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’Horns defend OBC

Sports

Friday, 25 March 2011 13:19

Horn-Lambert-2

News-Gazette Photos/Andrew Sullivan

Harmony quarterback Kaylee Horn (with ball) and Osceola rusher Sarah Lambert (white jersey) will likely be playing for the Orange Belt Conference title when they meet on Tuesday, much like they did in this game last year.

OHS, SC among county threats

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
Harmony, the two-time Orange Belt Conference champions, are again a favorite to take that title and earn a spot in the District 8 tournament, made of of the top four teams in the standings. Dr. Phillips beat the Longhorns for the district crown last year and will be in the mix again, along with all the county squads, and Freedom.

Harmony
The Longhorns suffered just two losses last year, but they were both to Dr. Phillips, including in the district championship. With top talent from that team coming back, Coach Paul Strauch’s team will surely dictate who wins it again.
Quarterback Kaylee Horn, in her third year starting, is back, along with receivers Tori Keelean and Marie Gilbert. Payton Leffew (receiver), Taylor Schroeder (center) Kassandra Brady (linebacker) and Liane Montalvo (running back/rusher) also played last year and will contribute.
Because the school is blessed with a deep pool of athletes, players like Brianna Hachey, Kaley Ward, Paige Starcher, Taylor Ashcraft, Aubrey Runnels and Sage Leffew will help create depth and keep the Longhorns prominent in the district and the OBC, which Harmony rolled through last year.
Strauch said Dr. Phillips is the favorite in the district again, and the rest of the district is better.
“The group fighting for second place includes Osceola, St. Cloud, Freedom and us,” he said. “Osceola should be very strong with Coach Lambert in his second year back and the tremendous athletes they have. St. Cloud has a lot of seniors and Freedom made the tournament last year.”
The Longhorns opened the season with district wins over Liberty and Poinciana.
Osceola
Coach Brian Lambert’s squad only lost to Dr. Phillips and Harmony, the two teams it’ll have to find a way to get past to win the district.
The top playmaker on both sides of the ball, Maria Lopez (nine passing touchdowns, nine interceptions) returns, as do center/linebacker Sarah Lambert and running back/linebacker Holly O’Donnell.
Gabriella Goeins (rusher/receiver), Kira Koroitamudu (quarterback/safety) and Brooke Hancock (safety) are new or up from JV and add to the depth of what should be a competitive team again.
“Dr. Phillips and Harmon are district and OBC favorites, respectively, but we should compete,” Lambert said. “Our girls seem to find a way to win the close games.”
St. Cloud
Mike Short is the new coach, and as he looks across the practice field, he sees speed, talent and athletes — so add the Bulldogs to the list of contenders for the OBC and district.
“I’ve got 14 track girls, so they are in super, super shape. They are the core of the team, they will help the younger ones get better and help lead this squad too,” he said. “Like normal the defense looks stellar and the offense is playing catch up right now, but with the leadership we have with this group, by game time we will be ready to go.”
Gabby Morris is the quarterback, and has players with big-play possibilities to distribute the ball to in Cierra Adams, Annie Barberi and Anaya Reid.
“Gabby throws as well as any of the guys I coach,” Short said. “With some fine-tuning she’ll be a big-time threat. Cierra can and will do it all, Annie’s a home run threat every time she touches it and Anaya is a big-time runner with super hands.”
Bianca Harris and Jenn Fullwood will play linebacker and rush, and Lynnsey Glunt and Jaclyn Swyers are cornerbacks.
Short said the athletic ability in his huddle will allow for an up-tempo game.
“There’s no slow-down, take what you’re given,” he said. “There will be times where it looks real ugly, but there will times where you think Oregon is playing.”
Gateway
The Panthers were two two-point losses away from making the district tournament, but Coach Steve Robertson has welcomed back nearly every starter on both sides of the ball.
“I see us continuing to improve and make a lot of strides. We just have to overcome injuries and other issues,” he said.
Sophomore Tiffany Charneco again won the quarterback spot, and will have a familiar group of receivers to throw to — Jelisha Peterman, Kaley White, Carla Checo and Christy Folk, who also plays linebacker. White is a safety on defense. Senior Giolette Torres is the center.
On defense, Zachary Rentas is a rusher and junior Akihla Chandler is in her third year as a starting linebacker.
Robertson said a fast start to the season is essential to the Panthers’ playoff possibilities.
“We’ve got to jell quick because you jump right into district play in this,” he said. “But our girls have played together for a while.”
Poinciana
Bryan Peay, a former coach at Gateway, is now leading the Eagles team that is very young, and he intends to build through that youth.
Quarterback Nickita Forbes is a junior, and the top receivers are sophomores (Christina Jean-Baptiste, Brandii Walker, Deriyan Woodson) and freshmen (Tajaray Ballantine, Jaileen Mena, Cindy Guerra). Juniors Kenya Freitas and Nicole Chew will split time at center.
The defense is led by freshmen rushers Priscilla Carpintero, Melissa Ramirez and Haylee Green, junior linebackers Quinn Monplaisir and Brittney Campbell, senior Linebacker Carlyssa Pierre, freshmen corners Alyssa Schabilion, Kayla Greene and Keisha Chew and sophomore Safety Allison Perez. Other contributors on defense include juniors Coresha Taylor, Marivel Zayas and freshman Geraldine Ramos.
“We have a good mixture of experienced players and new players as we’re trying to change the culture that has engulfed Poinciana since the inception of our program,” Peay said.
Celebration
Robert Mouchet takes over the Storm program after it debuted last year with moderate success. The offense is young with sophomores quarterback Kristy Simon and running back Devon Yelverton, but there’s also a senior presence with center Julia Dixon, running back Katie McCorkle and receivers Lauren Davis and Chelsea Pedraja.
Davis and Pedraja also are in the defensive secondary with junior Morgan Johnson. Seniors Halie Moyer, Gabbi Lucas and Ashley Bolton are rushers.
“We have five starters returning on defense which is a huge plus,” Mouchet said. “However, we have only two returning on offense, so we are still working on building the program, and the girls have worked very hard.”
Liberty
Quarterback Amie Williams, running back Shanice Smith and receiver Mili Negron are the Chargers’ best players.
“Our team is packed with seniors that are ready to give it their all before they graduate,” Coach Steven Vazquez said. “We’ve got some serious speed in the receiving and running back positions and a strong offensive formula.”