Sidelines

KUDOS
+ Sarasota High Girls Basketball
The Sarasota High girls basketball team held on to defeat Lakewood Ranch 50-44 in overtime of the Class 7A-Region 3 semifinals Feb. 11.

Zharia Grable finished with a game-high 18 points to lead the way for Sarasota. Madison Pack scored 11 points. Camille Giardina finished with 10 points. Shelby Miller added nine points.

With the win, the Lady Sailors advanced to their first regional final since 2011. Sarasota played host to Fort Myers Feb. 15, overcoming an 11-point deficit to defeat the Green Wave 61-56 in overtime.

Giardina finished with 18 points. Ja’da Bennett scored 14 points, and Grable added 10 points.

Sarasota will now move on to the FHSAA Class 7A state semifinals in which they will face Harmony at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Lakeland Center. The winner will face the winner of the other state semifinal between Apopka Wekiva and Palm Beach Lakes for the state championship Feb. 22.

+ ODA swings past Braden River
The Out-of-Door Academy girls tennis team defeated Braden River 6-0 Feb. 11.

With the win, the Lady Thunder improved to 2-0 while the Lady Pirates fell to 1-2.

Mary Ann Rompf, Maria Ross, Sydney Sforzo, Morgan Woods and Megan Jones all earned singles victories for ODA. Ross and Savannah Jones teamed up for a victory in No. 2 doubles.

On the boys side, ODA defeated Braden River 7-1.

Daniel Pivonka, Ethan Eckhart, Marcus Buffett, Vaughn Garcia and Jose Juncose all earned singles victories for ODA.

Braden River’s Stan Greslo and Race Arande were victorious at No. 1 doubles while ODA won at No. 2 doubles.

+ Sarasota Christian rolls into semifinals
The Sarasota Christian boys basketball team cruised to a 91-40 victory over Seacrest Country Day in the Class 2A-Region 3 quarterfinals Feb. 13.

Holton Irwin led the Blazers with 17 points. Brion Whitley scored 16 points. Matteo Whelton added 12 points, and Quinton Summers finished with 11 points.

With the win, Sarasota Christian advanced to the regional semifinals Feb. 18 where they beat Southwest Florida Christian 66-60 to advance to the regional finals Feb. 21.

+ The Concession to hold golf classic
The fourth annual Archie Griffin Celebrity Golf Classic will be held March 3 and March 4 at The Concession Golf Club.

Joining Griffin at this year’s event will be football greats Robert Smith, Eddie George, Derrick Brooks, Keith Byars and Henry Lawrence, among others.

In addition to meeting Griffin and other celebrities at the Golf Classic March 4, participants can join them at the Pairings Party, silent auction, dinner and live auction March 3.

Proceeds from the event support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. For info, visit concessioncharities.org or contact Melissa Wenzel at 907-0018.

GAME TO WATCH
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Feb. 20
Sarasota Christian vs. Grandview Prep (3:35 p.m. at the Lakeland Center)

STANDOUT PLAYER
Cheyenne Miller
Girls Basketball
Sarasota Christian

17 - The number of points Miller scored to help lead Sarasota Christian to a 68-59 victory over Academy at the Lakes in the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinals Feb. 18.

1 - The number of wins Miller and the Lady Blazers need to win a state championship.

5.6 - The number of points Miller was averaging heading into the Final Four.