By Steve Lee

Academy at the Lakes has been to two state finals and has won five regional and six district titles. In recent years, however, the girls basketball team has been on the other end of the spectrum. There were back-to-back six-win seasons, but this year got somewhat better with AATL posting a 10-12 record in the regular season.

Tom Haslam, the academy’s athletic director who formerly led the boys team to a state final, region title and two district championships, took over the girls team last year.

“We had a good run and we had some good kids,” Haslam said of the boys teams, adding that the girls “listen and they try hard. I’m having fun.”

Haslam noticed substantial progress from last year to this season. The Wildcats had a four-game winning streak and if the two preseason games are taken into account they won 12 times this season.

“We’re rebuilding big-time,” Haslam said. “We’re trying to get this thing built back up.”

In a recent game against another turnaround team, AATL lost to Zephyrhills for the second time this season. In that game, however, Zoe Moore and Sandy Artreches shared the team lead with eight points apiece. Artreches is transfer from Puerto Rico and has made an immediate impact as a long-range shooter.