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Dragons Roll Past Walker

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: November 22, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Sierra Weaver had 16 points and eight rebounds and the Lake Placid girls basketball team had four girls score in double figures in a 52-35 victory over Walker Academy on Thursday.

Ball movement and good shot selection were the keys to the offensive outburst from the Green Dragons, which LP head coach Shonda LeGree said was a confidence builder for her young team.

"I thought we played really well tonight," LeGree said. "We moved the ball extremely well and didn't go down and take the quick shot. We looked for the open player and it showed in our balanced scoring."

Senior Kaneisha Hamilton finished with 12 points and freshman Jamacia Gayle finished with 11 points in the win.

Lake Placid's game on Monday against LaBelle has been cancelled. The Green Dragons don't play again until Dec. 1 when they travel to face Hardee.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Dunbar 73, Sebring 69

DUNBAR - Junior Joe Young scored a team-high 23 points and Devin Clarke had 15 points off the bench, but a technical foul and poor foul shooting in the closing seconds led to the 73-69 Dunbar victory over Sebring on Thursday.

With 12 seconds left in the contest and the Streaks down by one, head coach Princeton Harris argued a call with the official and was given a technical foul, which swung the point total and the momentum to the host team.

"I told the guys that this loss was on me," Harris said. "I apologized to them, but they told me they had fun playing, and I think we learned a lot from this loss."

The Streaks played most of the fourth quarter without forward Jewell Campbell and guard Chris Grubb after the pair fouled out, but Harris saw his bench players step up with the game on the line.

"Devin really stepped up for me after only 5 hours of practice since coming over from football," Harris said. "Kevin Toney was another who helped us off the bench with eight points and we had a chance to steal a win against a championship-caliber basketball team."

Dunbar was a Class 3A state semifinalist last year and returned all but one of their starters this season.

Sebring's pressure defense accounted for seven steals and forced numerous bad shots in helping the Streaks build an eight-point, fourth quarter lead before Dunbar's game-winning run.

Jake Tressell finished with eight points, while Campbell chipped in with five points in the loss.

The Streaks are off for Thanksgiving but will be back on the court Nov. 29 when they travel to face Martin County.

GIRLS SOCCER: Palmetto 3, Sebring 0

PALMETTO - A sluggish first half was all Palmetto needed to score two first half goals and clamp down defensively in the second half to defeat Sebring 3-0 in a Class 4A-District 10 matchup on Thursday.

Amanda Grimaldo had two second half scoring chances after playing most of the game in goal, but the Tiger's defense was able to preserve the shutout.

"We were real sluggish in the first half and Palmetto scored two quick goals within the first 15 minutes of the game," said SHS head coach Steve Ashley. "We've been having trouble getting our offense going, but we did much better on both sides of the ball in the second half.

"We just have to find a way to create more scoring chances and put the ball in the net."

Sebring is back on the field Monday when they host Palmetto. Kick off is set for 6 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER: Palmetto 4, Sebring 1

PALMETTO - Buck Schroeder scored off an assist by Elisha Klatt, but that would be Sebring's lone goal as they dropped a 4-1 decision to Palmetto in a Class 4A-District 10 showdown on Thursday.

"It was a very physical match, as expected," said Sebring head coach Tim Boulay. "Our guys played aggressively and I think we'll be ready for them when they come to our house on Monday."

Sebring goalie Ryan Cochran had 15 saves for the Streaks, who play Palmetto again in a rematch at Firemen's Field on Monday.

GIRLS SOCCER: Braden River 8, Avon Park 0

AVON PARK - Braden River's goal just 13 minutes into the second half gave them an 8-0 mercy-rule victory over host Avon Park in a Class 4A-District 10 match at Joe Franza Stadium on Thursday.

Red Devil head coach Jocelyn Simplice has been pleased with the progress of his young team, which has a collection of all new players this season.

"It's a slow process trying to build a soccer program," Simplice said. "The girls are just trying to get use to playing with one another. Right now, I'm trying to change that kick first mentality and teach them how to play the game."

The Red Devils next match is on Monday when they travel to face the same Pirates team at 6 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER: Braden River 9, Avon Park 1

AVON PARK - Freshman Denton Lushane had the highlight of the night, when his corner kick curved around the defenders and bounce off the goalie for the Red Devils' only score.

Braden River used a powerful attack to score at will to take a 6-1 lead at the half and ended the game midway into the second half for a 9-1 win over Avon Park in a Class 4A-District 10 match at Joe Franza Stadium on Thursday.

"We've got so much potential on this team," AP head coach Craig Morris said. "The boys have the skills but not the experience. After we get some more games under our belt, I think you'll see a totally different team by midseason."

Avon Park is back on the field Monday when they travel to face the same Braden River team at 7:30 p.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Avon Park/Pendleton game, which was scheduled for Thursday as part of the Bill Jarrett Tip-Off Classic, was cancelled due to transportation issues with the visiting team.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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