Sidelines

KUDOS
+ Sarasota Military Academy Boys Basketball
Junior Carter Akins scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Sarasota Military Academy to a 73-51 victory over The Out-of-Door Academy Jan. 24.

Junior John Beckman added 12 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Alex Telfair had 11 points.

The Eagles followed up their win with a 77-54 victory over St. Petersburg Keswick Christian Jan. 27.

Akins led SMA with 16 points, four rebounds and four blocks. Telfair added 12 points, eight assists and four steals. Isaiah Bryant finished with 10 points, four blocks and five steals.

+ Sailors place seven at Bidwell Invitational
The Sarasota High wrestling team finished third at the 20-team Ryan Bidwell Invitational Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 at Lemon Bay.

Seven of the nine Sailor grapplers who attended the tournament placed in their respective weight classes.

Freshman Chance Sharbono (113 pounds), junior Gerad Ross (182) and senior Toby Baker (220) each won first place. Baker also was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

With the win, Sharbono set the freshman wins record. He’s currently 55-4 heading into this weekend’s district tournament. Baker posted his 159th career win and is one win away from tying the Sailors all-time win record.

Yosbeil Garcia, Chris Giuffre, Steven Mercadante and Matthew Beck also placed.

+ Lady Cougars advance to region semifinals
The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team blanked Cape Coral Oasis 5-0 in a Class 2A-Region 3 quarterfinal match Jan. 23.

Rose Amato, Anna Brusco, Jill Polk, Lauren Ravazzoli and Alex Byers all scored for the Lady Cougars.
Goalkeeper Lexi Barbour recorded the shutout.

With the win, Cardinal Mooney played host to Bishop Verot in a regional semifinal match Jan. 28.

+ Sarasota tops Booker in OT
The Sarasota High girls basketball team held on to beat Booker 49-42 in overtime Jan. 23.

Shelby Miller scored 15 and hauled in seven rebounds to lead the way for the Lady Sailors on Senior Night.

Camille Giardina added 12 points, five assists and seven rebounds. Zharia Grable finished with 11 points.
Lauren Chaplin and Cellexia Foster each scored 11 points for Booker.

+ Cougars best the Indians
The Cardinal Mooney High boys basketball team edged past Venice 49-41 in a non-district game Jan. 22.

Justin Najmy finished with 13 points, four steals and three assists, and Blair Perry added 12 points and five rebounds to lead the way for Cardinal Mooney.

Matt Hueston added 11 rebounds for the Cougars.

GAME TO WATCH
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jan. 30
The Out-of-Door Academy vs. Bradenton Christian (5 p.m. district semifinal at Cardinal Mooney)

STANDOUT PLAYER
Connor Steinfeld
Wrestling
Sarasota Military Academy

5 - The number of weeks Steinfeld missed with a dislocated elbow during his freshman season two years ago.

100 - The number of career wins Steinfeld has after winning the Ryan Bidwell Invitational Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 at Lemon Bay.

152- The weight class Steinfeld is wrestling in this season.