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Little League
+ PCLL sign-ups begin Saturday
Athletes can sign up fro Plant City Little League starting Saturday, Dec. 5.
Online registration runs from Dec. 5 through Jan. 16, and on-site registration will be available on Saturday, Jan. 2, 9 and 16. The league will not turn down any players who can’t pay the season fees, and it does offer financial assistance for those who need it.
To register, visit eteamz.com/PlantCityLL.
Basketball
+ Area girls hoops scene shining
Durant
The Lady Cougars got off to a 3-0 start in coach Constance Wharton’s third year. They had a 49-11 win over Hillsborough Nov. 9 and a 51-16 win over Blake Nov. 12. Durant followed those wins Nov. 18 with a 48-37 win at East Bay, in which the Lady Cougars came up with 11 steals — five from junior Ashlyn Myers.
Led by senior Tahira Rodriguez and her 17.3 points per game, Durant has also gotten strong performances from Myers (12 points, six steals per game) and Tamara Hanson (11.3 points, 9.7 rebounds per game).
Durant’s next game will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Spoto.
Plant City
After starting the season with a 55-44 loss against Plant, coach David O’Callaghan and Plant City rebounded with a 64-59 overtime win at Bloomingdale Nov. 17 and a 55-45 win against East Bay Nov. 19.
Lacey Hargrove leads the team with 16.3 points, 4.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game, and Constance Thomas’ 12.7 points per game are good for second. Even without leading rebounder Shayna Lawrence, Plant City’s clip of 34.7 boards per game leads the district.
Plant City’s next game will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at home against King.
Strawberry Crest
La’Tosha Lewis’ girls have won six consecutive games, dating back to Nov. 10, and their smallest margin of victory came in a 77-41 home win over Brandon Nov. 13.
The team’s biggest win was a 80-20 beatdown at Lennard Nov. 20. Ayanna Matthews that stuck out: 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, four made free throws on four attempts, four assists and three steals.
She and her sister, Brianna Matthews, are leading the team in scoring. Ayanna is averaging 14.2 points, 6.2 boards and 5.2 steals per game, while Brianna averages 14.8 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game.
Crest’s next game will be at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at Armwood.