Yes, everyone at the papers and readership must have seen this. That means you're probably going to be responsible for Big Changes coming in H-T Coverage and FM News Press.

I think it may have even been featured by one of the speakers at the "Local Page Editors of America Conference" held in beautiful down town Lutz yesterday.

Or the Slaps are back in "Sup Broham?" fashion.

The best team and player I’ve seen this week is Tampa Blake and their junior guard Joshua Lewis. I’m considering going tonight really to see them and him play. They play Miami Norland tonight at 8pm. Lewis is just a junior. He is 6’6” and silky smooth, handles the ball with ease, sweet shooter and jumps like he is on a pogo stick. Blake also has sophomore 6’9”, Joe Philon, who possesses the talent that should lead to a successful college career.

Attended the Charlotte-Edgewater game. The Tarpons had their opportunities to win it. They played their hearts out but did not possess the shooting touches to pull it off.

Just spoke to Darterblue2. He is at the Columbus game right now. He didn’t mention the Boozer brothers but it appeared Columbus was handling Evans as expected. Their championship game is Saturday at 8pm.

We're in Mullet Wrapper no-mans land between FM News Press and H-T. Their cheap a$$ editors run their sports guys ragged, covering local sports in their hub cities - both are fortunate to have some great ones who love the area and have stayed with all the cuts. The H-t considers us SW Fl, the N-P considers us Suncoast - carpetbagger editors who moved here from northern cities made that determination starting a couple decades ago, I used to go back and forth with David Dorsey about it. Of course until they do their NFL lists, then both claims us.

Our Boosters had the game on the big screen at PG Beefs, nice spread of food. I don't think either team looked very good. I thought our D played good enough to win, but we couldn't hit a shot to save our lives early or late. I guessed we were around 23-25% shooting, but we were even worse.

We did hit foul shots, they weren't hitting them. We should have been in more control driving the lane and drawing fouls than the half dozen spin moves trying to avoid their shot blockers and missing.

But congrats to the Tarps, second time in four years to the final four. Coach Mike Williams (A Tarpon hoopster) is off and running in his 3rd year. Former Great Dago Pena (Marshall, Dominican Natl team, played professionally around the world) is back coaching this year.

MarkECannon said:

Congratulations to Miss Church-Ross for her accomplishment.

Love the Robotics and NJROTC titles as well. It is exciting to see to see this.

I’ll be in Lakeland at 3pm Thursday to see Charlotte play Edgewater for the 6A Boys Basketball Semifinal. Darterblue2 told me he thinks the Tarpons have a reasonable chance to win that game.

Hoping to see DanInDaytona Wednesday as his Mainland Buccaneers boys and girls have reached their semifinals.

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Hope you get to see a good game, They played a really tough schedule, that's made them play pretty good defense, and they play as a team with different guys contributing when needed most. Go Tarps!

Congratulations to Miss Church-Ross for her accomplishment.

Love the Robotics and NJROTC titles as well. It is exciting to see to see this.

I’ll be in Lakeland at 3pm Thursday to see Charlotte play Edgewater for the 6A Boys Basketball Semifinal. Darterblue2 told me he thinks the Tarpons have a reasonable chance to win that game.

Hoping to see DanInDaytona Wednesday as his Mainland Buccaneers boys and girls have reached their semifinals.

Tarpons finished 4th at States but we had the First Tarpon Female State Champ, Iyonna Church-Ross (28-0).

Tarps also won a state title in Robotics and NJROTC, so it was a good week athletically and academically.

gatorman001 said:

I remember going to a 1977 Southeast vs Hardee game, I went primarily because Southeast had a player that was Bo Jackson before there was a Bo jackson....His name was Zontina Jackson......He was built like a brick chit house, before weight rooms were a thing. Played RB and LB for Southeast. Coach Maechtle was just a DC and Southeast was coached by Woody Woodward. Zontina had his typical game but Hardee won the game......Hardee back then was always a tuff game. I believe when I was even younger being taken to a few Palmetto/Hardee games as well.

If memory serves me right, that Southeast team lost 3 games that year.....Hardee, Venice and St Pete Catholic...(which I believe had Marty Lyons on that team)...was a pretty good SE team all in all!

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There has been some great games between SE and Hardee!! The best one I've seen was early 2000s. That was the hardest game between the two teams and I believe that was the year SE won state. It was a very close game all the way through and you would think you were watching the State Championship the way both teams were playing. It was an all defensive game which you don't see much anymore.

Silver King said:

That sounds great, two great old programs coming back. Again happy for you and hope they get it rolling like the old days.

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I wish Desoto was coming back but I was HOPING they would. Believe it or not Desoto chose a person who has a losing record (from what I was told) vs one of their own who has supported, who has done great work for Desoto, who has voluteered much of his own time over the past 20+ years. There comes a point when a county like Desoto needs to choose one of their own instead of going outside. The man was HC for Desoto basketball and helped Coached football for the longest decades.

I know the guy on a personal level and can tell you he would be the top HC for Desoto's football team. I don't know who was on the committe in Desoto if there was any but for some reason they are not picking the best Head Coach that can succeed with the players in Desoto.
Desoto is reminding me of Florida Football, the HC job is becoming a revolving door.

As for Hardee's HC, its my understanding he is coming in a full volunteer and not be paid. He said this is what he wanted. To be honest, we need more people like Derren willing to come in on a volunteer basis but then again we need Florida politicians quit giving themselves constant pay raises and begin to give the proper raises to ALL these Coaches here in Florida. No wonder they leave and go to Georgia, anybody ever see what a School Teacher and Coach makes up there? Its embarrassing to say the least!!

It's not what's best for the game of football at any level; it's what makes the most money for the most stakeholders.

And there is a hierarchy of stakeholder groups.

This is not sustainable. It is time for an NFL type of draft for colleges to draft high school players. The romance may be over.

WITH THE FIRST PICK OF THE FIRST ROUND KENT STATE SELECTS JEREMIAH SMITH FROM CHAMINADE MADONNA!

What do you think these kids and their parents would think of this, not to mention the colleges?

Finished second in Wrestling (192pts), but sending 8 to State Tournament. Four won, four placed in Top 4.

Tarpon wrestling has been a great program since I was in high school and HOF Coach George Sansone won the district right after he got here and started the program. He got our first State Title and produced Charlotte County's first High School All-American, my classmate "Tarpon Teddy" Alexander. Bill Hoke took over and never missed a beat won a title. Evan Robinson (All-American at Pitt), one of Hoke's wrestlers, has been cruising ever since and won a title. You might say we're a wrestling school.

Silver King said:

Tarpon Hoopsters made it to the Final Four last night, too.

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The Tarpons play in the 6A Semifinals Thursday March 7 @ 3pm against Orlando Edgewater. The championship game is Saturday @ 3pm.

DaninDaytona’s Mainland Buccaneers have made the 5A Final Four for the second straight year. They play the 5A Semifinal against Tampa Blake Wednesday March 6 @ 5pm. The championship game is Friday March 8 @ 8pm.

The games are being played at the RP Funding (Lakeland Civic Center) Arena in Lakeland.

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Tarpon Hoopsters made it to the Final Four last night, too.