Farragut boys reach title game in Florida
Lady Ads 0-3 in Tampa tourney; Priest still out
TAMPA — Playing in an eight-team bracket among a field of 64 in Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 27-30, Farragut’s basketball boys won twice before losing in the bracket title game.
“A good little breath of fresh air, I would say, because obviously we broke the losing streak,” acting head coach Adam Jenkins said (head coach J.P. Burris on maternity leave). “I think we found a little bit of hope and a little bit of momentum down there. ...We played a lot better, a lot harder. So it was a good trip.”
The Ads (starting 2024 at 5-12) beat Carolwood of Tampa 77-52 Thursday. Junior wing Dom VanAcker led in points with 19, with senior wing Aiden VanAcker scoring 17 and sophomore guard Daniel Lanning adding 16.
Farragut then defeated The Bolles School, Jacksonville, 50-38 Friday behind Aiden VanAcker’s game-high 20 points. Dom VanAcker added 11 and Lanning scored nine.
The Ads fought back from an 18-point deficit before losing to James River High School of Richmond, Virginia, 68-62 in the title game Saturday.
Aiden VanAcker’s 25 points led FHS. Don VanAcker added 20 and Kent Carbaugh scored seven.
About Aiden’s play, Jenkins said, “Every time he shoots it, I think he’s going in. I mean, that’s how good of a shooter he is.”
About Lanning, the coach said, “Dan has always been very, very talented. ... He’s very aggressive. He’s one of our most physical guys. ... And when he gets hot, he can go.”
Farragut girls
winless in Florida
Still missing junior starting guard Annie Priest due to a foot/ankle injury, the FHS Lady Admirals went 0-3 in the same Tampa tournament and similar eight-team bracket.
“Our inexperience is really showing,” said FHS head coach Jason Mayfield, whose team fell to 7-10 starting the new year. “So we’re having a hard time just having any kind of consistency with what we’re doing. ... We’ve lost a lot of close games.”
Bloomingdale, Florida beat the Lady Ads Wednesday 46-41. sophomore wing KJ McNealy led FHS in scoring with 15 and rebounds with 10. Junior guard Jaci Neubert added 10 and sophomore guard Lilly Mullins scored eight.
Friday’s loss came versus Neshaminy, Pennsylvania, 53-47 despite Neubert’s 13 points and young post Trinity Curry with 11.
Charlotte High, Florida, beat Farragut 38-31 Saturday, as McNealy scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
