Sidelines

+ Mustangs win third straight state crown
The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team shot a combined 593 to win the Class 3A state tournament Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, in Howey-in-the-Hills.

It was the Mustangs’ third-consecutive state championship. Lakewood finished 15 shots ahead of second-place Newsome (608).

Ramsey Touchberry shot 142 to lead the way for Lakewood. Danny Walker shot 146, followed by Luke Miller (149), Kelly Sun (157) and Charlie Sun (162).

Touchberry finished second overall. Walker finished tied for sixth, and Miller was ninth.

+ Braden River opens preseason with wins
The Braden River High girls basketball team went 2-0 at the Preseason Classic Nov. 4 and Nov. 5, at Booker High.

The Lady Pirates defeated Manatee 53-36 and Cardinal Mooney 56-38.

Madison Jaco finished with 31 points and 21 rebounds over the two-game span. Kelly Logan had 17 points and nine rebounds. Rhiannon Jacobson had 12 points. Nesreen Ghnaim added 18 points and 16 rebounds. Charity Landrum had 11 points.

+ Lakewood upsets Port Charlotte
The Lakewood Ranch High football team closed out its season with a 14-13 victory over Port Charlotte Nov. 8.

It was the Pirates’ first loss of the season.

Quarterback Chad Rex scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. Rex also completed a 15-yard screen pass to Wyatt McLeod on fourth-and-goal with 7:25 left in the game for the game-winning touchdown.

+ ODA’s season ends in regional semifinals
The Out-of-Door Academy volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals Nov. 5.
Cameron Graham finished with 24 perfect passes and 11 digs. Natalie Buffett had six kills and two aces. Lauren Maxey added three kills. Taylor Albano had three aces and two kills.

+ LWR PAL Raiders win Super Bowl
The Lakewood Ranch PAL Varsity Raiders defeated the top-seeded Broncos 12-6 to win the Super Bowl Nov. 9.

The Raiders finished the season having outscored their opponents 208-38.

KUDOS
+ Braden River Havoc
The Braden River Havoc 8U team won its first tournament Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, at Buffalo Creek Little League.

After battling in pool play, the Havoc, who are in the middle of their inaugural season, advanced to single elimination, where they won three straight games, including decisions over the Lakewood Ranch Marauders in the semifinals and the River Dawgs in the championship game.

“Our boys played hard all weekend long and really earned this championship,” team manager Dave Bender says. “Each and every player on the team contributed."

GAME TO WATCH
Football
Nov. 15
Cardinal Mooney vs. St. Pete Catholic (7 p.m. Class 3A-Region 3 semifinal)

STANDOUT PLAYER
Grace Casagrande
Cross-Country
Cardinal Mooney High

5 - The place Casagrande finished at the Class 1A Cross-Country Finals Nov. 9, in Tallahassee.

4 - The number of years Casagrande ran cross-country for the Cougars.

18 minutes, 36.11 seconds - The time Casagrande posted at this year’s state meet.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]