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Tuesday, Mar, 19, 2024
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Story Tools

Ross Built holds Division III Ball title

sport pic
Division III Runner Up: Duncan Real Estate
Danielle Capparelli, Joe Class, Jack Heckler, Mikayla Kane, Chase Lewis, Brandon Mills, Natasha Nieckoski, Lauren Sapienza and Coach Patrick Kane
sport pic
Division III Champions: Ross Built
Chris Adkins, Madison Gsell, Parker Lansberg, Jake Ross, Andrew Ross, George Lardas, Luke Valadie, Maddy Valadie and Coach Greg Ross

 

Second-seeded Ross Built jumped out to an 8-2 half-time lead during the Division III championship basketball game on March 11 against number-one seed Duncan Real Estate, then held on for the victory as Duncan staged a frantic fourth-quarter rally.

Ross Built’s Madison Gsell helped her team to the early lead with six first-half points fueled by strong defensive pressure that led to several fast-break opportunities. Teammate Luke Valadie also chipped in with an offensive rebound putback to extend the Ross Built lead to 8-2. Meanwhile, Duncan Real Estate could only manage one first-half basket by Lauren Sapienza.

The third quarter was more of the same as Ross Built continued to play stellar defense, led by ball hawking guards Gsell, along with Ross brothers, Jake and Andrew, who came up with several steals that led to fast-break opportunities. Unfortunately for Ross Built, Duncan Real Estate’s Natasha Nieckoski seemed to always manage to hustle back on defense to deny the Ross Built fast break.

The scoreless third quarter came to an end with Ross Built seemingly in control with a six-point lead, but that view quickly changed. Duncan Real Estate’s Chase Lewis came up with a steal and pushed the ball upcourt. He got off a shot that was off the mark, but teammate Mikayla Kane went high to grab the offensive rebound and put it back into the basket to halve the score and provide a much-needed momentum boost to the Duncans.

Lewis also was involved in Duncan’s next basket when he drove the ball toward the hoop before passing down low to Sapienza, who banked in the shot to pull to within 8-6 with just over five minutes left to play.

The next few minutes saw Ross Built turn the ball over several times, giving Duncan Real Estate opportunities to tie the score at 8-8, but the ball seemed to not want to drop through the hoop. Kane, Sapienza and Lewis all had shots that bounced three or four times on the basket, but not through the basket.

With 1:16 left to play, Lewis got fouled on a driving-shot attempt and went to the foul line, but couldn’t convert.

Finally, with 58 seconds to play, Ross Built got an insurance basket on a nice offensive set that saw them pass the ball effectively around the Duncan defense. The play started when Andrew Ross brought the ball upcourt before passing to Gsell. Gsell dribbled to her left before passing to Maddy Valadie, who was stationed just inside the foul line. Valadie banked in her shot to give Ross Built a 10-6 lead.

With 30 seconds left to play, Kane was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound and went to the line for two shots, but neither shot found the bottom of the net. The next nail in the coffin came when Duncan Real Estate coach Patrick Kane called a time out to organize his team. But Duncan had no timeouts left, giving Ross Built two technical foul shots and the ensuing possession.

Jake Ross was unable to convert on the technicals and Duncan rushed the ball back upcourt. Mikayla Kane grabbed yet another offensive rebound and scored to pull to within two points, but the final buzzer sounded seconds later giving Ross Built the hard-fought, 10-8 victory and the Division III title.

Gsell led Ross Built with six points and five steals, while Luke and Maddy Valadie finished with two points apiece. Duncan Real Estate was led by Sapienza’s six points while Kane finished with two points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Earlier in the week on March 8, Duncan Real Estate dominated the paint behind the play of Lauren Sapienza and Mikayla Kane to roll past Coastal Orthopedics 16-0 and advance to the championship game. Sapienza finished with 10 points to lead all scorers while Kane added 6 points in the victory.

Also on March 8, Ross Built earned its seat in the finals on the hot shooting hand of Jake Ross to roll past LPAC by a 24-9 score in the Division III semifinals. Jake Ross poured in 15 points, including 11 in the second half to advance to the championship game. Chris Adkins, Madison Gsell, Parker Landsberg and Andrew Ross added two points apiece, while Maddy Valadie chipped in with one point in the victory.

Replace ….

 

MAYSO offers new spring futsal league

Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization is offering a new spring soccer league for boys and girls ages 7-adult. Street soccer or futsal is played with a low-bounce ball and teams consist of four players and a goalie on the field together.

Cost for the eight-game season is $40 for MAYSO registered players, $50 for non-FYSA registered players and $60 for players registered with another FYSA sanctioned club.

The season runs from April 5 to May 25 with most of the games being played on Saturdays and some Sundays. The age/gender divisions are U8, U10, U12, U14, high school, men’s, women’s and coed and you can register as a team with a maximum of 10 players per roster.

The deadline for registration is March 24. For more information, contact MAYSO assistant director of coaching Erik Barbon at 941-932-0800 or e-mail him at barbonet@verizon.net.

 

Another season of football

NFL Flag Football is the premier youth football league for boys and girls ages 5-17. According to Anna Maria Island Community Center athletic director Andy Jonatzke, the program provides young players a fun and exciting opportunity to engage in non-contact, continuous action and to learn valuable lessons in teamwork.

Registration for the spring season of AMICC flag football league must be done online, he said, and anyone lacking access to the Internet is invited to utilize the Center’s computer lab. The registration Web site is: www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1558076

The Center will host registration from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 24; 6-8 p.m. March 27; and 5:30-6:30 p.m. March 31. The registration deadline is April 7 at 11:59 p.m. The cost for the season is $40, which includes for each player a reversible NFL team jersey and a flag set.

Registered players are invited to a mini-camp Tuesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 10, both at 6 p.m. at the Holmes Beach Field. Jonatzke stressed that coaches are needed and anyone interested should call him at the Center, 941-778-1908.

The season of games will be played at the Holmes Beach field beginning April 21.

Division ages (subject to change based on registration) and mini-camp dates:

Group A, ages 5-6, 6 p.m. April 8.

Group B, ages 7-8, 6 p.m. April 8

Group C, ages 9-11, 6 p.m. April 10

Group D, ages 12-14, 6 p.m. April 10

Group E, ages 15-17, 6 p.m. April 10.

 

Anna Maria Island Little League schedule

Juniors

7 p.m.March 19Islanders vs. JR2@G.T. Bray

10 a.m.March 24Islanders vs. JR3@G.T. Bray

Majors

7:30 p.m.March 20Islanders vs. American Car Care@Field 1

7:30 p.m.March 24Affordable Appliance vs. Islanders@AMICC

Minors

6:30 p.m.March 20TNT Towing vs. Sun@AMICC

6:30 p.m.March 2

Lancers vs. Sun@AMICC

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