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Highlands Today

Devils Finish On High Note

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Highlands Today Staff Report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2009

AVON PARK - The Avon Park boys basketball team made sure the seniors on the squad enjoyed their final home game.

The Red Devils blasted Frostproof by a score of 53-40 on Saturday night to finish the season with a sparkling 16-7 record, which includes going 9-0 at home this season.

"I'm really proud of the kids," said Avon Park coach Luther Clemons. "We were pretty amped up for the game and it's nice to send the seniors out on a high note and to be able to go undefeated at home for the first time in a lot of years.

"This team is young with three sophomores starting, but we have worked hard to improve and have finally jelled and started playing as a team."

Sophomore forward Alonzo Robertson scored a team-high 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds as the Red Devils, which were tied with the scrappy Bulldogs at the half, steadily pulled away for the easy win.

"We tried a bunch of different things and let the kids have some fun in the first half," said Clemons. "But we came out with more intensity in the second half and really got after it.

"This team has come a long way and has had an outstanding season. We are playing our best ball of the season heading into next week's district tournament in DeSoto and we're looking forward to competing."

The Red Devils are the No. 2-seed for the Class 4A-District 10 tournament and will play seventh-seed Hardee on Tuesday.

"We swept Hardee this year but that doesn't mean anything," said Clemons. "We're going to work hard in practice this week to tweak a few things.

"If we play smart, stay patient, execute our offense and not turn the ball over, we have a chance to make something happen in the tournament."

WRESTLING

LAKELAND - The Avon Park and Sebring wrestling teams competed in their last regular-season meet on Saturday.

The Blue Streaks, who have been decimated by injuries the last few week's, were led by senior Dustin Drummond and junior Michael Polatty.
Drummond finished third in the 130-pound weight class, while Polatty took third in the 135-pound weight class.

Avon Park, which had nine wrestlers compete, fared well in the 19-team meet, with six Red Devils finishing third or better.

"I'm proud of our kids," said Avon Park co-coach Lee Elder. We were missing three guys because of various reasons, but we still had six guys place in the top three against some tough competition."

Red Devil senior Alvin Moore continued his strong showing the last month by winning the 152-pound weight class, while senior James Bland finished first at 160 pounds.

Sophomore Charles Hubbard came in third at 145, senior Kemosi Hatten placed second at 171, while senior Isuel Guzman came in third at 215 and senior Jace Grimmett claimed third at 285.

"We did well because there were a lot of 2A and 3A schools competing in the meet," said Elder. "
Avon Park and Sebring compete in the Class 1A-District 8 meet at Lake Wales High School on Thursday, with the top four finishers from each weight class advancing to next week's regional meet.

"We're peaking at the right time and I think we have a good chance of all of our wrestlers finishing in the top four," said Elder. "We should have six or seven No. 1 seeds and if we wrestle smart and execute we should do well."

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