Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

The Cardinal Mooney High girls soccer team has done it again. 

For the fourth time in five years, the Lady Cougars can add district champions to their resume after Cardinal Mooney blanked DeSoto County 4-0 in the Class 2A-District 11 championship Jan. 14. 

It was the Lady Cougars' third victory over the Lady Bulldogs — a team they dominated during the regular season, winning their first two meetings 6-0 and 6-2. 

Skylar Jungers scored a pair of goals to lead the way for Cardinal Mooney. Tatum Weishaar and Bella McDevitt each added a goal. Lauren Ravazzoli and Emily Brusco contributed assists. 

Now, the fun really begins. 

As the district champion, Cardinal Mooney will open regional tournament play at home Jan. 21, when the Lady Cougars play host to Cape Coral Oasis. 

Cardinal Mooney was in a similar position at this point last season, and the result was a favorable one. The Lady Cougars knocked off Cape Coral Oasis 6-0 on their home field to advance to the regional semifinals. 

So will history repeat itself?

The Lady Cougars certainly hope so. 

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The Sarasota Christian boys basketball team isn’t the same team it was a season ago when the Blazers reached the Class 2A Final Four for the second-consecutive season. 

The Blazers have an entirely different lineup — senior Brandon Bontrager is the only player with previous varsity experience — and a new coaching staff. 

But, as it turns out, that’s OK. One fact still remains the same: Sarasota Christian is still dominating opponents on the hardwood. 

Sarasota Christian notched its 16th win of the season with a 61-47 victory versus Keswick Christian in district action Jan. 15. 

Kyle Lantz poured in 21 points to lead the way for Sarasota Christian. Bontrager added 14 points and Daniel Sommers finished with 11 points. 

It was the 13th time the Blazers have scored at least 60 points this season, with all but one of those games resulting in a victory. 

"No one gave us any credit to start the year," coach Kevin Landrum said. "The guys in the locker room have always believed we had talent. We've taken it one practice and one game at a time and I'm pleased with where we are at, while still having room to continue to grow.

Sarasota Christian already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A-District 9 tournament behind Bradenton Christian, which handed the Blazers two of their three losses this season. 

The Blazers won 17 games during the regular season last year en route to reaching the state semifinals. With five games remaining on the schedule, Sarasota Christian is fully capable of eclipsing that mark. 

At that point, if Sarasota Christian can eventually get past Bradenton Christian, anything is possible.

"The way these guys have bought in and responded to what we are doing, I couldn't be more proud of them for that," Landrum said. "We're happy but still hungry for more." 

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