Saturday, February 26, 2011

Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals at The Lakeland Center

Leesburg High School's Jaleesa Blue (1) , left, watches as center Ashley Lanier (44) fights for the ball with Lakewood High's Schineice Beamon (1) in the fourth quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
Leesburg High School's Ashley Perry (32) blocks a shot by Lakewood High's Schineice Beamon (1) in the first quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
Leesburg High School's Joharra Russell (10) blocks a pass by Lakewood High's (4) Kayla Roberts in the first quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
Leesburg High School's Ashley Perry (32) blocks a shot by Lakewood High's Tianah Alvarado (13) in the second quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
Leesburg High School Coach Mark Oates gives a pep talk to Ashley Perry, center, Jaleesa Blue and Joharra Russell in the second quarter of their game against Lakewood High Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at the Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31. 


Lady Jackets fall one game short of State Title



Lady Jackets fall one game short of State Title


By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club

February 25, 2011

LAKELAND - Mark Oates led his Lady Jackets onto the court at the Publix George Jenkins arena Friday morning looking to win the program's first girls basketball state title. The Lady Jackets will have to put that goal off until next year as St. Pete Lakewood's 5' 7" senior guard Taye' Lor Trotter and her younger sister 6' 0" forward Tianah Alvarado scored 45 of Lakewood's 48 points to lead the Spartans to their first Class 4A championship game since 1989.  The Lady Jackets had dominated its opponents throughout the 2011 playoffs but could not muster up any offense. Lakewood Head Coach Necole Tunsil defense held the Lady Jackets to only 24% from the field and didn't allow Leesburg a three point basket. The Lady Jackets were only shot 4/29 from the field in the second half  allowing Tunsil's Lady Spartans to run away with the game 48-31 and Leesburg's dream of a state championship .


Necole Tunsil won a girls basketball state title as a player at Lakewood. Now she is trying to do it as a coach after guiding her Alma mater to the state final four for the first time in her coaching career.

St. Pete Lakewood Head Coach Necole Tunsil
“This team knows all about the last time we won state,” said Tunsil, who returned to coach her Alma mater seven seasons ago. “I try to use that as motivation. I float around my championship ring and they don’t have it. But they’re hungry.”

“At this stage you either get one or you don’t,” Tunsil said of a state title. “I’ve got mine. The players don’t have one yet. But they could get theirs (Saturday).”

The Lady Jackets found themselves in behind early in the contest as quick baskets by Trotter and Alvarado gave Lakewood a 10-4 lead at the 4:33 mark. Oates called a timeout and the Lady Jackets seemed to settle down and clawed their way back into the game. A couple of quick baskets by Lakewood and the Lady Jackets fell farther behind 14-4.

Leesburg High School's Ashley Perry (32) blocks a shot by Lakewood High's Schineice Beamon (1) in the first quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
 The Spartans’ once-fluid offense was stalled 24 feet from the basket as black-and-gold silhouettes of much taller girls waited for them in the middle. Lakewood tried to step back and fire, but kept missing. The Spartans also were turning the ball over. During a seven-minute stretch between the first and second quarters, they missed nine straight shots and had seven turnovers.

Leesburg High School's Jaleesa Blue (1) retrieves the ball after a shot attempt by Joharra Russell in the third quarter against Lakewood High at the Florida State High School Athletic Association basketball semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.

Then the Lady Jackets started to respond, Ashley Lanier blocked a Trotter shot which led to a quick basket by Florida A&M signee Jaleesa Blue which started a 17-1 run by Leesburg to take a 21-15 lead late in the second quarter. Trotter ended the run with two baskets to end the period, leaving the Spartans down 21-19 at halftime. The Lady Jackets inability to capitalize at the free throw line allowed the Spartans to stay in the game. Leesburg shot only 33% from the free throw line for the game.

Leesburg High School Coach Mark Oates watches the scoreboard in the third quarter of the team's semifinals game against Lakewood High Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
“At halftime, I didn’t feel real good because I knew we should have been up by more,” Leesburg Head Coach Mark Oates said.

Lakewood, despite shooting 27 percent in the first half, committing 11 turnovers and having two players (Kasey Drayton and Kayla Roberts) with three fouls each, were fortunate to be within striking distance.
“It could have been worse,” Tunsil said. “We dodged a bullet.”

“I felt like for major portions of the game that they didn’t seem to want to be here,” Leesburg coach Mark Oates said of his team. “If you play like that against a good opponent you’re not going to win.

 At the start of the third quarter a Trotter free throw bought Lakewood within one. Blue followed with a quick basket to put Leesburg up 23-20. Blue picked up her third foul at the 7:11 mark of the 3rd quarter, which limited her aggressiveness on the defensive end of the court. Shaundrea Caldwell scored a basket to put the Lady Jackets up by 5 their largest lead of the day. Trotter quickly responded with a 3 pt basket to close the gap to 2. A Lady Jackets turnover on the next possession a basket by Trotter and now the game was tied at 25-25. On the next possession Jacquette Green fouled Blue on her way to the basket. Blue made one of the free throws to give Leesburg their last lead of the day 26-25. Schineice Beamon scored her only basket of the day on the next possession and to give Lakewood the lead for good 27-26. Beamon came through in other ways, finishing with 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Leesburg High School guard Baylie Bridges (14) blocks a pass by Lakewood High's Schineice Beamon (1) in the second quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
On Leesburg's next possession senior Jaleesa Blue commited a offensive foul driving to the basket her fourth with 3:40 remaining in the 3rd quarter. That's when things started to unravel for the Lady Jackets. Lakewood’s defense took over in the second half, holding Leesburg to a .138 shooting percentage from the field. Leesburg turned the ball over 18 times and yielded the lead for good with more than four minutes to play in the third quarter once Lakewood went up 27-26.

Leesburg High School guard Baylie Bridges (14) blocks a pass by Lakewood High's Schineice Beamon (1) in the second quarter of their Florida State High School Athletic Association semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.
“We didn’t seem like we wanted to be here,” Oates said afterward. “We didn’t play with the same emotion, enthusiasm, hustle or smarts that we played with all season.”

“I think we panicked a little bit in the first half,” said Trotter, who finished with a team-high 23 points. “We weren’t playing the way we’re capable of. We said in the locker room that we just had to go out and do what we do.”

Johaara Russell free throw pulled Leesburg within five but that was the closet they would get. The Spartans went on a 10-0 run to finally put the game out of reach.

LEESBURG (31) – Jaleesa Blue 3-10 1-6 9, Ashley Lanier 1-6 0-1 2, Joharra Russell 3-11 1-4 7, Baylie Bridges 2-12 1-2 5, Ashley Perry 3-13 2-2 8, Reiana Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Jamilya Hodge 0-0 0-0 0, Taneisha Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Brynique Aiken 1-1 0-0 2, Temetria Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Shaundrea Caldwell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-53 5-15 31.
LAKEWOOD (48) – Schineice Beamon 1-4 0-2 2, Taye’Lor Trotter 10-16 1-2 23, Kayla Roberts 0-6 0-0 Kasey Drayton 0-3 1-2 1, Tianah Alvarado 8-22 4-7 22, Jacquette Green 0-0 0-0 0, Maya Madry 0-0 0-0 0, Chauncey Ivey 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 6-13 41.
Halftime: Leesburg 21-19. 3-point field goals: LEE 0-10 (Bridges 0-5, Blue 0-2, Russell 0-2 Perry 0-1). LAKE 4-10 (Trotter 2-3, Alvarado 2-6, Roberts 0-1). Rebounds: LEE 40 (Blue 9); LAKE 41 (Beamon 11). Assists: 2 (Russell 1, Bridges 1); LAKE 5 (Roberts 3). Records: Leesburg 23-7, Lakewood 25-4.

Articles provided by:
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com

Resources
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club


About the Author

Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

Solemn in the last minute of play, Leesburg High School guard Reiana Carter and Lakewood High guard Kayla Roberts prepare to end their Florida State High School Athletic Association semifinals game Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.

Maggie Petty, 8, left, Carsen Bridges, 8, and Lindi Petty, 6, cheer on Carsen's sister, Leesburg High School guard Baylie Bridges, in the first quarter of the Yellow Jackets' Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A basketball semifinals game against the Lakewood Spartans in the Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at The Lakeland Center. Lakewood beat Leesburg 48-31.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Gerald Lacey one on one with Lady Jackets Coach Mark Oates

Leesburg coach Mark Oates has led the Yellow Jackets to the state tournament three times in the past five years (Tom Benitez/Orlando Sentinel)

Gerald Lacey
Could you give and the Jacket Nation a short bio of short career before Leesburg?

Coach Mark Oates: 
I played football at Clinton High School in Clinton, North Carolina. I was an All Conference and All county lineman. I played football at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina

Gerald Lacey:
Coach Oates with this being your third State Final Four Appearance are you feeling nervous or have anxieties about this game?

Coach Mark Oates:
"No the hay is in the barn. We just have to go out and execute the things we do in practice, play hard and play smart."  "I don't take it for granted and I hope our players don't take it for granted, either. I don't think the average person realizes how hard it is to get to this point. This has been our focus since we lost to [Ocala] Vanguard [in the region semifinal] last year."
Gerald Lacey:
Is there anything that you will do different in preparing for the State Final Four vs any other game?

Coach Mark Oates:
"As far as the basketball part no. However there are so many behind the scene things at the final four that the players have to be prepared for. TV timeouts, player intro's, lockerroom etiquette, press availability."

Gerald Lacey:
Will you spend the night in Lakeland on Thursday or drive up Friday morning?

Coach Mark Oates:
"The plan is to spend the night Thursday and Friday."

Gerald Lacey:
When did you take the Leesburg job?

Coach Mark Oates:
"I became the head girl's basketball coach at Leesburg in the school year 2003-2004"

Gerald Lacey:
What is your record year by year at Leesburg?

Coach Mark Oates:
 "2004( 13-12) 2005 (23-3) 2006 (21-7) 2007 (28-3) 2008 (29-2) 2009 (17-9) 2010 (19-10) 2011 ( 23-6 and counting)"
Gerald Lacey:
What your record overall at Leesburg?

Coach Mark Oates:
"173-52"

Gerald Lacey:
Are the girls that are not on basketball scholarships on academic scholarships are just regular students?

Coach Mark Oates:
"Some are. Also in 2008 our team finished in the top 10 in the state for G.P.A.'s"

Gerald Lacey:
You have great numbers win wise and academically, their will be other schools calling on your services do you see yourself being the Lady Jackets coach longterm?


Coach Mark Oates:
"I am happy at Leesburg but I am always willing to listen if offers come my way. As Long as I am in Florida I plan to stay at Leesburg. If I were to leave it would be for a job back in North Carolina."
Gerald Lacey:
Where does this stand with some of your other teams in the past?
Coach Mark Oates:
"This team is not as talented as the 2007 and 2008 teams but they are very scrappy. My most talented team was the 2006 team, we were 15 deep but knee injuries to Sharece Taft and Waneta Carlisle derailed that machine."

Article provided by:
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com

Resources
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club



















About the Author

Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

Leesburg girls basketball scoring leaders listed

Leesburg girls basketball scoring leaders listed
 
There are three players on this year’s Leesburg girls basketball team who rank among the top 15 scorers at the school during the eight years Mark Oates has been the Yellow Jackets head coach.

Leading the list of current players is junior Baylie Bridges, who finished up last week with 709 career points, placing her seventh on the list. One spot behind Bridges is senior Jaleesa Blue, who has signed with FAMU, at 701 points. Also on the list is sophomore Ashley Perry, who is 12th  with 401.

Pearl Johnson, who helped Leesburg to the state tournament in 2007 and ‘08 is the leading scorer, with 1,413 points. Two of her teammates on those teams, Angie Felton and Tenia Manuel, are third and fourth on the list with 1,150 and 1,117 points, respectively. No 2 is Sharece Taft, a 2006 graduate, with 1,283 points.

Resources
Joe Williams
Orlando Sentinel


Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com



































Tuesday, February 22, 2011

100% of Mark Oates players graduate and go to college, February 22, 2011


Leesburg's Jaleesa Blue (seated) along with (left to right) Ethel Blue, Demond Blue, Melva Blue (mother), Leesburg coach Mark Oates, Sandi Rackley and Leesburg assistant coach Heather Connelly

Leesburg Head Coach Mark Oates has just earned his 3rd State Final Four appearance with his Lady Jackets, but that not the number he is the most proud of. In order for a young lady compete in Oates program they are not only required to graduate from high school but to enter into college after graduation.

Oates has produced a 100% graduation rate and every one of his players have gone on to college. I asked coach Oates about some of the details of the programs that he has instituted in order to produce such staggering numbers.

WANETA CARLISLE AND LATOYA FOSTER SIGN WITH AUGUSTA STATE AND BREVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN 2009.

"We have mandatory study halls for all freshmen and all upperclassmen with GPA's below 3.5," said Oates. "We also tell our student/athletes that if they are gonna play for the Lady Jackets they have to go to college," said Oates. "This is done in their first freshmen meeting." 

LaToya Foster at Brevard Community College

Oates runs a squeaky program his record is impeccable and speaks for itself. Oates puts in 14 hour days in on non game days and up 20 hours on game days. He is a tireless worker and loves the kids and the Leesburg community. He never seems to stop teaching his players about life principles and how to be a success after basketball. He understands the tradition and the history of Leesburg Basketball and does a good job of instilling that pride among his kids. I asked him to give me details on what a typical day is like running the Lady Jackets basketball program.

Former Lady Jackets Standout Danielle Harris at Missouri Southern State University
"During the season on a regular practice day I leave home at 6:45 a.m. and usually get home around 8 p.m.," said Oates. "On a game day I leave at same time and depending on where the game is played I might get home around midnight, grade film and do stats until around 2:30 a.m. and then back at it again."
Former Lady Jackets Standout Shericka Ward at Villanova University

Oates certainly has set the standard for girls high school basketball in Lake County. His program is modeled by many in the state of Florida. At the end of the day wins and losses pale in comparison when he asked to elaborate on how he feels when a young lady comes into his office as freshman wanting play basketball and leaves the program a woman going to college.

"I think it feels like a a proud father would feel," said Oates. "I don't have any birth children of my own but I imagine that's what it feels like."
Lady Jackets All Time Scoring Leader Pearl Johnson at Chipola Community Colleges
Mark Oates Players In College
Jordan McDonough Class of 2004-Florida State University
Danielle Harris Class of 2004-Missouri Southern State University (Basketball)
Shyvette Wilmot-Class of 2005 Bethune-Cookman University 
Ashley Taylor Class of 2005 Bethune-Cookman University (Softball)
Sharece Taft Class of 2006-Dodge City Community College (Basketball)
Brianna Gaston Class of 2006-Florida A&M University
Samantha Games Class of 2006-Lake-Sumter Community College
Amber Bradley Class of 2007-Warner Southern (Basketball)
A'shyia Haugabrook Class of 2007-Bluefield State (Basketball)
Pearl Johnson Class of 2008-Chipola College (Basketball)
Angie Felton Class of 2008 (Gulf Coast Community College) National Champions 2010 Louisiana Tech University Present
Shericka Ward Class of 2008-Villanova (Track)
Tenia Manuel Class of 2008-Troy University (Basketball)
Keyoshia Wright Class of 2008-Bluefield State (Basketball)
Tanera Gaston Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
Jazmine Slyke Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
Brittany Holman Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
April Hall Class of 2008-Lake Sumter Community College
Latoya Foster Class of 2009-Brevard Community College
Waneta Carlisle Class of 2009-Augusta State (Basketball)
Tiffany Cosgrove Class of2009-Everest College
Alonti Richardson Class of 2010-Bethune-Cookman University
Sherita Carter Class of 2010 Fireman School
Khayla Cardinales Class of 2010- Lake-Sumter Community College
Alexa Dejarlais Class of 2010 Lake-Sumter Community College
Jaleesa Blue Class of 2011-Signed with Florida A&M University
Ashley Lanier Class of 2011-Has offers but has not made a decision

Resources
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 22, 2011

Article provided by:
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com



















About the Author
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

 


Jackets in State Tourney March 18, 1976

Daily Commercial
March 18, 1976

LEESBURG - The Girl Jackets face Rockledge tonight at 7 in the AAA State Semifinals at Stetson University in Deland.

Leesburg carries a 14-3 record into the tournament as it comes off an impressive regional win against Tampa Catholic.
The Jackets are led by Diane McDowell and Bonnie Miller, both sporting an 18 point game average with McDowell pulling down 24 rebounds in the Tampa Catholic win.

This is the first year that Leesburg has fielded a girls basketball team in over 20 years.

Coach Betty Crenshaw had to start with the very basic fundamentals since most of the girls had never played basketball before.

Don't miss the action!

Resources
Daily Commercial
March 18, 1976

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club



















About the Author 
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Leesburg star Taft makes list for McDonald's game

Senior is one of 1,000 players nominated

Senior recognized as one of the nation's best in girls basketball

January 24, 2006|By Joe Williams, Sentinel Staff Writer
LEESBURG -- Leesburg senior Sharece Taft was recognized Monday among the best senior high-school girls basketball players in the country when she was notified she had been nominated for the 2006 McDonald's All-American Girls High School Basketball team.

Taft, a 6-foot senior, is one of 1,000 players nationwide to be picked for the honor. Out of those players, a group of 24 players will be selected in late February to play in the McDonald's All-American All-Star Game at San Diego State University on March 29. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

"I was excited," Taft said about receiving the recognition. "It is a total surprise."

Leesburg Coach Mark Oates said it is a well-deserved honor for a player who has dedicated herself to the Yellow Jackets' program. She is the second Leesburg player to be selected in the past two years, joining former teammate Danielle Harris, who was nominated in 2004.

"Reesey has basically set an example for our players as far as what hard work is, how to practice, how to play in games," Oates said. "I guess, in a way, she has given the program a face and the other girls look up to her."

Though the nomination for the All-American team is a nice highlight for Taft to have to her senior season, the year did not start out the way she would have liked. Leesburg, which has an 18-5 overall record, had to play most of the first half of the season with its star center/forward on the sidelines.

She missed the time with a torn meniscus in her right knee that occurred during the summer and underwent surgery to repair the ligament on Sept. 15.

While out, Taft tried to keep herself in shape by continually working out in the weight room. Despite the effort, when she was given clearance to begin playing again, Taft quickly found out she was not in shape.

"I had to do a lot of running," Taft said. "I had to get back in shape."

Now, 14 games into her return, Taft feels like her game is coming back.

"It's going pretty good now. My knee is doing pretty good," Taft said.

Oates said Taft would receive a special honor at the school.

While introducing his players during Senior Night last Friday, Oates said a special banner will be placed in the new Leesburg High School gymnasium, honoring Taft for all of her accomplishments and her career statistics that currently stand at 1,167 points, 775 rebounds and 272 steals.

"To go into her senior year with so many expectations and to be injured was very disappointing for her, I'm sure," Oates said. "But she did what she could. She came to practice all the time and never skipped a beat.

"Having her back has meant a lot to the team. I think it has helped relax the team. The team's confidence level has increased."

Resources
January 24, 2006 
Joe Williams
Sentinel Staff Writer
Orlando Sentinel

Article provided by:

Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 19, 2011 


















About the Author 
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

Missouri Southern Athletics

Missouri Southern Athletics

The Leesburg High School girls basketball team is heading to Lakeland!

Lady Jackets 2nd leading scorer junior Baylie Bridges and leading scorer sophomore sensation Ashley Perry




LADY JACKETS EARN 5TH STATE FINAL FOUR TRIP

Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 19, 2011
 
Land O' Lakes - The Yellow Jackets rode a ferocious defensive effort in the second Saturday to a 61-49 win against Land O' Lakes in the Class 4A-Region 2 Championship Game. The Lady Jackets overcame a determined and hard working Land O Lakes team. The Lady Gators came ready to play and gave Leesburg all that it could handle but in the end the Lady Jackets prevailed. The win earned Leesburg its third state semifinal appearance in five years.

St. Petersburg Lakewood advanced to Friday's state semifinals with a 61-48 win against Naples Barron Collier.

“These kids set that as their goal back in the spring,” Leesburg coach Mark Oates said. “I promised this senior class that before they left we would get back to Lakeland.”

Leading the way for the Lady Jackets was sophomore sensation Ashley Perry with 17 points and 6 steals. Perry will follow in her grandfather Mathis Walker (starting point guard Leesburg 1977 State Boys Championship Team) and Father Bill Perry (starting guard Eustis High 1991 Class 2A State Championship Game) footsteps earning a trip to the State Basketball Final Four.

Baylie Bridges had 14 points and 4 steals.

Florida A&M signee Jaleesa Blue knocked in 13 points and pulled down 13 boards along with 3 blocks, 5 steals and 4 assists.

Lady Jackets sophomore guard had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals


Sophomore Joharra Russell had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. She was also responsible for the primary defense on Land O Lakes best player, point guard Shanel Sweet who finished with 20 points but wore down at the end. Russell's is the second in her family to earn a trip to Lakeland. Russell's 1st cousin former Lady Jackets standout LaToya Foster was a starter on the Lady Jackets 2007 and 2008 Final Four teams.

Lady Jackets Junior guard Reiana Carter
Junior Guard Reiana Carter is second member of her family to earn a trip down to Lakeland. Carter's sister Sherita Carter was a member of the 2007 Final Four Team.

Shaundrea Caldwell chipped in with four points and two rebounds off the bench.

Ashley Lanier dropped in three points, but also grabbed six rebounds and six steals.

The Lady Jackets found their shooting touch in the third quarter coupled with a suffocating defense ended Land O'Lakes' hopes of a State Tournament appearance Saturday night as the Gators fell in the Class 4A region finals.  Saturday's game was only the second time the Lady Gators had reached the Elite Eight. Land O'Lakes were trying to become the first team from Pasco county to reach the final four in 25 years.

"No one expected us to get this far," Land O'Lakes coach Laurie Tyszko said. "We played our hearts out."

The Lady Jackets displayed the type of relentless defense that Mark Oates teams have a reputation for statewide. Leesburg (23-6) forced 26 turnovers in the win.  If Land O' Lakes (24-3) was able to get the ball across half court, it was a small success. Once the ball got over half court the Lady Gators were to tired to get into a offensive rhythm.



"The third quarter has been big for us all year," Leesburg coach Mark Oates said. "We should have exploded in the first quarter, but we missed 11 layups in the first half."

Leesburg came out and displayed it's offensive firepower early going up 7-0 in the first stanza. The Gators, however, would not lay down and came back to take a 13-11 first-quarter lead thanks in big part to sophomore Simone Brown's eight points.

Brown, finished with 17 points. The Gators' leading scorer, senior Shanel Sweet, finished with 20 points despite coming up empty in the first quarter. Sweet found it difficult to get into a offensive flow with Lady Jackets sophomore guard Joharra Russell applying smothering defense on her. Visibly fatigued after the first half, Brown, Sweet and the rest of the Gators were forced into playing the fast break.

"We wanted to turn up the defense and try to take (Sweet) out of the game, and I think we did that," Yellow Jackets coach Mark Oates said.

The Lady Gators were outscored 18-8 in the third quarter and never recovered.

"In the second half, we wanted to play full court on (Sweet) and make her expend energy," Oates said. "I thought she wore down as the game went on and that was the game plan. Just like the old saying, 'If you cut off the head, the body will follow.' "

"I knew it was coming," Tyszko said of Leesburg's second-half onslaught. "Shantel told me at halftime she had nothing left to give."

Resources
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 19, 2011



















About the Author 
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

CLASS 4A REGION 2 GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW LEESBURG AT LAND O LAKES

Sophomore Joharra Russell is averaging 9.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG for the Lady Jackets

Lady Jackets will have to win on the road tonight 

Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 19, 2011

LEESBURG - Leesburg Head Coach Mark Oates will take his Lady Jackets on the road tonight to face Land O Lakes for the Class 4A Region 2 Girls Basketball Championship. The Lady Gators are undefeated at home this year riding a 19 game home win streak. Oates has led his team to the Elite Eight 3 times in the last five years. With a win tonight the Lady Jackets will secure their 5th State Final Four appearance in the program's storied history.

"I think we are finally playing within ourselves," Oates said. "We are doing a better job of doing the things that we have to do to win."

The Lady Jackets dominated the backboards Tuesday in a 52-36 win against Gainesville Eastside in a Class 4A-Region 2 semifinal game. They will need another strong performance on the backboards by Florida A&M University signee Jaleesa Blue and senior Ashley Lanier. Blue led the Lady Jackets on the boards with 17 and Ashley Lanier finished with 16.  

Senior Center Ashley Lanier grab 16 rebounds in the Regional Semifinal win over Gainesville Eastside. Lanier is averaging 6.7 PPG and 7.8 RPG
"I thought last night [a 52-36 victory over Gainesville Eastside in the region semifinal] may have been our best defensive effort of the season and we did a much better job of rebounding," said Oates.

Three Lady Jackets are scoring in double figures, sophomore sensation Ashley Perry is leading the team in scoring averaging 13.7 PPG.  Oates also expects a big performance from junior guard Baylie Bridges who is the Lady Jackets second leading scorer averaging 13.2 PPG. Jaleesa Blue is the Jackets leading rebounder with 11.4 RPG and is averaging a double double for the season.

Florida A&M signee Jaleesa Blue the Lady Jackets leading rebounder is averaging a double double game this season with 11.3 PPG and 11.4 RPG.
If Land O Lakes wins tonight it will be the first team in Pasco county since Zephyrhills in 1986 to reach the state tournament. The Bulldogs lost to Gibbs in the championship and is the only Pasco County school to reach the final four. The Lady Gators are led by Senior guard Shantel Sweet and sophomore Simone Brown. Brown is a transfer from Wesley Chapel High School played in the Class 4A-Region 2 final game last season. She will be the only Lady Gator with Regional Final's expierence.

For Brown, the Land O' Lakes sophomore is the only player on the team that knows what to expect but isn't giving any tips on what to do – just what not to do.

"Last year, we had a sleepover the night before (the region final) and we lost," said Brown, who is averaging 13.3 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. "We sat around and ate candy and didn't get much sleep. I told Coach (Laurie Tyszko) I didn't want to do that this year."

Brown said she hasn't said a lot to the other girls about what to expect today.

"I don't want them to get nervous," she said. "It's a great experience but can be intense, too. Hopefully, we'll use that intensity in the game this year."

Land O Lakes Head Coach Laurie Tyszko is in her first year as coach of the Gators.

"I hope we get to state," Tyszko said. "I think our team is good enough. We were really nervous against Gulf. We had wanted to play them all season. We thought we were going to win but you never know. We've accomplished a lot this season."

Leesburg (22-6) at Land O'Lakes (24-2)

About Leesburg: The Yellow Jackets have won 13 of 14 games and are looking to return to the state finals after making back-to-back appearances in 2007 and '08. Jaleesa Blue, Baylie Bridges and Ashley Perry average double figures in scoring.

About Land O'Lakes: The Gators are on a 19-game winning streak and are undefeated at home. Senior guard Shanel Sweet has gone over the 1000 point mark in her career,  averages 18 points and five assists a game while sophomore Simone Brown contributes 13 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Looking ahead: The winner will face the St. Petersburg Lakewood-Naples Barron Collier winner in a state semifinal. Leesburg was a Final Four team in 1976,1977, 2007 and 2008.
Article provided by:
Carver Heights Quarterback Club

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Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 19, 2011




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Land O Lakes Shanel Sweet highlight reel

Nohra, Brown shoot for spot in final four






LAND O' LAKES - A year ago, Karim Nohra and Simone Brown were preparing for Wesley Chapel's Class 4A-Region 2 final game.

Today, they will do the same thing, but different paths have led them to this day.
Nohra has turned an Academy at the Lakes team that was winless a year ago into one that is one step away from the state final four.

Brown transferred to Land O' Lakes and has the Gators in the same position.

If either team is successful, it will be the first team since Zephyrhills in 1986 to reach the state tournament. The Bulldogs lost to Gibbs in the championship and is the only Pasco County school to reach the final four.

Academy at the Lakes (15-4) will host Lake Worth Trinity Christian in the 1A-3 final, while Leesburg travels to Land O' Lakes (24-2) in the 4A-2 championship. Both games begin at 7 p.m.  FOR MORE CLICK HERE Nohra, Brown shoot for spot in final four