A Summary of Friday’s Semifinals Predictions:
-Predicted: Saint Andrews 21- Lake Highland Prep 8.
-Actual: Saint Andrews 15 – Lake Highland Prep 2.
-Winner predicted correctly, spread predicted correctly.
-The whole weekend was extremely unexciting with the games played, a couple of the matchups were fun to watch, but else wise it was rather easy to lose focus on the play on the field. Saint Andrews scored fast and early with junior attackman Matt Bellando who was on a hot streak all weekend leading the Scots with goals. FO/GO Josh Knight had two big-time goals of the face-offs and was extremely tough for the Highlanders to control. No matter how hard Lake Highland tried throughout the game they couldn’t manage to break past the Scots defense which was backed up by goalie Bernie Susskind, who made several highlight reelesque saves on one-on-ones.
-Predicted: Lake Brantley 7 – Nease 6 in 2OT.
-Actual: Lake Brantley 11 – Nease 3.
-Winner predicted correctly, spread off by 7.
-I was truly surprised by the game which I figured to be a defensive battle; it ended up being a one sided beating of the Panthers. Nease simply could not find a way to beat the Lake Brantley defense and find any penetration inside twelve yards. On offense the Patriots Tucker Ammerman and Jonathan Horbert couldn’t be contained in the second half.
A Summary of Saturday’s State Championship Game Prediction:
-Predicted: Saint Andrews 15 – Lake Brantley 8.
Actual: Saint Andrews 19 – Lake Brantley 5.
-Winner predicted correctly, spread off by 7.
-Let’s face it. Saint Andrews is really good. This was easily seen when in the late 3rd quarter when the Scots gave goalie Bernie Susskind a well earned substitution and proceeded to let their backup goalie, an 8th grader, handle the rest of the game. Saint Andrews attackman Matt Bellando was open all day and was shelling the Patriots keeper. The most exciting part of this game was the Maryland verse Johns Hopkins matchup of Patriot LSM Jesse Bernhardt (U of MD) against Scots middie Lee Coppersmith (JHU), with Jesse winning the one-on-one matchup, but unable to help with the other five on defense behind him who were picked apart ball watching or sliding when not needed. Great season for all the teams participating in the weekend. A special congrats go out to the boys’ winner Saint Andrews Scots and girls’ winner Vero Beach Indians for winning the state championships. Saint Andrews; please play up north during spring break from now on. Everyone in the state wants to see how you will fair against the Gilmans, Loyola-Blakefields, Calvert Preps, Georgetown Preps, Saint Anthonys, John Jays, and West Gennys of the high school lacrosse world.
Things to look forward to next year… Coaching changes, possible transfers, more 3-man ref teams during the regular season, people continually complaining about the reffing, less games scheduled due to budget cuts, loss of JV teams, more schools playing lacrosse without qualified coaching available, more complaining about the referees, and a possible talent dip in the Orlando area.
Next update… The OrlandoLacrosse.com’s All-Orlando Team and Honorable Mentions…
Feel free to send me messages on www.twitter.com/OrlandoLax and let me know of any current lacrosse information for the Orlando/Greater Central Florida.
-OrlandoLax
