Avon Park Tabs Wade Jackson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
C M Y K SBECTION SPORTS Page 3B News-Sun Friday, January 25, 2013 Red Devils subdue Blue Streaks By ERIKA CORD four penalty shots in the first Sebring. pointer, giving hope to the News-Sun correspondent quarter, followed by Gary Ezell Gammage and team, and leaving them at a SEBRING – Tuesday DeMarest with a clean Quantrae Rouse followed close 29-21 deficit. night’s district game against layup, leaving the final tally with a pair of lay-ups to Williams kicked off the Kathleen left the Sebring at the end of the first at 13-8 keep the Streaks within third quarter with a foul boys disappointed after a Kathleen. shouting distance. shot, and Jones added on top 67-48 loss. Luke Ancrum started out Josh Austin would soon of that with a three pointer. The visiting Red Devils the beginning of the second get a rebound off of Ancrum threw in a 10- kicked off the first quarter scoring two from the foul Kathleen, and ran the ball foot jumper, keeping the with a two pointer on the line, and he didn’t stop down the court for a solid points rising. board, but Sebring’s Terrell there. layup, also drawing a foul Ancrum and DeMarest Williams fought back with a When Decaris Jones got a and completing a three-point then added two foul shots, back-to-back. layup putting Sebring in the rebound, he then dished it to play. Austin ended the third game. Ancrum who finished it up To finish up the first half, Josh Austin shot two-of- with another two points for Connor Cook shot a three See STREAK, Page 3B Avon Park tabs Wade Jackson By DAN HOEHNE [email protected] News-Sun file photo by DAN HOEHNE AVON PARK – The Brian Dixon tallied Sebring’s lone goal Tuesday night, but it search was on for the next would be all that was needed in the district tournament Avon Park head football win. coach. Shortly after the Winter Break, first-year front man Streaks stick it Lee Brown had turned in his resignation and the applica- tions came pouring in. Looking at it pragmati- to Blue Devils cally, the administration By TAYLOR TUBBS a chance to advance their first began looking in-house News-Sun correspondent season into regional competi- and had planned to expand SEBRING – A guaranteed tion. it out from there as time trip to regionals is enough to The two district teams that went on. make any team celebrate – reach the tournament title But a trip to Daytona and the Sebring boys soccer match are both locked into Beach kind of turned the team has a lot to be happy the regional quarterfinals. tide and kept more focus on about coming out of Nearly all season that in-house ideal. their game on Sebring Sebring has been the “I was up at the Hall of Tuesday night. number two seed in Fame induction for coach News-Sun photo by DAN HOEHNE In their first match districts, behind the Franza,” Avon Park princi- Newly named Avon Park head football coach Wade Jackson is joined by, left to right, of the District 13-3A 1 troublesome and pal Tealy Willams said. daughter Juliana, wife Melanie and daughters Jordan and Jocelyn Wednesday morning Winter Haven for the official announcement. Tournament at Lake always powerful “And I found it remarkable Wales, the Streaks Auburndale that players of his from as Wednesday’s official dent in Jackson, who saw confidence back to where it won in a 1-0 victory Bloodhounds. much as 50 years ago came 0 announcement that Wade his patience pay off. needs to be,” he said. “I over the Winter The Streaks have for it. Jackson will now be the “This is something I’ve want to preach to these kids Haven Blue Devils. played the team twice prior, “With the other coaches head of Avon Park football. wanted for a long time,” he to have the attitude to be “It was a really hard and come up just short of the being inducted, I realized “It’s a win-win for the said Wednesday. “I started the best they can be. It’s a game,” said sophomore win both times. the common thread for all Jackson family and for here in ‘94 and applied the roller coaster, just as life is, Wesley Koning. “At the end Tonight, their chance for of them,” he added, leading Avon Park,” Williams said. last two times there was an and even with as strong a it was very nerve wracking redemption is given, as to his revelation. “That they “They already have such a opening, but those just history as Avon Park foot- because they were getting Sebring takes on Auburndale had all been at their schools tremendous reach in the weren’t the time for me. It ball has, we’ve had some really close to our goal.” in the district finals. for 20, 25 or 30 years. They community, with Wade and was God’s will this time tough times. But we have to Luckily the Streak’s “That’s going to be a real were part of those commu- his wife Melanie, who is around and I can’t wait to survive these valleys and defense was able to hold off tough game,” said Koning. nities, like coach Franza, equally devoted to the kids get started.” stay positive.” the oncoming Devils. “But win or lose, we still get and it made me think of the in the area. We wanted Having been at the school And toward that end, as Junior Brian Dixon, who to go to regionals.” other coaches I’ve known or someone who wouldn’t this long and having bore far as production on the has scored a number of goals The only difference being, worked with in my years mind being a coach here for witness to the tough times field and his coaching phi- for Sebring throughout the a loss means a road game here, like Ronnie Jackson the next 25 years and Wade of the program in recent losophy, Jackson has his season, scored the lone goal against the District 14 cham- and Hoppy Rewis, and that brings that sort of commit- years, Jackson knows the ideals. of the night. pion, while a win brings a was a pivotal moment for ment.” task at hand. “I’m a stickler for block- It was the only goal that match to Firemen’s Field me.” The excitement was evi- “We have to get the kids was needed, as it turned out, against the District 14 runner That actualization lead to See JACKSON, Page 3B to give the Streaks a win and up. Lake Istokpoga – Fishing is Hot I had the opportunity to minutes hooked into one of Eventually I reminded fish Lake Istokpoga last the biggest bass I’ve ever myself – win, lose or draw, weekend on Saturday as well seen. that’s what bass fishing’s all as Sunday and the fishing For those of you who do a about. couldn’t have been better. lot of flipping, you know that I finished the day with 11 The weather both days was occasionally, as the boat is bass, all between 2 1/2 less than perfect, with cooler moving forward, you’ll see pounds and 5 pounds. air temperatures, spotty rain the reeds move out of the Many were caught on the showers and strong winds. corner of your eye. swim bait, but for the record, Anyone anxious to catch Well, I noticed the reeds I probably missed or lost as their limit and maybe even Fishin’ Around... separating just ahead of the many bass as I caught. hook into that wallhanger Don Norton boat and I carefully flipped Fishing the swim bait, you need to give the bass an extra should be fishing this incredi- cannon. my blue-black Yum Dinger few seconds after the strike ble lake right now. My casts were long and into the spot. to get the whole bait in their So Saturday morning I deliberate and the strikes Within seconds the reeds mouth before you set the stopped by the Lorida Bait were amazing. moved again and as I set the hook. and Tackle to get a few tips Within the first 30 minutes hook, a bulldozer of a bass I figured that out after I from John Wood, and he I’d had six strikes and landed exploded as she ripped the missed a fair number of showed me a couple of baits three bass. line off my baitcasting reel. strikes setting the hook too that were really hot. But the blowing winds Often, when flipping a quickly. One combination that he were just too much for my plastic worm or jig, the bass Sunday the winds were put together himself, a swim electric motor and I finally will pick it up and move out lighter as I started fishing a bait with a weighted hook decided to find some calmer towards open water, but this little earlier in the day, and Colorado blade was an waters. bass headed straight back around 10 a.m. easy sale as I selected both With a Northeast wind, the into the heaviest concentra- Still thinking about the the dark and lighter versions. eastern shoreline of Lake tion of reeds, traveling at a “big one that got away”, I The winds were exception- Istokpoga offered a welcome tremendous speed, she broke decided to start near where ally strong on Saturday, but respite and although I wasn’t water and tail-walked a good I’d lost the fish on Saturday.