Just as it did a season ago, the hometown Great Florida Shootout over winter break has seemingly been the turning point for the 12-4 Kowboys.

“It’s our catalyst every year,” Osceola coach Steve Mason said of the event.

After losing in the first round to Maryland’s Bishop McNamara, the eventual tournament champions, Osceola went on to win the consolation final and is currently riding a six-game winning streak.

Last year they finished third at the event before going on to string together an unbeaten streak that included the first district title for the program since 1998. They did not lose again until falling 57-54 to Lakeland Kathleen in the region quarterfinals, finishing 22-3 on the year.

“I told this team that we’re right where we were last year,” Mason said. “We played well in the Shootout and now we’re hoping to start taking off.”

And they are doing it this time around without 2009 Shootout MVP Brenton Williams, who was the focal point for Osceola back then during his senior season.

The current crop of standouts for the Kowboys is now settling in and doing what they do best individually out on the floor.

Leading the way is Division I prospect Jedarian Jackson at shooting guard, junior point guard Michael Sanchez and senior all-around contributor Antonio Benitez. Jackson is getting comfortable with his role as the go-to guy offensively while Sanchez has been asked to score while also distributing the ball.

“We’re getting to the point now where everybody is accepting their roles,” Mason said. “Once you get that during the season you hope you can get better and peak for the playoffs.”

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com and follow at Facebook or @OrlandoSportsJC ) –

After beginning a 40-year coaching career in Indiana, Kershner moved to Florida in 1980 where he built upon a 761-329 record during coaching stops at Kissimmee Osceola, Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce Westwood. He is now 314-104 at Oviedo since taking over there in 1996.

Kershner is one of six coaches in Florida’s high school boys basketball history to win 700 games. The late Don Wallen, who won 219 games in Kentucky, retired from Stuart Martin County in 1989 with a 760-192 mark.

The record was tied last week when Oviedo defeated Bartow at the Great Florida Shootout in Kissimmee, the very tournament Kershner originated in 1981 after taking over at Osceola. He led the Kowboys to its only state title in 1983 during a 37-0 season.

In a twist of irony, the Lions had a chance to give Kershner the state record the very next day against his former team, but were bounced from the tournament by Osceola 70-59 in the consolation semifinal.

With the attention focused squarely on the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame coach entering the season, a relatively young Oviedo team has seemingly weathered the added pressure.

“I have never said anything about it to them,” acknowledged Kershner after tying the record. “I’m proud of them and their improvement and have been just trying to get them better.”

With Oviedo now 9-6 on the year, Kershner would prefer to quietly add to his win total from here on out.

“Everybody else talks about it but me,” he said of the milestone. “I’ve probably been asked about it 50 times. It’s just something that you’ve got to go through and I’m just blessed to be able to answer it.”

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com and follow at Facebook or @OrlandoSportsJC ) –

Presented by the Rotary Club of Kissimmee, the four-day tournament features 16 of the top high school basketball teams from across the nation.

The lineup also features Division I recruits and teams with state tournament experience. Some of the top college and NBA recruiters are expected to be on hand to evaluate talent.

Teams taking part at the event from around the state of Florida include Plantation American Heritage, Ft. Meyers Bishop Verot, Ft. Myers High School, Bartow High School and Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy.

Among the local teams taking part are Class 6A state runners-up Dr. Phillips, Osceola High School, Oviedo, Poinciana, Wekiva and Lake Highland Prep.

Out-of-state teams scheduled to participate are Bishop McNamara of Forestville, MD; Christian County High School out of Hopkinsville, KY; Ball High School from Galveston, TX; Hoover High School from San Diego, CA; and Lexington High of Lexington, SC.

The tournament gets underway at 10 a.m. Monday with Christian County (KY) taking on Holy Trinity.

Tickets for the event are available through Ticketmaster and the Silver Spurs Arena Box Office.

Single day tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Kids under the age of 4 are admitted for free. Tournament packages are available for $30 for adults and $15 for students.

Visit GFLSO for a full schedule and detailed info on participating teams.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

Kiaree Daniels

– Daniels Brothers In Humanitarian Bowl –

Brothers Kiaree and Akeem Daniels out of Osceola High School played bit parts in a 40-17 win for Northern Illinois on Saturday in the Humanitarian Bowl against Fresno State.

Kiaree, a senior defensive back, was in on a tackle while freshman Akeem took one carry for two yards in the win.

Kiaree finished the season with 31 tackles and an interception in 14 games. He recorded a career-high eight tackles against Minnesota on Sept. 25. Akeem scored three touchdowns and gained 87 yards on 10 carries for the 11-3 Huskies.

Correy Johnson

– Johnson Plays For D-I Volleyball Title –

Lake Howell High School alum Correy Johnson ended her sophomore season in the NCAA Division I National Championship on Saturday with the University of California volleyball team. Cal (30-4) lost 25-20, 27-25, 25-20 to Penn State, who won its fourth title in a row in Kansas City, Mo.

Johnson finished with four kills and a dig in the loss. She was selected to the 2009 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team after ranking fourth on the team in kills with 202. In her sophomore season, the middle hitter was third on the team in kills (233) and added 90 blocks.

Chase Rodgers

– Rodgers Competes for D-I Soccer Title –

The unbeaten NCAA Division I soccer season for Lake Mary alum Chase Rodgers ended in the College Cup final as his Louisville Cardinals (20-1-3) lost 1-0 to Akron in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Rodgers became a defensive starter as a redshirt freshman last season. He helped Louisville shut out eight opponents, allow just 19 goals and go unbeaten against eight ranked teams in 2010.

In the semifinals, Louisville defeated a North Carolina team featuring senior midfielder Dustin McCarty of Winter Park, who spent the 2007 season playing at UCF.

Antonio Turner

– Turner Plays In NAIA Title Game –

Former all-state football player Antonio Turner out of Edgewater High School had two tackles for Sioux Falls against Carroll College on Saturday in the NAIA National Championship.

The 42-game win streak for Sioux Falls (13-1) ended in a 10-7 loss in Rome, Ga.

Turner, a three-year letter winner while at Ole Miss before transferring his senior year, led the team with six sacks this season and finished with 24 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble through 13 games.

Check back for more updates on local alumni making marks in college.

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

Oak Ridge (8-3) is at Dr. Phillips (11-0), Winter Park (11-0) is at Seminole (9-2), and DeLand (9-2) is at Orange Park (7-4) in Class 6A games. Oviedo defeated Osceola 10-0 in Class 5A and hosts this week against Lakeland, who beat Hagerty 56-35. Bishop Moore (9-2) hosts two-time defending Class 2A champion Cocoa. Lake Highland Prep (9-2) defeated Fort Meyers Dunbar 20-6 in Class 2B and will host Island Coast.

Last week the season ended for a couple local teams. East River lost 27-7 on the road against Lakeland Lake Gibson in 5A and Jones lost to Cocoa 14-9.

In other action… South Daytona Warner Christian (11-0) defeated Orangewood Christian 60-6 in Class 1B. Daytona Beach Mainland lost to Orange Park 29-28 in Class 6A. The First Academy lost 42-20 against Jacksonville Trinity Christian in 2A.

All second round games begin at 7:30 p.m. Keep up with all the action at Varsity Sports, WFTV Channel 9 and Bright House Sports Network.

Below is a look back at last week’s first round involving state-ranked teams, with a little help from those that covered each game for the Orlando Sentinel.

– Class 6A –

Dr. Phillips 52, Olympia 3

The Panthers defeated Olympia for the fourth time over the past two seasons by building a 24-3 lead at halftime…

Wrote Kyle Hightower:

“Running back Demetrius Hart rushed for 118 yards and accounted for three touchdowns – two rushing, one receiving – to lead the Panthers… Quarterback Nick Patti was also spot-on, connecting on 5-of-8 passes for 181 yards and three scores. He also ran in another.”

Oak Ridge 34, Apopka 14

The Pioneers won their first playoff game since 1977 by getting out to a 28-7 lead at halftime…

Wrote Joe Williams:

“Dominating may not be a strong enough word to describe Oak Ridge in the first half. Oak Ridge had 286 yards of total offense to Apopka’s 53… Only a lapse on special teams allowed Apopka to score.”

Winter Park 35, Lake Brantley 21

Wildcats’ quarterback Sam Richardson got banged late in the first quarter while his team trailed by a touchdown, but returned to lead Winter Park to the win…

Wrote Buddy Collings:

“Winter Park again had difficulty holding a big fourth-quarter lead against Lake Brantley on Friday. But again the Wildcats were able to respond at crunch time. Undefeated Winter Park marched 80 yards to seal a 35-21 victory over the Patriots with an 8-yard touchdown run by Brandon Brown-Dukes with 1:44 remaining.”

Seminole 46, Timber Creek 14

The Seminoles took control late in the first half as T.J. Thompson passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns…

Wrote Carlos Pineda:

“The Seminoles broke away with 4 minutes, 37 seconds left in the second quarter when Ronnie Moore scored on a 53-yard run to give them a 17-7 lead.”

DeLand 6, Jacksonville Sandalwood 0

A touchdown run by Jo Jo Kemp in the first quarter, set up by a big interception return by De’Ante Saunders, held up for DeLand…

Wrote Craig Castille:

“LB Joe Herndon’s goalline interception on fourth down with 20 seconds remaining sealed a 6-0 victory for DeLand.”

– Class 4A –

Lakeland Kathleen 27, Edgewater 24

Edgewater could not hang on to a 23-12 lead at home with eight minutes remaining…

Wrote Bill Gronvold:

“A 92-yard pass play… with 1 minute, 12 seconds left Friday night lifted Lakeland Kathleen past host Edgewater. Aaron Baysdon caught the ball around midfield, broke two tackles and then ran the rest of the way for the score.”

– Class 2A –

Bishop Moore 25, Astronaut 7

The Hornets get the two-time defending state champs from Cocoa at home this week after getting out to a 25-0 lead on Friday…

Wrote Jeff Gardenour:

“Senior QB Mike Calabro passed for a TD and ran for another score, and Bishop Moore’s defense forced four turnovers in beating visiting Titusville Astronaut.”

– (email JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com or follow @OrlandoSportsJC and Carnahan Chronicles) –

In the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, local baseball players began to be selected by big league clubs. Below is a look at who they were, where they were picked, and what team made the call.

– 2010 MLB Draft Top-10 Local Picks –

– LHP Justin Nicolino (University) selected No. 80 overall by Toronto in 2nd round. WESH Video

– RHP A.J. Cole (Oviedo) selected No. 116 overall by Washington in 4th round.

– CF Mason Williams (West Orange) selected No. 145 overall by NY Yankees in 4th round.

– LHP Alex Burgos (Osceola/State College of Florida) selected No. 163 overall by Detroit in 5th round.

– LHP John Gast (Lake Brantley/Florida State) selected No. 199 overall by St. Louis in 6th round.

– RF Jose Dore (The First Academy) selected No. 244 overall by San Diego in 8th round.

– SS Mike Freeman (Edgewater/Clemson) selected No. 331 overall by Arizona in 11th round.

– RHP Cody Allen (Boone/UCF/St. Petersburg JC) selected No. 480 overall by Cleveland in 16th round.

– RHP Owen Dew (UCF) selected No. 630 overall by Cleveland in 21st round.

– C Shane Brown (Winter Park/UCF) selected No. 715 overall by NY Yankees in 23rd round.

– More Local MLB Draft Picks –

LF Chris Duffy (Cypress Creek/UCF) at No. 801 overall to Philadelphia (26th round); CF Jay Gonzalez (Freedom) No. 833 overall to Boston (27th round); RHP Tim Griffin (Rollins College) No. 852 overall to Seattle (28th round); LHP Ronald Schreurs (Freedom) No. 1,296 overall to Toronto (43rd round); LHP Jimmy Hodgskin (Bishop Moore) No. 1,311 overall to Philadelphia (43rd round); OF Tyler Marincov (Timber Creek) No. 1,453 overall to Detroit (48th round).

– Draft Notes –

– The UCF Knights have had nine different players selected in the MLB Draft over the last three years, including Brown, who has now been drafted twice by the Yankees. Last season he was picked in the 47th round. In all, UCF has had its baseball players drafted by MLB organizations 73 times since 1979. Dew was taken in the 33rd round in 2009 by the Los Angeles Angels. Duffy, who was selected in the 9th round out of high school, completed his four-year career as a finalist for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as one of the top amateur players in the nation.

– The Florida Collegiate Summer League had the highest number of current or former baseball players drafted over the three-day MLB selection process as 25 FCSL players were taken, including five in the first eight rounds. A complete list of draftees is available at Florida League.

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

1.) Timber Creek Girls Golf – TCHS Wolves – First they swept through the regular season unbeaten before winning the Metro Conference East title. Then they followed that up last week by winning the District 7 championship. On Monday, Sara Bolivar (76), Emily Montero (78), Paige Lyle (82), Lauren Lyle (85) and Shelby Calaway (143) combined for a 321 score to win the Region 2A-3 title at Hunter’s Creek Golf Club over Metro Conference West champs Olympia (337). Bolivar took fourth overall behind Winter Park’s Brandy Rodriguez (72), Edgewater’s Mia Campbell (74) and Olympia’s Jessica Uem (75). The state tournament takes place Nov. 3-4 in Ocala.

T–2.) Donovan Green – Timber Creek Wolves and Levi Clemons – Osceola Kowboys – Both wrestlers finished as runner-up in their respective weight classes at the Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, North Carolina over the weekend. Other local wrestlers managing to place, against perhaps the toughest competition in the country, were Osceola’s Gabe Bird (seventh at 145 pounds) and Oviedo’s Jay Taylor (fifth at 215 pounds). Among the highlights for Green, who came in ranked No. 21 by USAW Magazine, was a close win over the No. 8 heavyweight in the nation in the semifinals. Green recently talked about about his passion for the sport with Todd Grasley at High School Playbook. Clemons became the first Kowboy to advance to the finals at this event where he finished with a 5-1 mark in the 171-pound class. Last season’s state champion in Class 3A is considering offers from such D-I programs as University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Appalachian State, Missouri, NC State and Virginia Tech.

Wrestling Videos on Flowrestling

UCF's Valentina Fontaine

4.) Joanna Coe – Rollins Tars – Coe finished off the fall golf season with a runner-up effort at the Ross Resorts Invitational at Mid Pines Resort in Southern Pines, North Carolina to help No. 3 Rollins top No. 1 Nova Southeastern and the remainder of the 10-team field by seven strokes (897-904). Coe shot rounds of 75 and 71 in the first day of action then scored a 74 on Tuesday. The junior ended the season with two runner-up efforts and two tournament wins to her credit.

5.) Valentina Fontaine – UCF Knights – The freshman was named Conference USA Female Golfer of the Week after shooting three consecutive under-par rounds (for second place overall) in helping UCF take third as a team with a score of 879 (+15) on Tuesday at the FIU Pat Bradley Invitational at Pelican Preserve Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers. Junior Katie Detlefsen finished in a tie for eighth for the Knights, giving them three straight events where two teammates have finished in the Top-10. The top two spots went to Furman (+6) and South Florida (+13) among the 15-team field. Fontaine, who was UCF’s best finisher in three of four fall events this season, shot rounds of 69, 71 and 71 for a 5-under score of 211. She was one of only four golfers to shoot in the 60s throughout the three rounds.

More –

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/21/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09