School’s out for Christmas vacation and many will celebrate the start of 2020 next week, but that doesn’t mean area basketball teams are in full relaxation mode.
Many are gearing up for holiday tournaments around the state and have even started competing in them. Here’s what’s going down — and what’s already happened — outside of the normal schedules.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Durant Cougars
Record (at press time): 1-4 (0-1 district)
Dec. 26-28: Pensacola Catholic Crusader Classic
Jan. 2-4: Clearwater Central Catholic tournament
Durant’s lone win of 2019 came at home against Steinbrenner, but this Cougars team has kept things close in two of their last three games and has played better on the road than at home. A short break in action could help them with a road trip to Pensacola.
Plant City Raiders
Record (at press time): 1-4 (0-1 district)
Dec. 20-21: Capital City Classic at TCC
Dec. 27-29: Nature Coast Christmas Tournament
After back-to-back losses to Newsome and an Armwood team that’s set a new season-high points total in every game, Plant City has tried to refocus on the road with two tournaments in two weeks. Results from the Capital City Classic were not available at press time.
Strawberry Crest Chargers
Record (at press time): 0-7 (0-2 district)
Dec. 20-21: Jesuit Nike Gulfshore Invitational
Dec. 27-28: The Florida Getdown Holiday Basketball Showcase
At press time, Crest was still searching for its first win of the season. But based on their performances at the Berkeley Prep Thanksgiving Challenge, the Chargers have stepped their game up on offense and defense in tourney action and now have two to try and get a spark going.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Plant City Raiders
Record (at press time): 3-5 (0-2 district)
Jan. 1-4: Academy of Holy Names Christmas Tournament
Three of the last four Raiders games (as of press time) have been decided by seven points or fewer. Plant City got to take a breather after its Dec. 20 game against Parrish Community and will try to start January on a high note in the AHN Christmas Tournament before getting right back into regular action with George Jenkins.
Strawberry Crest Chargers
Record (at press time): 4-4 (1-0 district)
Dec. 27-28: Florida Prospects Christmas Tournament
After staging a literal last-minute comeback to shock a very good Armwood team, the Chargers entered a three-game losing streak before heading into a Dec. 20 game against a one-win Wharton team. They’ll need the Florida Prospects Christmas Tournament to gear up for a heavy stretch of district play starting Jan. 7 against Lakeland.
Durant appeared to be the only team without a holiday tournament on its schedule, but you could say the Cougars have earned a break. No boys or girls basketball team in the area had a better record at press time (6-2; 2-1 district) and the team kicked off a long holiday break with a 37-30 home win over Lennard. Durant’s district, 7A-8, is a tight race with it and two other teams within one game of leader North Port. The Cougars will get back to business Jan. 7 with a district game at Newsome.
The district tournaments begin in February for both boys and girls basketball. The girls play first with the 7A-8 tournament (Durant) starting at Newsome on Feb. 3 and ending Feb. 7, while 6A-7 action (Plant City, Crest) starts at Armwood on Feb. 4 and ends Feb. 7. On the boys side, the 7A-8 tournament (Durant) at Newsome starts Feb. 10 and ends Feb. 14, while the 6A-7 tourney (Plant City and Crest) at Crest starts Feb. 11 and also ends Feb. 14.