The Bartow Fall Shootout was held this past weekend at Bartow High School as well as nearby Carver Recreation Center. We spent Saturday in the Bartow gym and, despite being so early in the school year, saw some pretty action.
Game One: Auburndale vs. Apopka
The defense was definitely ahead of the offense for both teams, but it was a closely contested game in the first half. The teams were tied at 20-20 at the break. The back and forth continued into the second half. Up 34-32 with just under four minutes to play, Auburndale hit back-to-back three-pointers to begin a run of 12-0 to win by the score of 46-32.
Senior Cameron Sneed led Auburndale with 15 points while senior Terrel Burrey tossed in 12 points.
Apopka was led by senior Jaden Andino with 9 points.
Game Two: Lake Alfred Discovery vs. Plant City
This one got off to a rough start for Plant City. Discovery got a lot of easy points off putbacks and in transition to take a 37-19 lead at the break. Plant City got things going in the second half and made a realistic run, closing the gap to 54-47 with 1:37 left in the contest. Plant City got to within four on two occasions but could not get any closer. Discovery won by the final score of 54-49.
For Discovery, senior Steven Destin led the way with 18 points. Julian Sanchez, a senior, added 14 points.
For Plant City, sophomore Lamont Hamilton finished with 16 points.
Game Three: Auburndale vs. Ocala Forest
Every team gets two games a day at the Bartow Fall Shootout, so this was each team’s second game of the day. As with Auburndale’s first game of the day, the game was closely contested and at the break the game was tied 26-26. Auburndale opened the second half with a 12-0 blitz, but Forest didn’t panic. They whittled the lead down to 49-47 with four minutes left to play. At this point, Auburndale put together another run, 10-4, to close out the game and win by the score of 59-51.
Burrey led Auburndale with 23 points. Sneed added 16 points and senior Jatwan Penick finished with 14 points.
For Forest, junior Ethan Jackson tossed in 16 points as did senior Tre Casto.
Game Four: Discovery vs. St. Petersburg Indian Rocks Christian
As hard as the organizers try to make each game competitive, sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. This was one of those occasions. Discovery led 39-18 at the break and didn’t let up in the second half, winning easily 66-29.
Game Five: Lakeland Victory Christian vs. Kissimmee Osceola
Victory Christian rolled into the game with just six players. However, it was the “right” six players as VC jumped out early and led by double-digits at the break, 33-22. Osceola continued to battle in the second half, but VC’s experience and team chemistry was just too much to overcome. Victory Christian pulled away to win 66-49.
For Victory Christian, seniors Miles Morrell and Terry Ogbeide each scored17 points. Arik Ring, a sophomore, tallied 16 points.
For Kissimmee Osceola, sophomore Jeremiah Reid had 16 points.
Game Six: Bartow vs Tampa Catholic
This game was fast paced from the start. Tampa Catholic was able to use a variety of defenses to keep Bartow off balance. At the half, Tampa Catholic was up ten, 44-34. In the second half, Tampa Catholic was able to get its margin into the teens, keeping it there for the remainder of the game. Tampa Catholic wins this high-scoring affair 83-70.
Tampa Catholic got 26 points from senior Neo Flores and 25 from senior “Skoot” Donald.
Bartow was led by junior Derwyn Link with 18 points followed by senior Gabe Grimsley with 15 points.
Game Seven: Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic vs. Kissimmee Osceola
SFC came out looking in mid-season form, hitting threes and turning Osceola miscues into points. At the break, SFC was up big, 47-25. The second period got no better for the Kowboys of Osceola. SFC continued its stellar play and won handily, 76-47.
Santa Fe Catholic got a game-high 29 points from senior Uriah Newkirk. Shannon McArthur, a senior, tossed in 12 ponts.
For Osceola, Reid led the way with 11 points.
Game Eight: Bartow vs. St. Petersburg Gibbs
Bartow must have been thinking about its previous game because Gibbs jumped out early and led 30-19 after one period of play. Magic words must have been said at the break and Bartow went on a 14-5 run to draw to within two, 35-33, with 10:40 left to play. Just less than a minute later Bartow grabbed its first lead at 36-35. At that point the lead would change hands multiple times and the game was tied at 52-52 with just two minutes to play. Bartow broke the tie on its next possession and Gibbs turned the ball over after that score. Gibbs was now forced to foul. Bartow was able to hold on at the free throw line, winning a nailbiter, 57-54.
Link led Bartow with 15 points.
Gibbs got 19 points from senior Brandon Perkins and 11 points from junior Traavi Jones.