By Gary Curreri

Since the 2012 season, Blanche Ely’s boys’ basketball team has won three state titles (2012, 2013 and 2015) in addition to forging a 106-11 record during that span.

The team lost five times in 2014 when it dropped four games to Boyd Anderson and one to Cardinal Gibbons, the last time it lost more than three times in a year. In fact, not since 2008, the year after Blanche Ely won the Class 6A state title, have the Tigers lost more than six games in a single year. They finished 18-8 that season.

Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall is in his 23rd year, including the past 15 with the Tigers, and has an overall record of 514-153 including, by his standards, a pedestrian 9-7 mark this season following the team’s 69-47 loss to Dacula (GA) in the Kingdom of the Sun Tournament in Ocala on New Year’s Eve. The team has suffered five losses in the past seven games.

“It’s a whole new group,” Randall said. “It is a young, young, young, young, young team. The seniors that we have are not stepping up. They are still hiding behind the eight ball waiting for those players that graduated to pop on the court, and that is frustrating.”

“We just don’t have any leadership,” added Randall, who won state titles in 1997 with Deerfield (Class 5A) and his win with the Bucks in 1999 (Class 6A) came at the expense of his current school Ely, 77-69. After moving over to Ely, Randall won state titles in 2007 (Class 6A), 2012 (Class 7A), 2013 (Class 7A) and 2015 (7A). “I just have to raise these young boys and go from there.”

Randall, whose team moved over to District 14-7A with the likes of St. Thomas Aquinas and Fort Lauderdale, said the team is still searching for its identity.

“We just have to play ball,” Randall said. “We just have not really bought into Tiger basketball.

“It goes back to missing the summer, of [not] playing during the summer,” Randall said. “They decided to go and do other things. We’ve got injuries, but my thing is I am very, very competitive and I don’t like to pose excuses. If we have five players to get out on the court, we need those five players to play.”

Randall is counting on senior Mark Houston (SG, PG) and injured senior Trevor Goodrum (SF, PF) in addition to junior Geremy Taylor (SF, SG).

“They are the main ones because they have been there,” Randall said. “Not only on the local level, but on the state and national level as well. These are the ones who should really be catering to these young guys and raising them, and we’re not doing a good job of that. Because, if we are not doing our jobs, how can we teach it to those young kids? That’s where the problem is right there.”

Randall said it is a different feeling to be taking so many losses this early in the season. The Tigers suffered two losses by one point – Pebblebrook (GA), 64-63, and Sagemont, 58-57. The team also has a 74-73 win over Northeast and a 73-71 win over Fort Lauderdale.

“Yeah, you get a little spoiled,” Randall said. “It’s not a great feeling to be on that other end after not being there for a while. We were blessed. It is something that we learn from. The one-point losses that we lost, and the buzzer beaters that we won – we will learn from all of those. These babies have to grow up quick.”

By Gary Curreri

George Disch recently picked up his first career hole-in-one when he aced the Par-3, 125-yard 7^th hole at the Pompano Beach Golf Course.

“I had no idea it was going in,” Disch said. “I hit a nice high shot straight at the cup and knew it was going to stop. It hit the hill and the hole was back in the green that day.”

Disch used an 8-iron to get the hole-in-one during a four-man scramble event for the Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association at the Greg Norman Signature Pines Course.

“There was a very strong wind, so I used my 8 iron,” said Disch, 67, of Pompano Beach, who has been playing golf for 35 years and is a 17-handicap. “It bounced once, hit an upslope and went right into the cup.”

Disch said he normally would hit a wedge on the hole, but went with the 8-iron because of the wind and pin placement.

“It is my first one, I was really excited,” Disch said. “Hopefully, I’ll get another one. It was great that we won (the tournament).”

Disch and his partners, Paul Murphy and George Torres, won the tournament by two strokes with a 63. Since they were a threesome, they played alternate shots.

Cote pockets $2,250 with win

Charles Cote of Pompano Beach, birdied three of his last nine holes to pull out a one-shot win on the Florida Professional Golf Tour (FPGT) Tuesday at Wekiva Golf Club in Longwood, FL.

Cote outdueled Patrick Sheehan of nearby Oviedo 133 to 134. They were tied for the first round lead at seven under par 65. Sheehan led by two after 27 holes but parred the back nine as Cote birdied Nos. 10, 15 and 16.

In regulation, Cote made 12 birdies and a bogey, at the par-4 seventh hole the final round, for a closing 68. Sheehan also had seven birdies Monday but just three on the front nine Tuesday, on the first two holes and at the 9^th for 69.

Scoring his first FPGT win, Cote earned $2,250 from the $13,150 purse. Sheehan, second among 62 entries, collected $1,520. Sheehan has five FPGT victories over the past five seasons.

After a short Christmas break, the FPGT resumes its 10^th season Jan. 4-5 in the New Years Open at Black Bear GC in Eustis. For information and entry, go to www.floridaprofessionalgolftour.org.

Local skater takes 12^th at Championship

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata, 12, recently placed 12^th in the Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships in Simsbury, CT with a score of 87.10.

Annunziata, who represents the Skating Club of Florida out of the Palm Beach Iceworks in West Palm Beach, qualified for the Sectional competition when she won the Novice Ladies Group B session en route to a 3^rd place finish overall in the South Atlantic Championships in Aston, PA one month earlier. She was second after the short skate.

By Gary Curreri

After starting off the season 0-3, the Highlands Christian Academy boys basketball team has started to hit its stride.

“Each game we were improving and still trying to establish our identity,” said Knights coach Jim Good, who is in his 19th year at the school and also serves as the school’s athletic director. The team recently won its own, 38th annual Holiday Classic with a dramatic, double overtime, 89-81 victory over King’s Academy. “Early on, I tried to stay positive and encourage the guys. Looking back, we didn’t play a complete game and it was usually one quarter where we would break down.”

“The boys are really starting to buy into the system and it all came together in that championship game,” said Good, whose team last reached the title game when, in 2010, it defeated St. Andrew’s School. “It was by far, our best win of the season!”

The Knights team has now won six of its past seven games and has improved to 6-4 on the season. Reg Cook, former AD and boys varsity basketball coach at Highlands Christian started the Holiday Classic in 1978 in which Highlands won the first of its nine championships.

Knights’ junior point guard Herman Robinson was named the tournament’s MVP as he recorded his first triple-double of his career with 25 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in the championship game.

Robinson also hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds in regulation to send the game to its first OT.

HCA junior forward Kyle Lassen was named to the All-Tournament team as he scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, while sophomore shooting guard Matt Veynovich chipped in with 18 points going 5 for 6 from the 3-point line. He had a total of 12 three pointers in the 3-day tournament.

Beating King’s Academy in double overtime was a special moment for Good and the team.

“I’m extremely proud of the guys and their commitment to work, learn and improve,” Good said. “We have a special group this year. Once a week, we have been meeting for team devotions and emphasizing: being unselfish, love your teammate, display self-control, persevere, have a positive attitude. It’s very rewarding to see the guys ‘buy in.’”

Good started coaching the elementary school team in 1997 and is now in his eleventh year with the varsity squad. Robinson and Steven Ludwig are the team’s two captains and have provided excellent leadership, according to Good.

“Herman is leading the team in scoring with 15 points per game, and 6.9 assists,” Good said. “He started playing varsity in the 7th grade. Kyle Lassen has been doing a great job for us in the post and is averaging right around 12 points per game. Sophomore Matt Veynovich, who moved up from JV, has added some much needed scoring to our offense and leads the team in 3s made with a total 22.”

“It’s been very rewarding as a coach to watch our team these past few weeks,” Good added. “During the beginning of the year, we were still trying to find our identity and I think we’ve done that now.”

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach High senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more to lift the North team to an easy 46-6 victory over the South team in the 19th annual BCAA All-Star Classic last Thursday night at Nova High School.

Moffett, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, scored on touchdown runs of 85 and 10 yards in the first half, and added fourth-quarter TD passes to Blanche Ely’s Thomas Geddis and Boyd Anderson’s Basil Spencer in the fourth quarter for the North squad.

Locals fare well

in winter

championships

Several local swimmers turned in solid performances in the recent 25th annual Speedo Winter Championships expecting the best, and at the end of the four-day meet at the Plantation Aquatic Center Central Park.

Tyler Zuyus, 15, who was the high point winner for the 15-16 Boys Division and Victoria Miyamoto, 15, who finished second in the high point race for the 15-16 Girls Division, paced the Pompano Beach Piranhas.

Others from the Piranhas who finished in the top 10 in the meet included Sloan Sizemore, 15, who was fourth in the 15-16 Girls Division; Emilio Barrantes, 12, who tied for fifth in the 12 Boys Division; Mattheus Santos, 14, who was sixth in the 13-14 Boys Division; and Summer Schulte, 12, who was 10th in the 12 Girls Division.

The Piranhas finished sixth in the Boys Division with 316.50 points and ninth in the Girls Division with 285 points and took 8^th in the combined totals as it scored 601.50 points.

Meet director and Plantation Swim Team head coach Jimmy Parmenter said the meet first attracted about 480 swimmers and 35 teams a quarter of a century ago. Parmenter said the event has been held in Plantation every year except once when it was held in Miami due to a problem with the Central Park pool.

“I cut it this year to 1,100 swimmers and 51 teams to keep the timeline tight,” Parmenter said.

Simply Soccer

Simply Soccer Holiday Camp, which has boys and girls, ages 5-14 of all skill levels, and has attracted children from throughout Broward County, will host its Holiday Camp at Mullins Park in Coral Springs. The camp will be held from Dec. 28-Jan. 1.

There are three sessions ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a Tiny Tot program from 9 a.m. to noon. Players will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

It is the longest running soccer camp offered by the city. Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For information call 954-345-2200.

By Gary Curreri

When it comes to swimming, Pompano Beach High School’s Courtney Stewart made the most of her senior year.

Stewart recently placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle event as she clocked a 24.30 time at the FHSAA Class 2A meet at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart to cap off a stellar career.

Stewart had won the 100-yard freestyle and was third in the 50-free in the BCAA meet that featured many of the top swimmers from Broward County.

“I definitely feel like I earned this race because I have been training in USA Swimming for the past three years,” Stewart said after winning the 100 Free at the BCAA competition. “I started in rec [recreational] league, and a lot of people underestimate rec league, but it really taught me how to swim and it really perfected my stroke before I got into the serious level of training.”

She admitted that starting USA Swimming in her freshman year was a little late; however, she was driven to become a better swimmer.

“In my freshman year, I swam the 500 free and the 200 IM and didn’t really know what I was doing,” said Stewart, who trains with BEST (Broward Elite Swim Team) under the direction of Coach Michael Hart. It is a small program composed of just female swimmers and Stewart is the oldest.

“Last year, I was third in the 100 free at the BCAA meet with a 54,” said Stewart, who clocked 53.85. “I was so close last year that I really wanted to win it this year. I didn’t even swim the 50 free last year. I wanted to try out the 50 free in my senior year and have a fun time, really sprint it out with all freestyle.”

Looking back over the past four years, Stewart is happy with her swimming path. She placed fifth at state last year in the 100 free and 14th the previous year in the 100 free.

“I have loved it,” she said. “I made so many great friends over the years that I am still friends with and they are in college now. I am so close with the team now as a captain. I am going to miss it so much.

“I know that, if I swim collegiate, it is going to be tough,” Stewart added. “It is still going to be an awesome experience though.”

This year, at states, she helped the 200 medley relay to a 12th place finish (2:05.42). Other members included freshman Gabriella Costello, and sophomores Sarah Gurdus and Taylor Zascavage. She was also a member of the 200 free relay that finished 13th place (1:43.79). [Additional] members of that relay included sophomores Mia Marquez, Francesca Vandersluis and freshman Gwen Bencie. The 400 free relay, of which she was also a member, picked up a 14th place finish (3:50.76) and that included sophomore Mia Marquez, and freshmen Gabriella Costello and Gwen Bencie.

Another Pompano High swimmer, Shane Schulte, also made the most of his season, yet he has three more years to go.

“I did pretty well this year,” said Schulte, 14, a freshman at the school. “I have dropped a lot of my times from my USA Swim meets, so that is pretty good.

“The competition is totally different from my regular USA Swimming,” added Schulte, who finished 22nd at state in boys 200 IM (2:06.92). “High school (competition) is all the way from 14 to 18 years old and, in USA, I am swimming against my own age group. Sometimes, this is a lot harder, but overall, it is pretty different and I like the challenge.”

Schulte helped the Pompano boys take 12th in the 200 medley (1:43.36). It also included his brother Christopher and fellow junior Race Wilhoite and freshman Matteus Santos.

Schulte also helped the Pompano boys take 13th in the 400 free relay (3:23.55). It also included brother Christopher and fellow junior Taylor Barton and Santos. Christopher Schulte took third in the B final of the Boys 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.51).

Other top performances by the Pompano High School team at the state meet included junior Carolyn Ehrlich, who placed third in diving (424.75), and Bencie, who won the B Final in the 100-yard backstroke (59.38). The girls finished 17th in the state, while the boys took 26th.

By Gary Curreri

Janet Stuart is showing no signs of age as she won her 5th Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association 2015 Past President’s Cup Championship recently.

Stuart, 82, won in a tiebreaker of a match of scorecards over Debbie Brown, 58, of Deerfield Beach. Stuart shot an 85 (net 67) on the second day after an opening round 95 (77 net). The winner was decided by using the USGA recommended method and going back on the last nine holes played to determine the winner.

Stuart scored a 43, less nine handicap strokes for a net total of 34, while runner-up Debbie Brown, of Deerfield Beach, shot a 42, less seven handicap strokes for a total of 35. Stuart won the tiebreaker by one stroke.

“(Winning) this particular tournament was a surprise to me because I hadn’t done too well on the first day,” said Stuart, of Oakland Park, who won her 5th President’s Cup title after shooting a two-day net score total of 144. “I didn’t figure I had a chance so I wasn’t paying much attention to it, so maybe that was good. I didn’t get nervous.”

Brown, 58, of Deerfield Beach, said she knew when they tied with the 144s that she would be runner-up.

“Janet and I played together the last round of the President’s Cup,” Brown said. “When they announced the tie, I knew right away I had lost the competition because of our back nine scores and our handicaps.

“When they announced I had won, I also knew that was incorrect,” Brown added. “I refrained from the discussion and allowed those present to resolve it … Of course, I was disappointed, but Janet Stuart has long been my hero when it comes to golf. I admire her and I am encouraged by her that the future holds many more bright sunny days of golf.”

Stuart also won the President’s Cup titles in 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2012. She’s won a couple of Club Championships at the Pines Course at the Pompano Beach Golf Course too.

“It was more of a surprise because I am getting up there and all these young girls are playing well,” said Stuart, who is currently a 17 handicap. “I almost shot my age the second round and I was thinking more of that than winning the tournament. I was hoping to sneak in a couple of more pars or birdies coming in.”

Bucks blanked; season over

Deerfield Beach saw its seven-game winning streak and hopes for a state championship come to a screeching halt on Friday as visiting Flanagan blanked the Bucks, 17-0, in the Class 8A regional semifinal.

Deerfield Beach (10-2) entered the game averaging 32.2 points per game; however, Flanagan (10-2) gave up just three first downs and 79 total yards in a dominating defensive performance.

Devin Bush broke a scoreless tie with a 21-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and Angel Trujillo added a 32-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead. Flanagan’s defense held the Bucks to 21 yards in the first half and no first downs.

Flanagan, which avenged a 14-7 overtime loss to Deerfield Beach in the 2013 regional quarterfinals, iced the game on Dredrick Snelson’s 25-yard TD run with 7:50 remaining in the game.

By Gary Curreri

If Deerfield Beach is to move on in the Class 8A state playoffs, it will have to fly past the visiting “Dirty Birds” from Flanagan High School on Friday night.

The Bucks (10-1) will host Flanagan (9-2) in the regional semifinal beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Flanagan has won 8 of its past 9 games, with the lone loss coming against St. Thomas Aquinas, 19-14 two weeks ago. Flanagan’s other loss came against South Plantation, 13-12, in the third game of the season.

The Falcons reached the state semifinals last season, while the Bucks failed to make the playoffs last year for only the second time since 1998. The other time Deerfield Beach didn’t make the playoffs was in 2011. It has been seven seasons since Deerfield Beach reached the regional finals. It lost 34-30 to Miramar in the Class 8A regional final in 2008.

Deerfield Beach is on a 7-game win streak with the team’s lone loss coming to Jacksonville Bolles, 33-15. It edged Plantation, 17-14 in the regional quarters as junior Jerry Jeudy caught 10 passes for 123 yards and scored on touchdowns covering 48 and 6 yards from senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett, who was 13-of-16 for 147 yards.

Senior Jefferson Souza also hit a 48-yard field goal. Sophomore running back Jordan Johnson kept the Colonels in the game with 188 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Tigers upset bid comes up short

Blanche Ely’s football team put up a valiant effort; however, it dropped a 16-14 decision to host Dwyer in the Class 7A regional quarterfinal game last week.

After Dwyer took the opening kickoff and drove 59 yards for the 7-0 lead on a 3-yard scoring run by Jakari Moses, the Tigers (2-9) answered swiftly with an 80-yard scoring toss Zack Perdue to Thomas Gattis on the first play from scrimmage to cut the lead to 7-6.

Dwyer (10-1) took the ensuing kickoff and Moses struck again when he caught a 17-yard TD pass from Toddy Centeio for a 13-6 advantage. Ely pulled to within 13-12 just before the halftime intermission when Jeremy Taylor caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Perdue.

Midway through the third quarter, the Tigers grabbed its first lead of the game when it hauled down Moses in the end zone for a safety after an Ely punt was downed at Dwyer’s 1-yard line. That 14-13 lead held up until Patrick Trepcos kicked a 37-yard field goal with 8:26 remaining in the game for the 16-14 win.

Ely missed wide right on a potential go-ahead 34-yard field goal with 4:10 remaining.

Martin turns pro

Pompano Beach’s Chasity Martin will make her professional boxing debut tonight at the Jaragua Casino and Resort in the Dominican Republic.

The 18-year-old will fight Santo Domingo featherweight Mariela Martinez on the undercard of the Euri Gonzalez-Geyson Bastardo welterweight bout.

“I have great respect for the officials and staff of USA Boxing, but it’s time I move forward,” said Martin, who fights out of King Cobra Boxing under the direction of Mike Tyson’s former sparring coach Stacey McKinley.

Martin won the Sunshine State Games title earlier this year with a unanimous decision over Joke Dekeersschieter (Heart & Soul Boxing). Martin spent four years fighting as an amateur. She had hoped to make the U.S. National team and fight in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but lost a split decision to two-time national champion Anna Crutchfield in a pre-qualifying round.

By Diane Emeott

About 220 CrossFit athletes from all over South Florida put their bodies to the extreme test at the 2015 “Deer Games” at Deerfield Beach Aquatic Center and Deerfield Beach Middle School track on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The games were hosted by CrossFit Deerfield Beach, a warehouse-style gym at 905 SE 1 Way that incorporates gymnastics, metabolic conditioning and weight training in their distinct style of fitness training. CrossFit Deerfield is reportedly one of the oldest CrossFit gyms in the area, coming up on four years.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive. We are already planning the 2016 Deer Games,” said Gabriele Schlicht, co-owner with Steven Wang, of CrossFit Deerfield Beach.

She added that this year was the first year they opened the event to the public from Miami to West Palm Beach.

“The previous two years, it was only our members,” she said.

Swimming

The daylong competition began with 12-minute team relays in the pool from 8 to 9:45 a.m. (Deerfield Beach Aquatic Center was closed to the public Saturday morning to accommodate Deer Games.)

Each team was made up of two men and two women. Workouts were created for four different skill levels – Beginner, Intermediate, RX (advanced) and Masters (over age 40).

“People just like to get together to compete. Everyone is here from a different gym,” said Shane Moser of Palm Beach Gardens.

Track

At 10 a.m., athletes walked over to the track, where they spent the rest of the day. The first track and field competition took place at 10:15 a.m.

By 4 p.m., the athletes were still going strong in the beating, hot, 89-degree sun with 77 percent humidity. The workout included jumping pull-ups on the bars, wall balls (throwing balls against the wall), ab-mad sit-ups, 200 hand-release pushups, four rope climbs and a partner carry across the field and back.

Vendors set up tents around the track, to sell T-shirts, food and to give out more information about CrossFit. Spectators and supporters lined the bleachers and were watching the games from tents they had pitched for shelter from the sun.

Athletes

“Most of the athletes here workout five or six days a week,” said Danielle Burger.

“They [CrossFit] usually announce the workout [for a competition] a few weeks out – so you have time to practice with your team,” Burger continued.

Ann Feldman explained that most CrossFit gyms are inexpensive warehouses where you get more workouts for your money.

“Most of them don’t have air conditioning,” she added.

“The CrossFit concept started out of someone’s garage,” said Danielle Sheley.

Crossfit Deerfield

Coach Sean Sporn, who has been coaching at CrossFit Deerfield Beach for 3 ½ years, said their location has double bay doors that open and “killer fans” to get a good cross-breeze, as well as all new equipment. Workout sessions are at 5:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. – plus one beach workout per month on Hillsboro Beach, and one pool workout per month at Deerfield Beach Aquatic Center. For more information, go to www.crossfitdfb.com or call 754-227-5658.

By Gary Curreri

First-year Deerfield Beach football coach Jevon Glenn can cross one thing off his team’s bucket list.

In dominating fashion, the Bucks returned to district prominence with a convincing, 38-0 victory Friday night over visiting Piper to secure the top spot in the District 11-8a standings.

Deerfield Beach (8-1, 5-0) will tackle Cardinal Gibbons this week in its final regular season game before hosting district 12-8a runner-up Plantation in the first round of the Class 8a playoffs.

“It is a huge win bringing the championship back home to Deerfield,” Glenn said. “We wanted to make sure we took care of that first and foremost. This shows me that they will get up for the challenge.”

The Bucks, which finished 4-6 last season and missed the playoffs for only the second time since 1998 – the other time was in 2011– have outscored the opposition 300-85 and the lone blemish on the team’s record is a 33-15 loss to perennial state power Jacksonville Bolles five weeks ago.

“We came out ready to go and we are maturing,” Glenn added. “We are not as good as we are going to be and we haven’t peaked out yet. That is a thing that I am very proud of and very excited about, that we still can get better.”

Piper (8-1, 4-1) literally handed Deerfield Beach (8-1, 5-0) its first touchdown when the Bengals tried a running play on a 4th and 15 play from its own 15 on the first drive of the game.

The Bucks took over and wasted little time making it 7-0 as Giavante Evans ran for 10 yards, and one play later senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett went around left end for the score with 9:57 left in the first quarter. It was the beginning of an onslaught as Deerfield Beach made it 14-0 on the first of two touchdown runs by Kobe Farrish.

Moffett found wide receiver Cavin Ridley on a 42-yard scoring play at the end of the first half to increase the lead to 28-0. By the end of the third quarter, the Bucks had forced a running clock following a Jefferson Souza 22-yard field goal and 24-yard TD pass from Moffett to Alton Allen.

“This is a big win for us,” Ridley said. “It is a district game and we worked hard in practice. We just came to dominate and that’s what we did.”

Ridley was surprised to see Piper go for a first down early in the contest that swung the momentum.

“Respect is nothing when you are a rival team, so you have to earn your respect,” Ridley said. “So we just came out and we fought.”

Tornadoes move on

The Pompano Beach high school girls volleyball team won its Class 5a regional semifinal with a 25-17, 25-14, 25-23 victory over visiting Archbishop McCarthy on Saturday. Cassidy Bonito led the way with 31 assists, 19 digs, 9 kills and three blocks, while teammate Jasmine Souverein-Reisert added 7 kills, 5 blocks, and three digs.

By Gary Curreri

Eighth-year Pompano Beach volleyball coach William Strachan loaded his schedule this season with perennial state powerhouses and the strategy has seemed to play off.

Pompano Beach moved to 15-11 on the season with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-23 victory over visiting Suncoast in Tuesday night’s Class 5A regional quarterfinal as senior setter Cassidy Bonito led the way with 6 kills, 30 assists and 35 digs.

It marked the second consecutive district championship for the Tornadoes and fourth title in the past five years. It was runner-up to Cardinal Gibbons in 2013 after also winning in 2011 and 2012. Tara Brannen also had 9 kills, 6 digs, 3 assists, 2 blocks, while Jasmine Souverein-Reisert had 8 kills, 6 blocks and 4 digs.

“I purposely played a brutal schedule,” Strachan said. “I basically played anybody I thought was going to be good. We didn’t schedule St. Thomas Aquinas, but we played them twice. We played Merritt Island and Bishop Kenny. The reason for it is that we had a lot of young players come in and we wanted to catch them up to speed.”

Pompano Beach was knocked out in the Class 5A regional final last year by Merritt Island in four games. The Tornadoes will play Archbishop McCarthy on Saturday in the regional semifinal and the winner of that will likely get Merritt Island in the regional finals.

Strachan hoped for a .500 season when the year began. He said Bonito has played a large role in the team’s success.

“I may be biased, but I think she is the best setter in Broward County,” Strachan said. “She is just a really strong, physical player, with really soft hands and nice ball control when it comes to setting.

“Her volleyball IQ is tremendous. She sees a lot of things that young setters don’t see so she is able to run a more effective offense.”

Bonito, 18, of Pompano Beach, said the team did graduate a lot of players from last year’s team, but saw the potential as the season wore on.

“We have a lot of freshmen that came in and stepped it up defense-wise,” Bonito said. “We really did try and fill the spots and practiced as a team to get that bond we needed.”

Bonito also took on more of a leadership role this season. The team captain was new to the school last year after transferring from West Broward. It also helped her adjust to the new players, something she will have to do when she leaves for college next year.

“There is a lot of pressure, very much so,” Bonito said of still looking for a school to play at the next level. She wants to major in education. “I believe that I am a good contributor, especially as a setter. Every team I have been on I have been a captain, or in a leadership position. I am very cooperative and get along with anybody. Off the court, you have to be a student first and I also believe that is important. That’s a positive.”

Deerfield looks to lock up title

Deerfield Beach (7-1, 4-0), which failed to make the postseason last year, can win the District 11-8A football title with a victory over visiting Piper on Friday.

It would also ensure a regional quarterfinal home game against Plantation, while the loser would travel to Flanagan. The Bucks have outscored the opposition 262-85 and the lone blemish on the team’s record is a 33-15 loss to perennial state power, Jacksonville Bolles, four weeks ago.

Senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett is a dual threat having rushed for 227 yards and 8 scores and passed for 1,047 yards and 14 TDs. Deerfield Beach manhandled Monarch, 34-0 last week, while Piper topped Coral Springs, 34-8.

Piper (8-0, 4-0) has clinched its first playoff berth since 2003 and has outscored the opposition this season 171-90.

“The kids got a chance (during the summer) to go out and compete against the best in the country and they realized that we have some of the best talent too,” said Deerfield Beach coach Jevon Glenn, whose team also defeated nationally-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-3 earlier in the month. “If we continue to put it all together we have a chance to be special this year.”