Sidelines

McMahon verbally commits to Louisville
Cardinal Mooney standout guard Ryan McMahon verbally committed to play college basketball at Division I powerhouse Louisville Friday after receiving an offer the day before.

“The plan and vision they had for me (was great),” McMahon said. “To play for a coach like coach (Rick) Pitino is a blessing. He really has high hopes for me, and I’m going to work my tail off to maximize my potential, and that’s definitely what they want out of me."

McMahon said Louisville admired his shooting ability and work ethic. 

Players, coaches rack up honors
Sarasota High was honored by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association with Camille Giardina being named District 16 MVP and coach Rob Jutras winning coach of the year. 

Riverview’s Juhnae Richardson was named the 8A player of the year, and coach Carl Williams was honored as the 8A coach of the year. 

Booker’s Yamaris Guevares was named 4A player of the year, with coach Hollie Nelsen winning the 4A coach of the year. 

Sarasota Christian senior Heidi Miller won 2A player of the year, and SCS coach Scott Lantz was honored as the 2A coach of the year.

WEEKLY RECAP
Lacrosse
The Cardinal Mooney boys lacrosse team defeated The Out-of-Door Academy 16-0 Monday to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Reagan Griffith scored four goals and recorded two assists for the Cougars.

Cardinal Mooney’s next game is at 6 p.m. Thursday at home against St. Stephen’s Episcopal.

The Out-of-Door Academy girls lacrosse team defeated Sarasota Military Academy 21-10 Friday.
Kimmy Comito had eight goals and an assist, while Tess Sicilian scored five goals and added an assist.

Baseball
Riverview defeated Sarasota 3-2 Friday night.

Peter Bozek started the game, recording five innings pitched and six strikeouts. Relief pitcher Riley Gilliland recorded the win in four innings pitched.

Basketball
Cardinal Mooney’s boys basketball team advanced to the regional semifinal Tuesday after defeating St. Petersburg Shorecrest 64-62 in overtime Feb. 12.

Cardinal Mooney’s Ryan McMahon scored 32 points. The only other player for Cardinal Mooney in double figures was Mitch Arimura with 16 points.

Cardinal Mooney beat Calvary Christian by a similar margin — 64-61 — Tuesday at home. The Cougars will face First Baptist Academy in the regional title game Friday in Naples.

The Riverview boys basketball team fell in a regional quarterfinal against Wharton Feb. 12, 55-40.
Sophomore A.J. Caldwell finished with nine points.

The loss ended the season for Riverview.

The Sarasota Christian boys basketball team beat Marco Island 80-52 Feb. 12, advancing the team to the regional semifinals.

Four SCS players scored in double figures: Blake Morrow (23), Brandon Bontrager (17), Emmanuel Lambright (14) and Holton Irwin (11).

The Sarasota Christian girls basketball team won its regional finals game against Atlantic Christian Academy Friday, 68-64.

Heidi Miller and Lexi Miller combined for 51 points, with Heidi Miller scoring 34 and Lexi Miller scoring 17.

Wrestling
Three SMA wrestlers, Jake Walker, Logan Gow and Dalton Burton, will be traveling to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to compete in a national wrestling tournament from April 2-4.

“Iowa is a hotbed for wrestling,” said team trainer and fundraiser Tom Gow. “The experience will be great for them, even if they get beat.”

“It’ll be good work,” Walker said. “They’ll beat us up and make us better.”

All three wrestlers competing are juniors. Coaches hope this experience will make them better wrestlers and provide a big jump in production from this year to next year.

“It’ll be a big eye-opener for them,” said team trainer and fundraiser Tom Gow.