By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach regrouped from a sluggish start to top visiting Coral Springs, 44-35, in the Class 9A regional girls basketball semifinal on Tuesday night.

After scoring just one point in the first quarter, the Bucks outscored Coral Springs, 18-8, in the second quarter to open up a 6-point halftime lead. The Bucks cut the lead in half heading into the final quarter before Deerfield held on for the win and avoided the upset bid. It was the team’s fourth straight win over Coral Springs this season and 25th straight against no defeats dating back all the way to 2006 and this is the first-ever postseason meeting between the two schools.

 Deerfield Beach defeated Coral Springs, 70-27, and 55-39 during the season and 47-35 for the district title.

“Our next game we are going to have to come out and do a better job in practice on Wednesday and Thursday getting ready for (Boca Raton),” said Deerfield Beach coach Tami Vaughn, whose team will host the Bobcats on Friday at 7 p.m. 

“We just have to watch film and go back to the drawing board and see what we need to do, if we have to change up the lineup,” Vaughn added. “We have to go back to the drawing board to see what we need to do to finish out.”

Deerfield Beach senior DenAsia Mitchell scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Bucks (18-9).

The Bucks won the District 11-9A title for the fourth time in five years and second year in a row. The lone year they didn’t win it was in 2017 when star guard Mitchell tore her ACL and was lost for the postseason. The Bucks are on a four-game winning streak since a 68-64 overtime loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the quarterfinals of the Big 8 tournament.

 Deerfield Beach won state titles in 2003 and 2004 and was runner-up in 2002 and 2005. They lost to Miami, 48-31, in last year’s Class 9A state semifinals. 

Ely falls to St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas (21-6) outscored visiting Blanche Ely, 37-21, in the second half en route to a 72-52 victory in the Class 8A girls basketball regional semifinal in Ft. Lauderdale.

Blanche Ely, which finished the year at 21-9, lost to the Raiders, 66-61, 70-64, and 58-46 in the district championship before Tuesday night’s loss.

Raiders’ junior guard Bella LaChance, a Vanderbilt commit, led four Raiders in double figures with 20 points, while Tigers sophomore guard Ja’Leah Williams kept her team in the contest as she scored 27 points and hauled down 11 rebounds.

“We had a real rough third quarter,” Ely coach James Polk said. St. Thomas outscored the Tigers, 17-10, in the period.

Pompano

golf results

The Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association held a Low Net (with a twist) tournament on Jan. 29.

 The results are as follows: A Flight: 1. Kathy Stewart, 67; 2. Abby Ages, 72; B Flight: 1. Janet Stuart, 69; 2. Kathy Dunn, 78; C Flight: 1. Lynn Goodman, 74; 2. Sue Bardhi, 75; D Flight: 1. Polly Rutnik, 77; 2. Roseanna Nixon 78. 

In the Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association tournament on Jan. 22, Mimi Denoma shot an 84 to take the A Flight. Marianne Weber was second with a 91, while Sandra Gore was third with a 93. 

 Other results included B Flight: 1. Janet Stuart, 88; 2. Abby Ages, 97 (won tiebreaker); C Flight: 1. Patt Sessa, 98; 2. Ann Symonds, 101; 3. Lynn Goodman, 104 (won tiebreaker); D Flight: 1. Roseanna Nixon, 107 (won tiebreaker); 2. Verna Smith, 107.

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a Two Best Ball of Foursome tournament on Jan. 30. The net score results are 1. James Greeley, Dave Hall, Jeffrey Raymond, Bert Welage, 112; 2. Oscar Aleman, Robert Blau, Roe Messner, Don Worrell, 115; 3. Tom Harrington, George Lyons, Paul Murphy, Carlo Spirito, 116; 4. Paul Berning, Andy Burt, Brian Nixon, Neil Wilson, 118 (won match of cards); 5. Jim King, Jim Muschany, Robert Raser, Roy Wilhoite, 118 (won match of cards).

 The closest to the pin winner at hole No. 15 was Terry Denoma.

 The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association also held a One Best Ball of Foursome tournament on Feb. 6. Net Score: 1. Tom Breur, Dave Dowling, Tom Pawelczyk, Robert Raser, 52; 2. Jim DiCamillo, Mike Grimaldi, Roe Messner, Jim Muschany, 53 (won tiebreaker); 3. Terry Denoma, Jim Dunn, Scott Feinman, Bart Valerio, 53 (won tiebreaker); 4. Lee Hammer, Tom Joyce, Dick Steffen, Bob VanZandt, 55 (won tiebreaker); 5. Andy Burt, Dave Danielian, Dave Hall, Gene Stoller, 55 (won tiebreaker); 6. Chuck Brown, John Feeley, Bob Mascatello, Tim O’Brien, 56.

 The closest to the pin winner at hole No. 17 was Frank Cutrone.

By Gary Curreri

The Deerfield Beach Bisons 13-Under team made program history as it reached the American Youth Football League Super Bowl at PAL Field in Plantation. The Bisons finished the regular season with an 8-2 mark and defeated the previously undefeated Colts, from Cooper City/Davie, 33-20 in the second round of the playoffs to advance to the title game where they fell to host Plantation, 22-6. The winning Wildcats wound up the year at 13-0.

Deerfield Beach’s D’mitre Nazaire scored the lone touchdown for the Bisons that cut the deficit to 14-6 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter before Plantation added a late score to put the title game away.

The Bisons’ victory over the Colts avenged a 24-14 setback in Week 11, while the other setback during the season for the Bisons came in week three when they lost 28-0 to Plantation. Deerfield Beach opened the playoffs with a 33-6 win over Coral Springs and then topped the Colts.

“We accomplished a lot of great things during the season,” said Deerfield Beach coach Corey Collins, whose team traveled to Atlanta for a preseason tournament and reached the Super Bowl in just the third year that Deerfield Beach has been a member of the AYFL. “It was a bitter defeat at the end, but I am proud of the boys and what we were able to do during the season.”

Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association

The Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association is in its 63rdyear and once again staged several outstanding golf outings in the past few weeks.

Sandra Gore took first place in the Low Net in Classes tournament on Dec. 4 when she shot a 71 and won tiebreaker over Nancy Rack for the A Flight Division honors. Janet Stuart cruised to the B Flight title when she carded a 67 to top runner-up Deb Ladig, who shot 73.

In the C-Flight Division, Vonnie Okeefe shot a 71 to win over Phyllis Maillet (75), while Alberta Bove shot 66 to win the D-Flight by two strokes over Ellie Depasquale.

The women played a Scramble event on Nov. 27 with Mimi Denoma, Ann Symonds and Darlene Sesto taking top honors with a 70, while Deb Brown, Phyllis Maillet, Lynn Goodman and Anita Macmichael carded a 73 to finish three strokes back in second place.

The previous week, in the Class Team Battle, capturing the top honors with a 71.75 were Janet Tomchik, Deann Baumann, Sue Bardhi, Janet Stuart (B Flight), while finishing in second were the C Flight group of Ann Symonds, Lori Tarmey, Liette Brabant, Wiltrud Messinger, Vonnie Okeefe, Lynn Goodman (72.50).

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held their Partners AB and CD – One Best Ball tournament on the Pines Course on Nov. 21.

Winning the Partners Classes A&B Flight with a net score of 57 was Chuck Brown and Neil Wilson. One shot back at 58 were Gary Gill and Bill Hadersbeck, while Andy Burt and Pete Strychowskyj shot 59 to finish third.

Winning the Partners Classes C&D Flight were Don Worrell and Gene Stoller with a 60. Jerry Goodman and Tim O’Brien shot a 63 and won the tiebreaker on the back nine with a 31, while Jim Blake and Willie Smith also shot a 63 and had a 32 on the back nine.

Terry Denoma hit his shot on the Par-3, 15th hole 6 ft., 4 in. from the cup to take closest to the pin honors in the field of 38 players.

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association also held an Individual Play on Nov. 28 on the Pines Course. It featured Low Gross and Low Net in Classes and Bob VanZandt carded an 82 to take Low Gross honors in the A Class. For Low Net honors in the A Class Division, Jacques Patry shot a 69 to take the top honors, while George Disch shot a 70 to finish second.

In the Class B Division, Jim Muschany carded an 89 to win Low Gross honors, while Jim DeCicco shot a 69 to take first place, while Bob Schurr carded a 70 to finish second. Bart Valerio shot 93 to win the Class C Low Gross title, while Don Worrell shot 75 to win Low Net in the division and Dennis Rooy shot 76 and won in a tiebreaker to finish third.

Scott Feinman won the Class D Division Low Gross title with a 94. Brian Nixon (68) and Paul Murphy (70) were first and second respectively in the Low Net standings.

Al DiBenedetto bested the 43-player field by winning the Closest to the Pin contest on the 15th hole.

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association followed that tournament up with a Two Best Ball of Foursome event on Dec. 5.

The team of Al DiBenedetto, Dave Dowling, Dennis Sejda and Carlo Spirito shot a Low Net score of 117 to take first place. Finishing in second was the team of Chuck Brown, Jim Muschany, Tim O’Brien and Bert Welage shot a 119 and won the tiebreaker with a score of 34. Andy Burt, Jim Dunn, Bob Mascatello and Bob VanZandt shot a 119 and won the tiebreaker with a score of 37 to finish third, while the team of Bill Delaney, Charles MacMichael, Bill O’Brien and Willie Smith shot a 120 and won the tiebreaker with a score of 58 to finish fourth.

Al DiBenedetto won the Closest to the pin contest on the 17th hole when his shot came to rest 14 ft. 3 in. from the pin. There were 50 players in the field.

By Gary Curreri

Terry Denoma made the most of his recent “snowbird” visit to Pompano Beach.

Denoma recently won the Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association Club Championship. The part-time Pompano, part-time Illinois resident is gaining ground on his wife Mimi, who won the Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association Club Championship two years ago and finished second this year to Marianne Weber.

“I retired last year, so I usually spend about four months a year in Florida,” said the 69-year-old Denoma. “I got to meet so many nice guys. This was the first year I was in the league. My wife won it two years ago, so I had to do something. She’s the real golfer. I’m a hack. I just got in the right division.”

Denoma said winning the club championship was unexpected.

“I have always enjoyed match play versus stroke play,” Denoma said, “because I have too many bad holes and you just have to have the right holes in match play.”

Denoma started out the tournament in the C Class and shot 86-83 to win his division to advance to the championship round against the winners of the other classes (A, B, and D) and played in a one-day tournament where Denoma, and his 22-handicap, prevailed when he shot an 86.

“It was just a lot of fun,” Denoma said. “It was my first year, so I didn’t know what to expect. The starter Dennis told me I got a parking spot now. Do I really get a parking spot? I will have to look at that when I come back down.”

Denoma said he has played ever since he got out of college and believes after this season in the Pompano Men’s Golf Association that his handicap will drop to about a 17.

“The thing I will remember most is when you are on 18 and there is water on the left and the other guy is right down the middle,” he said. “You hit and hope that you stay in the fairway and that you can bogey the last hole and try to win it.”

Denoma parred the final hole and wound up winning by three strokes.

“I’m a competitor and I always played sports,” Denoma continued. “I think that is why we all play golf because we can still compete at it, even at an advanced age. I am going to try and get better. That is the one thing about golf, you always look for the next shot or the next day. My goal is to beat my wife sometime.

“I don’t think it is going to happen,” he continued. “She is like a 10 handicap and my son is a four, so I stay away from him. I also have to thank Deborah Brown for all of the time she puts into organizing this and stroking all of our egos. She puts a lot of hours in.”

What’s next up for Denoma, who admittedly said he isn’t as good of a golfer as his wife?

“I have one hole-in-one, and my wife has three,” he said. “I guess I am going to be chasing her there too.”

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Mimi Denoma recently won the Pompano Beach Women’s Golf Association’s Club Championship for 2017.

Denoma carded a 3-day total of 243 to edge out three-time club champion, Marianne Webber, who carded a 3-day total of 254. Denoma’s effort was even surprising to her.

“It was absolutely remarkable,” said Denoma, who carded three 81s in her tournament debut. “It was definitely a surprise. That’s the best I have played and my scoring was lower than it normally is.

“My putting was consistently good and I was also consistent off the tee,” said Denoma, who carries a 12-handicap. “I finished well on the green. I had a lot of good recovery shots. I was very steady.”

Denoma said she was pleased with the tournament officials and the club in making it a memorable event. She received roses, champagne glasses and will receive her trophy on Tuesday at the course.

“Everyone was very supportive,” said Denoma, who was paired with Webber on the final round at the Palms Course. The women split the first two days between the Palms and Pines courses. “It was wonderful. We all cheer for each other. It was a phenomenal group and a remarkable experience.”

Tiebreakers decided the winners in the Second and Third Flights as Georgie Wright won the Second Flight over Debi Ladig after posting a three-day total of 269, while Kathy Dunn captured the Third Flight with a 303 over Patti Van Zandt.

Roseanna Nixon fired a 309 to top Patty Davis, who carded a three-day total of 321 in winning the Fourth Flight.

Junior lifeguard registration starts Monday

Registration for Juniors and Grommets will be open starting Monday, March 20 at the Pompano Aquatic Center.

There will be four, two-week Sessions for Juniors (ages 9 to 17): The first session will be June 12 to June 23, while the second session will be from June 26 to July 7. There will be no camp on July 5, however camp will be held on July 4.

“Session II is the ‘Competition Camp’ that is open to all Juniors,” said Nemia Schulte, President of the Pompano Beach Junior Lifeguard Association.

“It will be more hard core than the other camps as this is designed to train those who plan to compete at the United States Lifeguard Association (USLA) competitions.”

The other two sessions will run from July 10-21 (Session III) and July 24-Aug. 4 (Session IV).

There will be four, one-week Sessions for Grommets (ages 7 to 8): Session I is June 19 to June 23; Session II is June 26 to June 30; Session III is from July 17 to July 21 and Session IV is July 31 to August 4.

The registration and camp session fees will remain the same as last year at $150 for residents, and $200 for non-residents (for Junior Lifeguard) and $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents (for Grommets Program).

Schulte said all 2016 Juniors would not need to re-take the swim tests unless they are going from the Grommet program to the Junior Lifeguard Program. All Grommets will need to take the swim tests and swim tests will also begin on March 20 at the Pompano Aquatic Complex during pool hours.

For more information contact Schulte at nemia2000@aol.com.