Lexi Thompson and her teammates are constantly reminded of the history and winning tradition of the volleyball program at Durant High School. Whether its looking up on the gymnasium wall during practice and seeing the banners or hearing stories from family members and coaches, they are all well aware of where the bar has been […]
Continue ReadingHigh Schools
John Hendricks: Key Ingredient
John Hendricks felt out of place. Living in the shadow of standout quarterback and Naval Academy commit Will Worth, the running back still made his mark on the stat sheet at Newsome, where he had 1,012 all-purpose yards (798 rushing and 214 receiving) as a junior. But off the field, something was missing. He wanted […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Connor Slagill
Plant City High junior Connor Slagill is making a name for himself. He returned this week, from Cary, N.C., where he participated in the National Team Identification Series showcase for a spot on the Team USA U17 team. He will find out if he made the team Sept. 13, a week before his 17th birthday. […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: What’s in a team nickname?
It’s an aspect of sports that, at the end of the day, doesn’t really matter. But without it, sports would not be the same. I’m talking, of course, about nicknames. Some teams are known more for their nicknames than the cities they represent. No one says, “I’m a fan of Boston baseball,” they say, “I’m […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Durant vs. Plant City golf
Durant and Plant City kicked off the 2013 high school golf season Monday at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club. The Durant boys team defeated Plant City 172 to 182. The Cougars were led by Chase Levesque, who shot a 39. Plant City was led by William George (41). The Plant City girls team defeated […]
Continue ReadingFormer Durant basketball standout signs with Trinity
Former Durant basketball standout Kyle White, a three-year starter and 1,000-point scorer for the Cougars, has signed with Trinity College in New Port Richey, Cougars coach Trent Tice announced. A 2013 graduate, White becomes the fourth Durant player in three years to sign with a college, joining Andre Nation (James Madison), Tyler Sitter (Ave Maria) […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Durant vs. Oak Ridge
It was a tale of two halves for the Durant football team Friday in the preseason classic against Oak Ridge (Orlando). The Cougars went into the half down 21-14, but outscored the Pioneers 28-6 in the final two quarters to win 42-27. John Hendricks, a transfer from Newsome, scored on two runs for all of […]
Continue ReadingPlant City girls golf aim for title
Three shots. That is all that stood between the Plant City High girls golf team and a spot in the 2012 state tournament. This season, with a more experienced core, the Lady Raiders are going state championship or bust. “Our goal is to win a state championship, and I feel that is very doable,” said […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Preseason essential in high school
Every year, there is an ongoing debate about preseason games at the pro level. Some believe the four-game NFL preseason should be cut in half or reduced to a single game. Some believe the games are unnecessary and only are beneficial to guys trying to make the team as back-up or scout team players. In […]
Continue ReadingPlant City welcomes new assistant coaches
With 15 seniors, there won’t be many unfamiliar faces on the field for Plant City on Friday nights this fall. However, the sideline will be a different story entirely. This fall, the Raiders welcome five new assistant coaches under Wayne Ward, who enters his fourth year as head coach. The biggest changes are with the […]
Continue Reading
