Mosaic Stinger Shootout Ends as District Tourneys Set to Begin

By SOLANGE REYNER

THE LEDGER

 

BARTOW | Chris Perry gave Bartow some momentum heading into the fourth quarter, scoring in the paint with less than 20 seconds left in the third to give the Yellow Jackets' a one-point lead lead over Orlando Jones. 

But the team only mustered seven points the rest of the way, and Jones' Matt Williams had 10 fourth-quarter points to lift his team to a 45-41 win in a night game of the Mosaic Stinger Shootout at Bartow High School. 

Williams finished with 21 points and teammate DeMarcus Croaked added 14. 

The Yellow Jackets still had a chance late in the fourth when Perry, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, had a basket in the paint to tie it at 39-39. Williams hit a 3-pointer and made three free throws down the stretch, though, to give Jones the lead for good.

"I sure wanted to be 2-0 but this was a good test for our guys heading into the district tournament," Bartow coach Terrence McGriff said. 

It's likely the toughest in the county. Teams from Class 7A, District 7, which include Bartow, George Jenkins, Lake Region, Lakeland, Ridge Community and Haines City, have battled in games all season long. The tournament starts Monday. 

Playing Jones was a good test, though. 

"I think Jones is better than those teams in our district and we gave them a good battle," Bartow's Kerry Jones said. 

Quincy Childs added 15 points for Bartow.

 

In other games:

Port Orange Atlantic 61, Tenoroc 57 (OT)

Karlos Odum had 18 points for Tenoroc, which shot a blistering 69 percent in the first half to take a 27-25 lead. Atlantic outscored the Titans, 14-6, to force overtime though, where the team couldn't hold on. 

Brandon Moore added 13 points for Tenoroc and Travis Tucker nine. Justin Vallejo, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, led Atlantic with 21 points. Antonio Ruby added 16, Shabak Bolling 14. 

 

Nature Coast 46, Lake Region 37

Ronald Delph was the only player to score in double digits for Lake Region, which shot 14 percent in the first half. He had 11 and teammate Joby St. Fleur added eight with five rebounds. Three Nature Coast players had 10 points apiece, including Blake Lowman, John Parker and Caleb Martin. 

 

Jupiter 62, Auburndale 49 

Jupiter slowed Auburndale down in the second half with a 1-3-1 defense, making it hard for the Bloodhounds to do much inside. Elmo Stephens had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Auburndale, which led 29-26 at the half but only shot 30 percent in the second. Bobby Hain, a Youngstown State commit, and Mike Edgley had 22 and 23 points, respectively. Daryl Henry added nine points for the Bloodhounds. 

 

Dr. Phillips 60, Winter Haven 47

Dr. Phillips beat Winter Haven in a battle of shooting guards. RaShawn Powell, a highly touted point guard from Dr. Phillips, had 18 points to lead his team. Devon Walker, a shooting guard for the Blue Devils who has been playing at the point for most of the season, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Winter Haven turned the ball over 13 times and couldn't scratch back from a 32-18 halftime deficit. Kendrick Holland added 10 points for the Blue Devils. 

 

Lakeland 50, Sarasota Riverview 44

Eric Moody and Michael Senehek each had 13 points for Lakeland (12-9) in the noon match-up against Riverview, which got 11 points and 10 rebounds from Nick Havener. The Dreadnaughts limited Riverview's top player Eric Traver to six points. Traver, a senior, led the team in points with 17 per game coming into the tournament. Center Jalen Stevenson had 11 rebounds for Lakeland, which went 5-for-18 from the 3-point line. 

 

Olympia 61, George Jenkins 57

Chris Burgess' game-high 33 points wasn't enough to beat state-ranked Olympia, which is 14th in Florida according to ESPN. Burgess was 10 of 25 from the field for Jenkins, which rallied to make it a close game after being down 36-20 at the half. Marc-Eddy Norelia, a Tulane University signee, had 25 points for Olympia. Jerrick Stevenson added 10 for Jenkins. 

 

Lake Wales 60, Tampa Prep 47

Antwan Hadley scored 12 points and Russell Wilson added 11 as the Highlanders picked up a win over Tampa Prep.