulls (12-9, 3-4) without Taylor Emery (21.4 points) because of a concussion suffered in the first quarter against Winter Haven Jan. 5.
“I think people forget that we’re not a two-headed monster,” said Freedom coach Laurie Pacholke. “Honestly, I go 10 deep. … All these girls know on any given night their role may change, and in order for a team to be super, super successful you have to have kids buy into that. These kids knew their time would come, and it makes us that much more dangerous when Taylor comes back.”
One Patriot who stepped was sophomore center Bianca Igwe (seven rebounds and six points).
“Coach told me with my size and strength advantage I’d be able to box out,” Igwe said. “I tried to work my way around and find the right spot.”
Whitney Ivey scored 18 points, Monet Williams had six points and four rebounds and Faith Woodard posted 21 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
“From top to bottom we’re still a solid team,” said Woodard, a senior forward. “To not have one of our leading scorers took it out of us, but we had enough firepower to pull off a good win.”
Wiregrass Ranch stayed in the game early and closed the score to 13-9 near the start of the second period.
“If we make our layups in the first quarter it’s a tie game,” said Bulls coach John Gant. “There was a statement where they said they had to go somewhere else to have competition. We’re not that good with them yet, but I was sure happy to give them a little competition tonight. … We won the third quarter 13-9. How many teams have beat them in a quarter this year? Not many.”
Wiregrass Ranch lost leading scorer Amanda Melosky, a sophomore forward, with 1:20 left in the first half when she came down awkwardly on her right leg. She wouldn’t let the injury keep her out for long, returning in the second half.
“If I’d have not let her go back out there she’d have killed me,” Gant said with a smile.
Melosky finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Logan Seoane had a team-high 12 points.
The Bulls got a spark from guard Trasharian Kidd, who had five points and four steals.
“She has no fear,” Gant said. “She’s a freshman, so she’s going to make some mistakes, but she’s the best athlete out there with the exception of Faith Woodard.”
Wiregrass Ranch hosts 7A-9 opponent Gaither Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. Freedom can clinch the top district seed with a win at Steinbrenner Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
