james ricks

not as crazy as the Duke crazies but the Students really pack it in on the opposite side of the court. Like tonight against Gainesville they had cow bells and water jugs with rocks in them going crazy in their with noise Everytime Gainesville had possession. This is big for the school, we are in uncharted waters at this stage, haven't been to a regional final since 1994, and Friday is going to be huge for us, Choctaw is definately going to have to come in their and earn it if they're going to walk out with a W, it would be nice to finally see this team in Lakeland again and having to go up against you guys would be a monumental task, I would love for us to win the whole thing but if we didn't I'd be happy with the season we had of just getting that far, I mean damn we haven't been to the Lakeland Center since 1982 3 years before I was born lol. I know what you guys are all about man, and if we do run into you guys next week it's going to be extremely tough

for sure, they got shocked in their district championship game then came back and beat the district champion tonight, they have been ranked #2 behind y'all in the class for a majority of the year. We are hard to beat at home tho as alot of teams have found that out this year, we will see Friday tho what happens, house should no doubt be rocking again as this will be the biggest game on Vanguard's campus in any sport since the mid 90s

yea last year they weren't even supposed to make it to Lakeland, playoffs started and they went on that unreal run out of nowhere and won it all

Lincoln Palm Beach Lakes McArthur Creekside Melbourne Sickles St Petersburg Lakewood Ranch is left in 8a, that's pretty wide open know, any of those 8 teams is capable of winning state with Ely gone

they probably should have, Dwyer led for the majority of that game from what I heard, Ely just made a late run in the 4th and prevailed.. with Ely losing that just opened class 8a up, more wide open know, Ely was obviously the favorite no doubt going into the playoffs

Fort Walton Beach Choctawatchee at home, they're 26-2 coming in as a district runner up, don't know anything bout them tho from being way up in the Panhandle, will find out Friday tho

1 more round for both of us and that matchup is going to become a reality lol... 1 game at a time

I bet alot of teams in class 8a are glad the Ely Tigers are gone lol pretty big upset when they bow out this early expecially on their home floor

Looking forward to hearing the outcome of that game Friday against Norland. I know y'all go wayyy back with them, big time game

We got to get their first, you guys have a recent history of being their, we have a history to.. but haven't been to the state semis since 1982

Oak Ridge. First Academy, Edgewater and OCP have a real shot from that area, Orlando has been a strong area in hoops for awhile know it seems, LHP is usually really good too but seem to have fell off this year

If Vanguard makes it too Lakeland to play Dillard in the semis I'll be their lol

no off weeks whatsoever on that slate

Just Incase anybody wanting to know.. Fleming Island did win 4A state title today over Miami Doral 4-0

man that schedule is just downright brutal, y'all run that and win a state title you deserve to be called national champs

I understand the transfer completely too, I think the kid is a hell of a QB but I'm just saying their was some questionable coaching calls that night that I seen

it wasn't against Carol City the game I'm talking bout, I didn't even see the championship game to even begin to question what happened in that game...it was 3rd round against Ocala Vanguard..... And what I said is in no way bashing the coaches, questioning some of the decisions that were made that night yes, but bashing no and you would know it if I was, and yes their is a bunch of Bill Belichek's in the stands on Friday night's but I'm not one of them..

I'm not bashing the coaches at all I'm just saying I just thought he was held back from doing his thing that night in particular, I mean he was sacked 11 times that night, and atleast 7 of those sacks their was absolutely nothing open and he was well outside the box and refused to throw the ball away each time, instead took 10 to 15 yard losses with sacks, after the 1st or even 2nd time don't you think they would have told him to throw the ball away when their is nothing open? I refuse to believe the kid is dumb and can't figure out when to throw the ball away in those situations

I hope so, I have only seen Vanguard this year, thinking bout heading up for that one, atmosphere should be electric, it's really turning into a hell of a rivalry with them 2 teams

yep Round 4 in Regional Semifinal Tuesday Night, glad this one will be in Ocala too, I like Vanguard's chances at home better then on the road, going to be another down to the wire finish tho just like the previous 3 this year I'm sure

that would be a monster matchup in elite 8

you think another down year for Manatee and Booth will be out? I think he's too liked by the administration and all around the school, idk if they'll ever get rid of him or not, I think Manatee is just good on making the playoffs know, 1 or 2 rounds deep is good enough for them, the atmosphere at the games isn't even like it used to be, seems like nobody really cares about making deep playoff runs anymore

oh OK, following in his dad's footsteps then, Lakeland won't miss a beat at the position this year then, I seen him play my alma mater in the regional final this past year and his accuracy and arm strength is top notch, but sometimes he seems to sit in the pocket to long and it collapsed on him numerous times, idk who that LG QB coach or Offensive Coordinator was but it doesn't seem like Thomas was coached to well, seemed like they were just holding him back or something

Heard that Bell got robbed out their in Wildwood too, refs called absolutely everything against Bell, Wildwood shot 34 free throws to Bell's 7, refs favored the home team big time in that one I guess

wow that's huge, what is the reason for K. Thomas transferring out? Or is he just moving into the Lakeland zone? He's a good looking QB that's huge for the Dreadnaughts