TAMPA — On an overcast Saturday afternoon, Land O’Lakes coach Mark Pearson accepted the Class 3A runnerup trophy with a silver medal around his neck and a solemn look on his face.

“I’ve had a runnerup trophy,” Pearson said.

What he and the Gators don’t yet have is a state title, a drought that continued after Plantation American Heritage’s 3-1 victory at USF’s Corbett Soccer Stadium. Pearson’s Gators also finished second in 1999.

NEW TAMPA — The final seconds of East Lake’s quarter-century wait for a playoff victory may have been the most excruciating.

District boys basketball: Cannon's last-second magic lifts Land O'Lakes

TRINITY — Land O’Lakes senior Jackson Cannon stood wide-eyed under the basket with 10 seconds remaining. He watched Ernest McClendon receive all of the defensive attention on the final possession, leaving him open.

The Bulls saw their 10-point 3rd quarter lead disappear, as the Warriors used a huge 28-point 3rd quarter to take the lead heading into the final frame.

Girls region basketball
8A, East Lake 57, Wharton 42: The Wildcats had an early six-point lead and only trailed by one at halftime

Academy at the Lakes Girls Basketball squad overwhelmed the visiting Tampa Bay Christian Academy.

Steinbrenner girls basketball coach JR Allen wasn’t all too pleased at his squad’s opening game performance in the Class 7A-District 9 tournament.

Because it had to forfeit 12 victories for unknowingly using an ineligible player, Steinbrenner’s No. 6 seed in the Class 4A, District 8 tournament was highly misleading.

Land O’ Lakes falls to Mitchell 2-1

By Kyle LoJacono. The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team re-established itself as one of the top programs in Tampa Bay this season but was unable to advance past the Class 3A regional quarterfinals on Jan. 24.