SIDELINES

+ LRHS to host free hoops clinics
Lakewood Ranch High School will host free basketball clinics for students in fourth through seventh grades, beginning March 19.

Clinics will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, in the Lakewood Ranch gym, through the remainder of the school year.

Players will focus on fundamentals, skills, drills and competitive play.

For information, contact boys basketball coach Jeremy Schiller at [email protected].

+ ODA remains unbeaten
The Out-of-Door Academy girls tennis team improved to 6-0 with wins over Clearwater Central Catholic March 4 and Sarasota March 5.

Maria Ross, M’Balia Bangoura, Alana Sherman, Savannah Sleight, Cheyenne Kerekes, Morgan Woods and Chloe Ruppert all recorded singles victories over the two-day span. Bangoura and Sherman and Caroline Whitten and Charlotte Dixon earned doubles victories over Sarasota.

+ Leadbetter takes on new role at Concession
David Leadbetter was recently named instruction adviser at The Concession Golf Club.

Leadbetter has coached more than 100 top PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour and European PGA Tour professionals.

On March 8, Leadbetter led a clinic with the LPGA’s Sandra Gal and Champions Tour players.

+ Birdland golf event raises $39,000
More than 86 golfers teed off for the Third Annual Birdland Golf Classic Feb. 20, at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

The event, which is sponsored by the OriolesREACH program, raised more than $39,000 for the Miracle League of Manasota.

KUDOS: Lakewood Ranch Athletics
Lakewood Ranch High School continues to lead the Florida High School Athletic Association Academic Team Standings in Class 6A, following the culmination of the winter sports season.

The Mustangs have 90 points — four points more than Fort Myers.

The Lakewood boys basketball team won the academic state championship with a team grade-point average of 3.37.