LP Rebounds With Big Win

MELBOURNE -- One night after opening play at the West Shore Holiday tournament with a 30-point defeat, the Lake Placid boys basketball team responded in a big way on Saturday night.

Sophomore Marcus Waugh had 18 points and senior Conlin Veley added 12 more as the Green Dragons picked up some momentum before district play with a 65-29 victory over Temple Christian of Titusville.

On Friday night, LP -- without the services of forwards Trevalier Sholtz and KJ Delbert -- fell 56-26 to Holy Trinity Episcopal School of Fruitland Park.

"Our guys played like they wanted to take a little frustration from the night before," said Green Dragon coach Levi Williams. "We responded well."

With the victory, the Dragons finished third out of four teams in the tournament and Veley was named to the all-tourney team. LP resumes district play on Tuesday, when they travel to Mulberry, a team they defeated earlier this season in overtime.

"It's always tough to play against them, especially over there," Williams said. "They always play hard in front of their home fans, so we have to come out and match their intensity level and put ourselves in a position to be successful.

"You always want to be playing well heading into district play."

Tip-off in Mulberry is set for 7:30 p.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Rockledge 62, Sebring 60

KISSIMMEE -- Sebring coach Princeton Harris is putting this one on himself.

Up one with 12.8 seconds left and with the ball, Sebring was called for a five-second violation on a would-be inbounds pass and allowed Rockledge to hit a 3-point shot in the waning seconds as the Raiders escaped with a 62-60 victory over the Blue Streaks in a tight nail-biter at the Osceola Shootout.

"It was a coach's mistake," Harris said. "We had a young kid in there (on the inbounds pass), and it's my fault to put that much pressure on him."

Sam Robinson scored 28 points and Chris Grubb added 10 points, while Nate Orozco added eight points in a game that was within two points after each quarter.

"Overall, we played very well, and I'm very pleased with our effort," Harris said. "We played our hearts out and I have no complaints."

The Streaks face a tough test as they re-open district play at home against district-leading Sarasota-Booker. The Tornadoes had a 26-point halftime lead over Sebring in their previous meeting before the Streaks brought the game back, only to lose by seven.

"We know we can play with them," Harris said. "We just need to go in, play tough defense and play a complete game.

It's time to start thinking about district seeds, and it'd be good to knock them off."

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Land 'O Lakes 43, Sebring 36

LAND 'O LAKES -- A six-point run midway through the fourth quarter put Land 'O Lakes on the line, and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch proved the difference as the Gators held of the Sebring girls basketball team 43-36 on Saturday night.

Hannah Shoop had 12 points, Brenita Grant had nine and Chelsea Davis added six, but Land 'O Lakes hit seven free throws in the final frame to pull away.

"That was the difference in the game," said Sebring coach Mike Lee. "When you're behind, you have to foul, and when they make them, you can't do much."

Lee said his squad needs to root out the small mistakes that good teams take advantage of, and that he hopes they return to form when the Streaks jump back into district play on Tuesday at Booker.

"We'll have to play with the same intensity and energy as we did over Christmas break," Lee said. "Booker's a good basketball team and they have a chance to win it all, so we're going to have to play well and make good decisions."

Tip-off in Sarasota is slated for 7:30 p.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Frostproof def. Avon Park

AVON PARK -- The Frostproof boys basketball team defeated Avon Park on Saturday night at APHS. No further information was available. For full results, see Tuesday's Highlands Today.