East County Sports Spotlight: 11.26.15

1. MONDAY, NOV. 30

Revenge at the Ranch 

For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Lakewood Ranch and Braden River girls soccer teams won’t be vying for the same district championship. But that doesn’t mean it won't be intense when they meet for the second time this season at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30. 

The two teams are a combined 8-3-1 since Lakewood beat its rival 2-0 in the season opener.

2. TUESDAY, DEC. 1 

The Braden River High boys soccer team looks to get back on track when it plays host to Palmetto at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in a key district matchup. 

The Pirates opened the season with four straight wins before dropping a pair of matches to crosstown rival Lakewood Ranch and district foe Venice prior to Thanksgiving break. Braden River holds a one-game advantage over Palmetto, which has won seven straight district titles, in the Class 4A-District 11 standings, and a win would propel the Pirates closer to clinching one of the top three seeds in the district tournament. 

3. WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2

Is this the year? 

That’s the question Lakewood Ranch boys basketball coach Jeremy Schiller had been asking himself during the offseason. Now the Mustangs, who set a new school record for most wins in a season last year, will see where they stand when they travel to Manatee at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. The game should serve as a final tune-up for Lakewood as it prepares to head into its first three-game district slate. 

4. THURSDAY,  DEC. 3

No slam dunk 

Although the Sarasota High girls basketball team beat Lakewood Ranch in all three games last season, it would appear that center/forward LaDazhia Williams and her Mustang teammates are ready to turn the tables when they collide on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Lakewood Ranch, which lost the district championship game to Sarasota last season, hosts the first contest that could set the tone for the rest of the season.