Saints, Wildcats advance to district championships

The St. John boys basketball team clinched a spot in the District 2A-4 championship game on Friday when it defeated Seven Rivers 60-46 on Tuesday night at Seven Rivers.

The Saints were led by point guard Glen Owen who finished with 15 points and 3 assists, while Cole Whitlock recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Also playing well for St. John was Jordan Bates (14 points, 3 rebounds), Harrison Bucy (13 points) and Jordan Smith (8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks).

The Saints will now play First Academy-Leesburg on Friday at 7 p.m. in the District 2A-4 championship game. This will be a rematch from last season’s District 2A-4 title game.

FOREST 71, BUCHHOLZ 51: At Buchholz, the Wildcats were led to their District 7A-1 semifinals win by Tyler Leek (14 points), Geron Christian (13 points, 9 rebounds) and Jordan Smith (12 points).

Forest (20-5) will now play Lincoln up in Tallahassee on Friday at 7 p.m. for the District 7A-1 title.

FIRST ACADEMY (LEESBURG) 55, MEADOWBROOK 28: At Seven Rivers, the Mustangs could not fend off the No. 1 seed in the District 2A-4 semifinal game on Tuesday as they fell to First Academy 55-28. Meadowbrook was led by Sean Denton (6 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 steals), Monty Wilson (13 points, 2 assists) and Jaren Dew (4 points).

The Mustangs end their season with a record of 16-10.

Boys tennis

At Tuscawilla Park, Alex Wartles and Morgan Evans each won their singles matches and then teamed up in No. 1 doubles to lead the Knights to victory. The Rattlers were led by Joseph Watford who won his No. 4 singles match and also won his No. 2 doubles match with teammate Cameron Romanac.

Vanguard (1-0) will travel to Citrus on Thursday. Belleview (1-1) will travel to Forest on Thursday.

RESULTS: (Singles) 1. Alex Wartels (V) def. Jake Perkins (B) 8-5; 2. Morgan Evans (V) def. Beau Cornelius (B) 8-2; 3. Ty Wolter (V) def. Cameron Romanac (B) 8-2; 4. Joseph Watford (B) def. Nick Cadocar (V) 9-7; 5. Kevin Cusack (V) def. Stuart Oehlerking 8-0. (Doubles) 1. Wartels/Evans (V) def. Perkins/Cornelius (B) 8-3; 2. Watford/Romanac (B) def. Wolter/Cadocar (V) 8-6.

TRINITY CATHOLIC 7, MASTER’S ACADEMY (OVIEDO) 0: At Red Bug Lake Park, the Celtics were led by No. 2 Will DeClerk who won his singles match 8-0.

Trinity Catholic (1-0) will travel to Forest on Thursday.


RESULTS: (Singles) 1. Andres Camino (TC) def. Branson Mann 8-2; 2. Will DeClerk (TC) def. Jordan G. 8-0; 3. J.D. Tyler (TC) def. Jacob Almand 8-0; 4. Luke Kaczynski (TC) def. Marcus McCoy 8-2; 5. Eric Crosby (TC) won via forfeit. (Doubles) 1. Camino/Tyler (TC) def Mann/G 8-3; 2. DeClerk/Crosby (TC) def. Almand/McCoy 8-3.

Girls Tennis

At Belleview, the Rattlers received a stellar performance from their No. 2 Sarah Perkins who won her singles match 8-0. The Knights were led by Jacaya Austin who won her singles match 8-1.

Belleview (2-0) will host West Port on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

RESULTS: (Singles) 1. Lauren Bitter (B) def. Cassandra Mosley (V) 8-2; 2. Sarah Perkins (B) def. Faith Obimdike (V) 8-0; 3. Jacaya Austin (V) def. Naomi Dominguez (B) 8-1; 4. Alex DeIorio (B) def. Alyssa Morris (V) 8-5; 5. Amanda Holloway (B) def. Nicole Ordway (V) 8-2. (Doubles) 1. Bitter/Perkins (B) def. Mosley/Obimdike 8-3; 2. Dominguez/DeIorio (B) def. Austin/Morris 8-3.

TRINITY CATHOLIC 6, MASTER’S ACADEMY (OVIEDO) 1: At Red Bug Lake Park, Mary Bianculli led the Celtics to victory by winning her singles match 8-3.

Trinity Catholic (1-0) will host Lake Weir on Thursday.

RESULTS: (Singles) 1. Mary Bianculli (TC) def. Taylor Moore 8-3; 2. Natasha DeBra (TC) def. Paige Moore 8-2; 3. Martha Lyn Andrews (TC) def. Makena Sang 8-3; 4. Marrisa Anderson (TC) def. Monica Saad 8-3; 5. Dorothy Trigg (TC) def. Alexis Ingari 8-5. (Doubles) 1. P. Moore/Sang def. Bianculli/Anderson (TC) 8-6; 2. DeBra/Andrews (TC) def. Saurena/Galbis 8-0.


At Forest, participating in the Pre-Season Classic, the Hurricanes were able to knock off the Wolf Pack in just 5 innings. The ‘Canes were led by freshman Philip Felicien who went 4-4 with a double and 5 RBI, while fellow underclassman, sophomore, Trace Thornal was 2-2 with a triple and 3 RBI. Senior Colin Meek recorded the win after pitching three innings while allowing just three hits. LWHS also received a good night at the plate from Mario Agosto (2-3, 2 RBI).

The Hurricanes will continue their play in the Classic when they face Forest on Thursday at 5 p.m.


At Belleview, the Rattlers were led by their winning pitcher Brooke Hale (7 strikeouts, 5 hits allowed), Rachel Knowles (3-4, 2RBI) and Lindsey Hinerman (1-3, 1R, 1BB).

Belleview (1-0) will play at Dunnellon on Thursday at 6 p.m.

DUNNELLON 3, VANGUARD 2: At Dunnellon, Jody Weber (2-2) delivered the game winning RBI on Tuesday as she led the Tigers to victory over the Knights. Also playing well for Dunnellon was Leslie Maddox (2-3, HR), Nicole Drew (4 IP) and Bianca Pierro (3 IP).

The Tigers (1-0) will host Belleview on Thursday at 6 p.m.

WILDWOOD 12, OCA 5: At Wildwood, the Crusaders were led by Lexi Peacock, Kalyn Cone and Paige Lanza all of whom went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Their pitcher Allison Forsyth struck out 4 while allowing 4 earned runs.

OCA (0-2) will host Seven Rivers on Monday at 4:30 p.m.