Coaches Expect Tough Battles in Class 7A, District 7 Tourney

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

 

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LAKELAND | Bartow, Ridge Community, Lakeland and Haines City could all play spoilers in the Class 7A, District 7 boys basketball district tournament starting today at Haines City.

 

That's how tough the district has been all season long. 

 

George Jenkins, the top seed, and Lake Region, seeded second, each have three district losses this season. Ridge Community, the fifth seed, is 5-5 in the district and recently beat Jenkins in a close game. The Bolts will play No.4 Bartow at 6 p.m., with No.3 Lakeland and No.6 Haines City facing off at 7:30 p.m. 

 

"It's going to be tough to get through to the finals," Bartow coach Terrence McGriff said. "Haines City has been within 10 points of everyone this season, and Ridge is playing well too. (Terry) Rose is shooting the heck out of the ball. We'll see if all the stuff we went through this season has made us tough enough," added McGriff, whose team split the season series with Ridge.

 

Lakeland finished the season on a three game win streak after losses to Jenkins and Lake Region, and the Dreadnuaghts won eight of their last 10 games.

 

"We have to play our game and start off strong," Lakeland's Raheeme Dumas said. "We'll get going then we'll let them back in the game and have to come back in the fourth quarter. We can't have that in districts. We want to be district champions."

 

If anyone has a grip on that district it has to be Jenkins. The Eagles have ended the season well and have been the most consistent team in the district. They have two players who can put up points in Chris Burgess (21.5 points) and Jerrick Stevenson (18.3). Burgess, who had 33 points Saturday against Olympia at the Mosaic Stinger Shootout, leads the county in assists with over 100.

 

"We all (teams in district) match up well against each other," Burgess, a senior guard, said. "I'm pretty confident going into the tournament that we can beat anyone if we play as a team and play together."

 

Jenkins plays Wednesday. Lake Region will have to defeat either Lakeland or Haines City on the same night to reach the district finals.

 

"I think we match up better against Lakeland," Lake Region's Rechawun Hall said. "The past games we've played them we've won. They're a tough team and they shoot good, but when we play them we play better. When we play Haines City we have bad games."

 

Lake Region will have to adjust to the speed of Jenkins. The Thunder demonstrated they could do that two weeks ago with a 28-15 win over Bartow.

 

"We have to do the same thing we did in the Bartow game," Hall added. "Those teams that play up and down like that they have a pace that is too fast. We have to slow them down and that's how we win our games."

 

In other districts, Lake Wales (5A-10), Winter Haven (6A-9) and McKeel Academy (3A-7) are the favorites to win titles.

 

In 6A-9, Winter Haven is undefeated in district play and is the top seed in its district.

 

And the Blue Devils just got their starting point guard back.

 

Lamont Jackson was ineligible all season because of grades but will suit up, which should give leading scorer Devon Walker more scoring opportunities.

 

"It's natural to me (playing point guard)," Walker said. "But sometimes it puts me in a position where I can't shoot as well as I'd like."

 

The Blue Devils are coming off a 13 point loss to Dr. Phillips, last year's state finalist.

 

Winter Haven will play the winner of the Lake Gibson-Kathleen game on Tuesday.

 

Lake Wales, which has routed every team in its district this season, plays Tenoroc today at 7 p.m. No. 2 Auburndale and third-seeded Hardee face off Tuesday at the same time. 

 

The Highlanders (20-4) have torn through all Polk competition, going 8-0 against area teams. They finished the regular season with a buzzer-beater loss to Montverde Academy and a blow-out win over then un-defeated Tampa Prep.

 

Mulberry and Frostproof are the only Polk County teams in 4A-10. That tournament is being hosted by Mulberry, with No.4 Frostproof playing fifth-seeded Lake Placid today at 7 p.m. Mulberry, led by guard Eli Green, plays DeSoto Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

 

McKeel Academy has the best record in Polk this season at 21-1, its only loss to Winter Haven. The Wildcats, led by Corey Sanders and Dwyane Bacon, play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against the winner Santa Fe Catholic-Fort Meade game. 

 

Vanguard hosts the Class 2A, District 7 tournament, with three games Monday starting at 4:30 p.m. 

 

Victory Christian, All Saints and Oasis Christian are the local teams competing, with Vanguard (17-2) the top seed heading into it. Shaka McGriff (21.1), Thierry Frederic (20.2) and Jean Remy Esor (18.6) carry the load on offense for the Panthers, who only have one district loss this season.