The Sickles boys basketball team continued their dominance in 8A District 8, with a 64-30 win over rival Freedom. The Gryphons have now won their seven district games by an average of 34.3 points.
It was the usual suspects for the No. 4-ranked Sickles team, as their three major Division-I recruits all scored in double figures. Bryce Beamer tallied a game-high 18 points, earning Player of the Game honors. Bryce Workman (ESPN's 11th-best junior in the state) recorded 15 points while Marcus Cohen added 14 points.
The Gryphons led by 25 at halftime and cruised to a win over the out-manned Patriots, who were led by Chase Creasy's nine points.
Sickles (11-3) hosts Steinbrenner on Friday before a big showdown at No. 5 St. Petersburg Saturday night. Freedom (4-3) looks to rebound at Gaither on Friday.
In the first half of the doubleheader, the Freedom girls team squeaked out a victory over a feisty Gryphons squad in a back-and-forth affair, winning 62-59 to improve to 6-1 in 8A District 8.
Tennessee Tech signee Megan Clark tied her season high with 32 points to lead all players, while Olivia Williams recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Gryphons girls team had three double-digit scorers as well, led by Julie Moreau's second straight 21-point performance, while she added 14 rebounds. Jacquelyn Levay finished with 16 points and Emily Stevens contributed 12 points.
Freedom (9-5) travels to Gaither on Friday in search of their third straight win. Sickles (6-9) hosts neighborhood rival Steinbrenner on the same night.
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