Wesley Chapel boys hoops, girls soccer prepped for district playoffs

By Andy Warrener

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Reggie Jennings lays two off the glass in the Wildcats recent 64-57 loss to Zephyrhills. (Photo: Andy Warrener)

As winter sports start to wind down their regular seasons, it’s time to take a look at some of the teams from Wesley Chapel High that have a chance at postseason berths.

Topping that list is the Wildcat boys basketball team. The Wildcats are now 14­-4 after a heart­breaking 64-57 loss to Zephyrhills on Dec. 5. The Bulldogs are the current top seed in Class 5A, District 8 and while they’ve swept the Wildcats this season, the Wildcats have been agonizingly close to beating them each time they have played.

“It was 38-­37 in the first game and we blew a big lead in the second,” Wildcat head coach Doug Greseth said. “The key (December 5) was Sam (Schneidmiller) fouled out. We have to stay out of foul trouble, learn to finish games and keep our composure. I think we’re right there.”

Schneidmiller has bounced back strong from an illness that cut short last season, averaging 10 points and six assists per game.

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Point guard Sam Schneidmiller has been a pleasant surprise for the Wildcats this season (Photo: Andy Warrener)

He led the Wildcats to a 16-point lead heading into the fourth quarter against Zephyrhills with four assists, including a highlight reel play where he dribbled behind his back on penetration and sent a no-­look pass to Reggie Jennings for a dunk, before the team wilted.

“He has a great ability to drive and go hard to the basket,” Greseth said. “He’s been and pleasant surprise for us this year.”

Schneidmiller doesn’t do it alone. The Wildcats have one of the better big men tandems in the county in Jennings and Theo Williams. Jennings plays more of a forward position based on his ability to hit shots from the perimeter ; Williams is a few inches taller and plays center as much as forward.

Jennings has been great from all over the floor this season, leading the team with 19.7 points per game, bolstered by his 29 in the loss against Zephyrhills. He also surprisingly leads the team in steals, averaging 3.7 per game and having more than twice the number of steals (63) as anyone else on the team.

“Jennings has good anticipation and knows how to get in the passing lanes,” Greseth said.

Helping out under the basket is 6-­foot-6 senior Williams, who averages over 13 points a game and leads the team in rebounding. As a team, the Wildcats post 33.5 rebounds per game, always a Wesley Chapel strong suit .

“He (Williams) gives us a scoring option inside, he gets usually double figures in rebounds and scoring every night,” Greseth said. “He also helps us out on the back side on defense. He has been a key contributor for us this season.”

The Wildcats have some key contributors come off the bench, too. Seniors Malik Dillard and Ce’Vean Davis Payden get called in when the Wildcats need a spark. Payden has the best field goal percentage on the team and came up big during the Rotary Ram Classic at Ridgewood (in New Port Richey) over the holiday break, kicking in four rebounds and eight points in a win versus Countryside that put the Wildcats into the tournament finals.

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Wesley Chapel coach Doug Greseth talks to his players during a timeout. (Photo: Andy Warrener)

Also over Christmas break, the Wildcats set down last season’s district champion Nature Coast Tech 42-­35 at the Nature Coast Holiday Tournament and topped Hernando 56-­41 at that same tournament. Both the Sharks and Leopards are now in Class 5A, District 7, the district that goes up against District 8 for the first couple rounds of the regional playoffs. Greseth likes his chances against any of them and doesn’t really care which one they play.

“We are going to take whomever is there,” Greseth said. “Nature Coast and Hernando aren’t as strong as they were last year and the bottom line is if you’re in the playoffs, you have to play a good team one way or the other.”

Right now, Greseth and the Wildcats have their sights set on the remainder of the regular season and the district tournament beginning Feb. 1. “We’d really like to have a rematch with Zephyrhills,” Greseth said.

The Wesley Chapel girls soccer team also looks like a contender to make the regional playoffs. They are the No. 1 seed in Class 3A, District 7 starting today with a 14-­4-­1 record and a 10-­1 record within the district. The one loss came at the hands of second­-seeded Pasco.

Since that 9-1 loss on Dec. 7, the Wildcats are unbeaten, closing out the regular season 5-0-1.

Keep your eyes on junior Bailey Hern, who has a district-­leading 24 goals for the regular season. Victoria Mitchell added 17 goals for the Wildcats.

Here’s the schedule for the girls soccer tournament, which is being hosted by Brooksville Nature Coast:

Monday
Zephyrhills (7) vs. Pasco (2), 4 p.m.
Weeki Wachee (6) vs. Spring Hill Springstead (3), 6 p.m.
Brooksville Hernando (5) vs. Nature Coast (4), 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Springstead-Weeki Wachee winner vs. Pasco-Zephyrhills winner, 6 p.m.
Nature Coast-Hernando winner vs. Wesley Chapel (1), 8 p.m.
Friday
Championship game at 7 p.m.

 

All-Star game recap and photo gallery

WEB21The first-ever Pasco County All-Star Football Game had the county’s all-time leading rusher in Chris Schwarz (of River Ridge High) and another, Glass Wilson of Ridgewood, who ran for more than 1,600 yards last season. The county’s top wide receivers — Zephyrhills’ Jackie Tucker Jr. and Mitchell’s JJ Lewis — were lined up to catch passes. And the quarterbacks were experienced and proven.

What the game didn’t have, surprisingly, was a whole lot of points. But that didn’t stop us from getting some photos of the Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high school standouts (see below).

In a defensive battle, the East team, represented by players from Wesley Chapel (WCH) and Wiregrass Ranch (WRH) high schools and coached by WRH head coach Mark Kantor, pulled out a 14-2 victory before a big crowd at Sunlake High in Land O’Lakes.

The touchdowns were scored by Zephyrhills’ Tre-un Everett (offensive MVP), and Pasco’s Jakiah Felder. A lot of the big defensive plays were provided by WRH linebacker Tyler DeCaire.

The Bulls’ senior had a sack in the first quarter, causing a fumble. His biggest play, however, came on the next series, when he arrived at the same time the ball did and smashed it loose from punt returner Dylan Hartley. The ball was recovered by the West, which scored a few plays later on Everett’s 35-yard run to make it 7-0.

In addition to Coach Kantor, 10 players from WCH and WRH saw action in the game, which was sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Boys basketball tips off tonight

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Freedom guard Sheldon Odunna looks for two points during a game last season.

The boys basketball season tipped off this week.

Wesley Chapel opened up with Anclote.

Wharton, winners over Strawberry Crest in its first game, travels to Wiregrass Ranch tonight for a neighborhood showdown in the Bulls’ season opener.

Freedom heads over to Leto tonight for the Patriots first game.

Here’s the season preview capsules:

FREEDOM BOYS BASKETBALL
Head coach: Cedric Smith
Last year: 22-7
District record (7A-8): 10-0
District outlook: Freedom will be reunited with rival Wharton in district play this season, making the two meetings between the teams this season must-see basketball in New Tampa.
Key returners: G Sheldon Odunna (Sr., 6-3), G Nasir Cole (Sr., 6-0), PG Dylan Angel (Sr., 6-1), C Alex Rojas (So., 6-8).
X-Factor: F Chase Creasy (Jr., 6-4).
Season Outlook: Last year, the Patriots spread the ball around, as 17 different players scored. Well, 15 of those players were underclassmen, giving Smith the most experienced team he’s ever had. It could prove to be his best team, as well. Odunna continues to show great improvement year-to-year and is the team’s best player, averaging a team-high 16.1 points last season. Smith says he is one of the best guards in the county. He shares the backcourt with Cole and Angel, and guard play is one of the Patriots’ strengths. Freedom has a host of long wings to fuel the defensive side, like senior Jamal Byrnes and Quenden James, and Smith said Creasy is good enough to be a starter but he needs his offense off the bench. After reaching the regional final in 2013-14, Smith and his Patriots are ready for the next step.
The schedule: Freedom opens up on the road with a game at Leto (Nov. 18) before the home opener Nov. 20 vs. Sickles. Oh, and then it’s Wharton on Dec. 1.

WESLEY CHAPEL BOYS
Head coach: Doug Greseth
Last year: 17-10
District record (5A-7 in 2014-15): 8-6
District outlook: Greseth said he expects the Wildcats to fight for the district’s top spot, and the teams that he thinks will be in his team’s way are Zephyrhills, Ridgewood and maybe Pasco. The Bulldogs, who lost in the title game last year, lost only three seniors.
Key returners: F Theo Williams (Sr., 6-6), G Malik Dillard (Sr., —), PG Sam Schneidmiller (Jr., 6-1), F Reggie Jennings (Jr., 6-3).
X-Factor: Schneidmiller.
Season Outlook: Greseth really likes this team. He thinks his starting five can hang with anyone, but the Wildcats will need to avoid the injury bug because the bench is not very deep. Williams, who averaged 13 points to lead the team and was second with 7.6 rebounds a contest, made a big jump from his sophomore to junior season, and if he does the same this year look out. Pairing Wiliams with Jennings (8.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) gives Wesley Chapel one of the best forward combinations around. Schneidmiller could be the key. He was felled early last season by mononucleosis and never recovered to 100 percent but should be a big weapon in 2015-16. The Wildcats will try to push the ball up the floor as usual, using spacing and ball reversals to work the ball inside or produce open shots, and the defense will play man-to-man almost exclusively with lots of pressure. At full strength, Greseth has high hopes. “Injuries decimated us last season,” Greseth said. “If we stay healthy I expect big things.”
The schedule: Wesley Chapel opens up with 10 straight district games, including a road game at Zephyrhills Nov. 24. Its schedule is currently made up of all Pasco County teams, with the exception of a game against Tarpon Springs at the Ridgewood Holiday Tournament on Dec. 21.

WIREGRASS RANCH BOYS
Head coach: Jeremy Calzone
Last year: 13-13
District record (7A-8 in 2014-15): 5-4
District outlook: The Bulls were in the middle of the pack last season and considering the roster losses would do well to remain there this season. The district is markedly tougher with the addition of Wharton and Plant, two playoff regulars the last decade. The Bulls probably face their longest playoff odds since 2009.
Key returners: G Jordan Miner (So., 6-2), F Valentin Garcia (So., 6-3), G Mekhi Jarvis (Sr., 5-10, F/C Kem Asomba (So., 6-4).
X-Factor: G Devin Wilson (Jr., 6-2)
Season Outlook: The Bulls had two players average over 20 points last year, and another averaged 10, but they are gone. Graduation gives Calzone the youngest team he’s had yet, with just one senior. To get a picture of just how young the Bulls will be, consider that the four key returners combined to score 85 points last season. But teaching a young group the frenetic shoot-quick style the Bulls play has been a treat so far. “It’s so nice, you have no idea,’’ said Calzone. “We’re having a lot of fun right now. It takes me back to when the school first started. The difference is, we have a lot better players.” Calzone will rely on Jarvis to lead the way, but there is good athleticism there with Miner and Garcia as well, and Asomba showed some good stuff last season. Wilson will be crucial as well, and the coach has high expectations for a breakout season. He is also high on freshmen Dorien Green and Elijah Howell, a pair of quick 6-foot guards. The Bulls beat Springstead 68-65 in their preseason game, and Calzone said he will be looking for steady improvement as the year goes on. “As long as we’re playing well in February, I don’t care what our record is,’’ the coach said.
The schedule: How’s this for a tip-off – the Bulls open the season with two district games, the first Wednesday night against Wharton at home, and then on the road at Leto, who boast David Jones, a guard that averaged 31 points in two preseason games. The schedule gets a little easier the rest of the way.

WHARTON BOYS BASKETBALL
Head coach: Tommy Tonelli
Last year: 24-5
District record (8A-7 in 2014-15): 9-1
District outlook: The Wildcats’ new District 7A-8 will be even tougher this year, with the addition of a Sickles team that is probably the District’s favorite. But, the Wildcats and Freedom should both be in the playoff race.
Key returners: G/F Evan Trice (Sr., 6-2), F Josiah Crawford (Sr., 6-3), G Matthew Tonelli (Sr., 5-11), F Devontres Dukes (Sr., 6-4), PG Tray Gildon (Jr., 5-10)
X-Factor: F Dae’Son Barnes (So., 6-3).
Season Outlook: Since returning for his second stint as Wharton head coach in 2009, Tonelli has averaged 23.6 wins a season. The Wildcats should approach that mark again this time around, too. Trice (12 ppg, 4 assists, 4 rebs) and Crawford (9 ppg, 6 rebs) will lead the way after a big offseason in which Wharton captured the Southeast Basketball Academy (SEBA) Summer League title. Gildon will run the point and Tonelli said the shifty guard has shown tremendous improvement this offseason. Gildon will be backed up by the coach’s scrappy son Matthew Tonelli, and Dukes can be a force inside. Barnes could be a special find for the Wildcats as he moves up from junior varsity. In fact, Barnes could be one of a few jayvee players from last year’s 15-1 squad to have on impact on varsity.
The schedule: The Wildcats open the season Nov. 17 hosting Strawberry Crest, and also play Nov. 18 (at Wiregrass Ranch), 20 (at Plant) and 21 (host Newsome).

 

First Pasco County all-star game will feature 10 from Wesley Chapel

Wiregrass Ranch RB/DB Brandon Mosley is one of 10 players from Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel High named to the first all-star game. (photo: John C. Cotey)
Wiregrass Ranch RB/DB Brandon Mosley is one of 10 players from Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel High named to the first all-star game. (photo: John C. Cotey)

Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel didn’t come close to making the football playoffs this season, but a handful of players from each team will get one more high school football game their senior season.

The rosters were announced for the 2015 Pasco County East-West Classic, the first-ever all-star game for the county, and the Bulls and Wildcats are well-represented, by players and coaches as Wiregrass Ranch head coach Mark Kantor will be in charge of the East.

Making the team from Wesley Chapel were wide receiver Brian Mena, offensive and defensive linemen Naim Smith and Tristan Pauwels, kicker Chase Oknefski and linebacker Mike Mosley.

The Bulls representatives will be wide receiver Taylor Bleistein, offensive and defensive linemen Tyler Ichimura and Marque Davis, running back and defensive back Brandon Mosley and linebacker Ty DeCarire.

 

The game, organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Sunlake High School (3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’Lakes). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at any of the high schools or at participating Beef O’Brady’s.