Kissimmee Civic Center site of 8-team Shootout Dec. 27-29

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

There will be several changes when the Rotary Club of Kissimmee’s 31st Great Florida Shootout high school basketball tournament begins Dec. 27-29.

The tournament will return to its former home at the Kissimmee Civic Center, where it was held from 1994 through 2004. The Shootout moved to Poinciana High from 2005-08 and then went to the Silver Spurs Arena for two years.

The Shootout is contracting to eight teams from its usual 16, tournament director Pete Edwards said.

“We’ll see how things run this year, and we’ll talk about maybe going back to 16 for next year,” Edwards said.

The sluggish local economy is partially responsible for halving the field, Edwards said, but another reason is that many teams do not want to block out four playing dates for a tournament.

“Three is more workable for them,” he said.

One thing that won’t change is that the Osceola Kowboys (6-1) will make their 31st appearance at the tournament, this time under new coach Nate Alexander. The Kowboys, who won the first two Shootouts in 1981 and 1982 under tournament founder Ed Kershner, won the consolation championship last year, losing only to eventual tournament champ Bishop McNamara High from Maryland in the first round. Osceola placed third at the 2009 Shootout.

Also back is Poinciana (5-3), which has been a consistent participant since 2001. Gateway (6-2) will return to to the Shootout after last playing in 2006.

Defending Class 5A (now 7A) state champion Lake Wales will play at the Shootout, along with Kershner’s Oviedo team, which won the Shootout title in 2000 and again as an underdog in 2006. Kershner has won four Shootout championships, twice as many as any other coach.

St. Petersburg High, touted as one of the best on Florida’s west coast in Class 7A, also will compete.

Out-of-state entrants are Peachtree Ridge High from Suwanee, Ga., and Perry Central high from Hazard, Ky.

“It’s (the Shootout) not going to run as long as it normally does (three days as opposed to four), but we’ve got some great matchups that should make it pretty entertaining,” Edwards said.

First round games Dec, 27 pit Peachtree Ridge against Gateway at 3:30 p.m.; St. Petersburg against Lake Wales at 5 p.m.; Perry Central against Poinciana at 7 p.m. and Oviedo against OHS at 8:30 p.m.

The championship game Dec. 29 begins at 8:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit a scholarship fund for local students. The Rotary Club has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships from tournament proceeds.

Around the county: Gateway stopped St. Cloud, 53-46, Wednesday to improve to 4-0 in the Orange Belt Conference. Felix Gonzalez had 22 points for Gateway. Austyn Jandrew led St. Cloud with 15. The Panthers hosted Osceola Friday. St. Cloud slipped to 3-3. The Bulldogs beat Bishop Moore, 58-48, Monday.

New Dimensions, 4-7, moved up in the 3A District 7 race with victories over district foes Fort Meade, Lakeland Christian and Santa Fe. The Tigers met Lakeland McKeel in the district Friday. The Tigers fell to Celebration (2-7), 50-41, Tuesday. Johnny Victor had 15 for the Storm. Xavier Price had 19 for New Dimensions.

“We are very excited about our three (district) wins, but we know we still have a lot of work to do, and I feel the guys are ready for it,” Tigers Coach Dustin Gassert said.

Harmony won its first game Dec. 9 against Life Christian, 68-58, as Colten Viscomi scored 15 and Isaiah Moser added 14. Tyler Marcus had nine rebounds.