FOOTBALL
+ East falls short in All-American Bowl
Although Montel McBride and his Semper Fi East teammates didn’t leave California with a win, they were happy to get some national exposure.
Fox Sports 1 broadcast the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 5, and the West team won, 31-24.
Speaking of McBride, national recruiting website Rivals.com has given the Raider lineman a four-star rating, making him the highest-rated football recruit in Plant City-area history.
BASKETBALL
+ Youth play is under way
The Plant City Optimist Youth Basketball Program has kicked off its 45th season of action.
With 39 teams registered, about 370 Plant City youths are playing hoops from now until the end of February. There are six age groups: co-ed 8-9, boys 10-11, girls 10-11, boys 12-13, girls 12-14 and boys 14-16.
The games are held at three locations: the Plant City Family YMCA gym, the Marshall Middle School gymnasium and the Tomlin Middle School gymnasium. The co-ed 8-9 group will play Saturdays, and the other age groups will play on weeknights.
For more information, visit plantcitygov.com or call League Director Dave Robbins at (813) 763-2730.
SOCCER
+ Plant City to host alumni night
Plant City High School’s third annual Alumni Night now has a time and a date.
Raider alumni are asked to come out to Friday’s Senior Night home game against Riverview, scheduled for 7 p.m., Jan. 17, and support their alma mater in person.
According to boys coach Chris Black, who played for the Raiders’ first soccer team in 1981, about 40 former players attended last year’s event.
“We’re just trying to build on that,” Black says.
The Raiders are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, while Riverview is on a six-game win streak — including a 5-2 win over Plant City in last week’s King High School Invitational.