Ross Built edges LPAC in Division III thriller
by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent
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| Andrew Ross pushes the ball upcourt during Anna Maria Island Community Center Basketball Division III action at the Center. Islander Photos: Kevin Cassidy |
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| The cheerleaders perform for the crowd during basketball halftime at the Center. |
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| Madison Gsell dribbles up the court for her Ross Built team during basketball action at the Center.
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Ross Built and LPAC both had trouble finding the basket in the early going of their Feb. 16 Division III (ages 8-9) basketball matchup in the Anna Maria Island Community Center Basketball League.
Neither team managed a basket until the 2:31 mark of the first quarter when Lucas Winstead found Mickey Koczersut on an inbounds play that gave LPAC a 2-0 lead. Ross Built finally found the mark to tie the score at 2-2 when Chris Adkins grabbed a rebound of a miss by Jake Ross and put the biscuit in the basket to tie the score as the first-quarter buzzer sounded.
The second quarter saw LPAC retake the lead when Winstead banked in a shot from the left wing for a 4-2 lead. Little did the LPAC faithful know that Winstead’s basket would be the last LPAC score until the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Ross Built started to warm up. A steal and a layup by Jake Ross tied the score at 4-4 before Jake’s brother Andrew stole the ball and got fouled going to the basket. Andrew hit one of two free throws to give Ross Built its first lead of the game with 33 seconds left in the half.
Jake Ross had another steal, but LPAC’s Emma Moneuse poked the ball away. Jake Ross then alertly found Maddy Valadie on the ensuing inbounds play for an easy shot underneath, giving Ross Built a 7-4 lead as the half came to a close.
Ross Built extended its lead to 11-4 in the third quarter as Madison Gsell converted an offensive rebound into two points and Andrew Ross got a steal and a layup.
Trailing by seven points, LPAC came out strong to start the fourth quarter. Winstead got fouled driving to the basket and made the first free throw for LPAC’s first points since the second quarter. Winstead rebounded his own miss on the second free-throw attempt and converted for a three-point play that drew LPAC to within four points of tying the score.
Winstead again figured in the scoring for LPAC when he drove hard to the basket before alertly dealing to a wide-open Monuese to pull to 11-9 with just over five minutes to play.
The two teams traded open looks for baskets, but the ball would not drop through the hoop. With just over a minute left to play, Winstead grabbed a defensive rebound and drove the length of the court for the game-tying layup.
Ross Built kept its cool and worked the ball around the permimeter until Andrew Ross spotted Parker Landsberg alone under the basket. Landsberg made the shot to give Ross Built a 13-11 lead with 47 seconds to play.
Ross Built’s Jake Ross came up with a steal and after a time out to discuss strategy, the team tried to run down the clock. A baseline shot didn’t fall and LPAC came back down the court looking to tie the score.
But Ross Built played strong defense and knocked the ball away, giving LPAC an inbounds play with 1.8 seconds to play. LPAC successfully inbounded the ball, but Koczersut’s desperation attempt from the wing fell short, giving Ross Built an exciting 13-11 victory.
On Feb. 11, Mikayla Kane scored six points and Chase Lewis added four points to lead Duncan 15-10 past Coastal Orthopedics in Division III action. Joe Class chipped in with two points and Natasha Nieckoski scored 1 point to complete the Duncan Real Estate scoring in the victory.
Coastal Orthopedics was led by Alexia Yavalar’s six points and two points apiece from Mikey Ellsworth and Tyler Yavalar.
Little League news
Little League's youngest players ages 5-6 are invited to Anna Maria Island Little League T-ball tryouts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Anna Maria Island Community Center baseball field.
Players ages 7-9 can tryout for AA baseball at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, also at
the AMICC field.
Registrations will be accepted for both age groups up to the tryout date
and all registered players will be placed on a team.
For more information, contact player agent Jim DuDeVoire at 941-962-2328.
In other AMI Little League news, The Islanders major league team, sponsored by The Islander newspaper, will play its first game at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the AMICC field.
The Little League minors teams get started on Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 26 and 28, with
both games getting started at 6:30 p.m. at AMICC.
Division II basketball
Blaine Jenefsky exploded for 12 points to lead Dips Ice Cream past Jessie’s Island Store 26-8 in Division II basketball action on Feb. 12. Daniel Schroaeder added eight points for Dips, which also received four points from Josh Zawistoski and two points from Johnny Mattay, who saw his first action since breaking his arm.
Jessie’s Island Store was led by Jacque Armer, who scored six points, while Jake Parsons added two points in the loss.
Division I
Island Lumber ran past Air & Energy 30-17 in Division I basketball action on Feb. 11 behind 11 points from Becca Butler and seven points from Joey Garbus. Zach Guerin and Wyatt Hoffman each added four points, while Chris Pate and Geoff Pinter completed the scoring for Island Lumber with two points apiece.
Eight points from Daniel Pimental paced Air & Energy, which also received three points from Mallory Kosfeld and two points apiece from Sarah Azmi, Travis Belsito and Justin Gargett in the loss.
Premier Division
Island Real Estate edged West Coast Air Conditioning by two points for a final 40-38 during Premier Division basketball action on Feb. 12. Christina Natali scored 16 points and Jamison Urch added 15 points to lead the Island Real Estate offense. Amanda Burnett completed the IRE scoring with nine points in the victory.
Michael Kirby led all scorers with 20 points, while WCAC teammate Matt Bauer added 13 and sister Whitney scored five points in the loss.
Horseshoe news
Seventeen horseshoe teams were whittled down to one on Feb. 13 as the team of Bob Lee and Jerry Disbrow rolled past the team of Don Buchholtz and John Crawford by a 24-10 score. The Feb. 9 games saw only two of the 13 teams emerge from pool play with an unbeaten record. The duo of Leo Hutton and Debbie Rhodes came out on top 21-19 over Bob Lee and Al Norman in a back-and-forth match that saw several lead changes.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club men played an 18-hole, better-ball-of-partners game Feb. 13. The team of Vince Mercadante and Jim Mixon combined to card an impressive 11-under-par 53 to claim first place over the team of Bob Kral and Ed Navlie, who were one shot back at 10-under 54. Ernie Hauser and John Atkinson came in third with a score of 9-under 55.
The ladies teamed up with the men on Feb. 8 for a two-best-balls-of-foursome match over nine holes. The team of Marian Mulroy, Rose Slomba and Al Gunn combined to fire a 12-under-par 52 to earn the days bragging rights. Second place went to Joy Nellies, Joyce Brown and Gordon McKinna with a 4 under-par 60.
AMICC basketball standings
(as of Feb. 9)
Premier DivisionWonLost
WCAC60
Cycles33
IRE34
Ralph’s16
Division I
Sun 61
Lumber52
Paradise25
A&E16
Division II
Kumon62
Dips52
Jessie’s07
Division III
Duncan70
Ross62
Bistro26
Orthopedics 25
LPAC26
AMICC basketball schedule
Premier (ages 14-17)
8 p.m.Feb. 27WCAC vs. Ralph’s
8 p.m.Feb. 29Cycles vs. IRE
8 p.m.March 3Ralph’s vs. IRE
Division I (ages 12-13)
8 p.m.Feb. 28 Paradise vs. Lumber
6 p.m.Mar. 4 A&E vs. Lumber
Division II (ages 10-11)
7 p.m.Feb. 28 Dips vs. Kumon
7 p.m.Feb. 29Jessie’s vs. Kumon
Division III (ages 8-9)
7 p.m. Feb. 27 Ross vs. Duncan
6 p.m. Feb. 28Bistro vs. Duncan
6 p.m. Feb. 29Orthopedic vs. LPAC
7 p.m. March 3Orthopedic vs. Duncan
Instructional League (ages 5-7)
6 p.m.Feb. 27Observer vs. Oyster Bar
6 p.m.Mar. 3Observer vs. Beach House |
