Morning Coffee with FLN on Substack – 02172024
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As the first week of the season comes to an end, there’s some early indicators, both of rising programs and of ones falling short of traditional strength. There was a heavyweight battle in Delray that started strong. A two-time defending champion off to a strong start.
And we have a heck of a slate today too, with Lake Mary visiting Jacksonville to play Ponte Vedra to likely determine the home game in Region 1. The Bolles Girls, fresh off a big one-goal win at Gulf Breeze last night, tangles with Pensacola Catholic today. The LHP Girls face a tough Georgia test, while the PV Girls look to rebound against 2A runner-up St Thomas. Tampa Jesuit Boys hosts Newsome and Saint Andrew’s hosts SJP II in another edition of their long rivalry.
Last night I took in the AH-Delray Girls home game against Ponte Vedra, and the first half was a beauty. With 10 seconds left in the first half, PV scored a free position to make it 4-3. At that point, Ponte Vedra’s game was sharp and the offense showed a lot of patience, while keeping AH-Delray in check. But they didn’t handle the last 10 seconds well, allowing a clean break off a draw control. AH-Delray actually scored but the whistle blew for a shooting space violation with 2 seconds to go and PV thought they had dodged a bullet. Unfortunately for them, AH-D converted at the buzzer for the 5-3 lead, changing momentum back.
The Stallions came out smoking in the 3rd quarter and stretched the lead quickly. On top of that, Ponte Vedra’s Gracie Madson, a freshwoman who impressed me with her play and fearlessness in playing a key role in this game, went down with what looked like a bad injury, and the steam sort of seeped out of the Sharks. Also need to acknowledge that the AH-D ride kicked it up in the third and made a big difference. One thing that is apparent when you see AH-D in person is how fast they can transition, as well as back-door cut you to death. Ponte Vedra’s Toole sisters, Lily and Hannah, were sharp when playing a version of the 2-person game, which PV used a good deal in the first half, to both run some clock and to set up attempts to gain a step towards the goal. AH-Delray is deep, as they have been for years now, and Brooke Goldstein is a dominant force.
Don’t be surprised if this turns out to be the 1A final, but of course Lake Highland will have something to say about it.
Bishop Moore is back on the rise, starting 2-0 following last night’s 8-5 win over Montverde, which was looking to back up their win last week over Winter Park. BM went 12-8 last year, including a one-goal win over Montverde, but that was their only quality win last year. Oak Hall and Bolles come to town this week and we’ll see how they handle those two given both took them last year. The leading returning scorers are Teddy Kachris, Mike Scalzo, Luca Perini and Ryan Parker. Scalzo scored the hat trick last night and Tommy Demeter added 3 as a freshman. I am hearing great things about their upcoming classes, so a return to their Final Four days are not out of the question.
On the other hand, for this season, Lake Highland is back on track, and they handled Viera roughly last night, in a game broadcast on Brevard Sports Network. The Highlanders are deep and big and return everyone except Ethan Gallagher among their top scorers. The schedule unwinds gradually but the last five games are Saint Andrew’s, St. Thomas, both at home, at Ponte Vedra, Illinois power New Trier and at Lake Mary. With they will be battle-tested or a little worn down. Either way, plenty of chances to watch a great game! Meanwhile, Viera, so hopeful going into the season against a top schedule, will need to quickly regroup and get their confidence back.
On the other side of the equation, Pine Crest is off to a dreadful start, as transfers out have wrecked the team that made the regional 4 final the past few years. Jordan Faison graduated and put up 3G/1A for Notre Dame in his college debut. So did Nigel Vital. Jordan’s brother Dylan transferred to SA and long pole Nick Snyder is on his way north to prep school. This week was brutal; a loss to Miami Palmetto, a narrow win over North Broward Perp and Benjamin took it to them last night. Up next, they travel to another struggling program, Oxbridge, who handled Cardinal Newman, but was beaten comfortably by SA. Two teams that need a win this week.
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Friday Results
Boys
West Broward 12-6 over Taravella
Cypress Creek big over Wharton
Coral Shores 5-3 over John Carroll Catholic
Freedom vs Pasco – No score
Timber Creek easy over Dr Phillips
Episcopal School 11-8 over Trinity Catholic
Hagerty 5-4 over Seminole
Bishop Moore 8-5 over Montverde
Lake Buena Vista 11-2 over Colonial
Boca Raton 12-6 over South Fork
Cardinal Newman shuts out Suncoast
Pensacola vs Fort Walton Beach - No Score
Lake Brantley 9-2 over Edgewater
Lake Highland big over Viera
Winter Haven 5-4 over Lake Wales
Benjamin big over Pine Crest
Newberry 9-8 over Immokalee
South Plantation big over Coral Springs
Gulf Coast 8-6 over Venice
Foundation Academy 15-9 over St Joseph
Bolles big over Catholic-Baton Rouge
Palmetto Ridge 8-6 over Dacula (Ga)
Land O’Lakes big over Tampa Prep
Lakewood Ranch 14-13 over Riverview-Sarasota
Lakeland big over Lakeland Christian
Calvary Christian Clearwater 8-3 over Palm Harbor
Community School big over Cardinal Gibbons
Canterbury 14-5 over Naples
Barron Collier 8-7 over Sarasota
King’s Academy shuts out Seminole Ridge
Oviedo vs Boone – No Score
Nease 11-10 over Oak Hall
Plant 16-5 over MitchellSt Augustine 8-4 over Fleming Island
Lake Minneola big over Bartow
Tocoi Creek 10-9 over Forest
Lake Nona big over Melbourne
Girls
Sarasota 15-5 over Venice
Gulliver Prep vs Coral Reef – No Score
King’s Academy big over Seminole Ridge
Palmetto 10-5 over Key West
Palm Harbor big over Calvary Christian Clearwater
Oak Hall big over Nease
St Petersburg 11-3 over Northside Christian
Pensacola Catholic big over Buchholz
South Walton big over West Florida
Wharton 8-7 over Mitchell
Boone 15-4 over Edgewater
Sebastian River big over East River
IMG Blue 7-5 over Lakewood Ranch
North Bay Haven 16-7 over Navarre
Fort Walton Beach vs Tate – No Score
Bolles 12-11 over Gulf Breeze
Clearwater Central Catholic big over River Ridge
Immokalee 14-12 over Village School of Naples
Lake Mary shuts out Apopka
Lake Buena Vista vs Cypress Creek – No Score
AH-Delray 17-6 over Ponte Vedra
Bartram Trail big over Oviedo
Academy of Holy Names 11-8 over Sickles
Creekside 13-8 over Winter Park
Lake Gibson vs Lake Wales – No Score
IMG Academy big over Gulf Coast
Hagerty 10-6 over Episcopal School
Estero 11-9 over Lely