National rule changes to high school basketball

Posted May 9, 2013 by Nick Williams

Updated May 9, 2013 at 09:58 AM

The National Federation of State High School Associations announced a few rule changes to high school basketball.

The most notable change is allowing head coaches in high school basketball to come onto the court in an effort to break up a fight or keep a situation from escalating. Previously, the head coach could only enter the court if beckoned by an official.

According to a press release, it was decided that the presence of the head coach on the court could be instrumental in preventing the situation from escalating, and the coach also could assist game officials in controlling the situation.

“By removing the requirement of the head coach being beckoned onto the floor by the officials, it should result in a more expedient resolution of the situation and restoration of order,” said Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials education in the release. “The change also will allow the officials a greater opportunity to assess appropriate penalties by being able to observe the situation because of the increased assistance the head coach(es) will provide by their presence.”

In other changes, the rules committee approved the use of electronic devices during the game in certain instances. Rule 1-19 now will allow a coach to take advantage of electronic devices for use in coaching and gathering statistics. Teams cannot use electronic equipment for voice communication with players on the court, and the use of electronic audio and/or video devices are not allowed to review a decision of the contest officials.

The committee also added leg-compression sleeves to the requirements of arm-compression sleeves to thwart the use of leg-compression sleeves for non-medical reasons. Leg-compression sleeves shall be white, black, beige or a single solid school color; shall be the same color for each team member; must meet the logo requirements in Rule 3-6; and must only be worn for medical reasons.

The final rules change approved by the committee for the 2013-14 season will permit a single, visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference on the team jersey, not to exceed 2¼ square inches with no dimension more than 2¼ inches. The manufacturer’s logo may be located no more than 5 inches below the shoulder seam on the front of the jersey, or 2 inches from the neckline on the back of the jersey, or in either side insert.

River Ridge QB Josh Maisel commits to LaGrange College

Posted Apr 30, 2013 by Mike Camunas

Updated Apr 30, 2013 at 09:59 AM

River Ridge quarterback Josh Maisel said via Twitter that he has committed to LaGrange College.

“Ready to be a panther!” Maisel added.

In the past two seasons, Maisel led the Royal Knights to a 10-10 record, while throwing 15 passing TDs ans rushing for 12 more. Despite going just 3-7 in 2012, Maisel passed for 1,002 yards.

Maisel was named to honorable mention of the Tribune’s 2012 All Pasco County Football Team this past season.

LaGrange is a Division III, private, liberal arts college located in LaGrange, Ga., and the Panthers were, ironically, 3-7 last season.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunas.

Berkeley Prep hosting boys volleyball districts

Posted Apr 29, 2013 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 29, 2013 at 01:01 PM

Berkeley Prep will host the Boys Volleyball District 2 tournament this week. As a single classification sport, only the district champion advances to the state first-round play-in game.

Berkeley Prep lost in the district championship last season to Bishop Moore.

Tuesday: Semifinals: No. 4 Berkeley Prep vs. No. 1 Bishop Moore, 5 p.m.; No.3 Apopka vs. No. 2 Wekiva, 7 p.m. Thursday: Championship 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay girls named to all-state basketball team

Posted Apr 26, 2013 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 26, 2013 at 10:40 AM

2013 Florida Association of Basketball Coaches/ Source Hoops GIRLS ALL-STATE BASKETBALL TEAMS

CLASS 1A
Brianti Saunders -  Hilliard 5’5”  Sr.
Curteona Brelove –  Malone   6’2”
Tasherica McMillon -  Sneads 5’6”  Jr.
Ashley Harper – Ponce de Leon   5’9”  Sr.
Amanda Paschal -  Chipley   5’8”  So.
Casey Perot – South Walton 6’1”  Jr.
Asia Marion -  Villages 5’7”  Sr.
Makayla Simmons -  Central 5’8” So.
Kasha Austin – Hilliard   5’11”  Fr.
Kimesha Mann – Hawthorne -  Fr.
Mariah Carter – Hawthorne 6’1”  Sr.
Olivia Bradley -  Bell   5’8”  Sr.

2A
Neydje Petithomme – Grandview Prep   5’8”  Jr.
Lakaris Salter – FAMU High   6’  Jr.
Jasmine Jones -  FAMU High 6’  Fr.
Emily Lines -  First Baptist   5’10”  So.
Vionise Pierre Louis -  Grandview Prep   6’4”  Jr.
Jessie Golden   -  Lake Worth Christian 5’11” Jr.
Andrea Mauger -  Academy at the Lakes   5’9”  Sr.
Tatiana Manuel -  Academy at the Lakes   6’2”  Sr.
Adri Hooks -  Geneva   5’4”  Jr.
Jalaysha Thomas – St. John Lutheran   6’3”  8th

3A
Tesha Hanson -  Seffner Christian 5’9”  Sr.
Brooksie McGraw -  PK Yonge   6’3”  Sr.
Ashley Folsom -  Fr. Lopez   6’1”  Sr.
Shannon Cranshaw -  Fr. Lopez 5’9”  Sr.
Simone Brown -  Fr. Lopez   5’11”  Sr.
Camille Giaedina -  Cardinal Mooney -  So.
Peyton Walker   -  Seffner Christan 5’10”  So.
Winter Rodriguez -  Dade Christian   5’5”  Sr.
Danielle Minott   -  Miami Country Day 5’9”  Jr.
Shaneese Bailey -  University Christian 5’8”  Sr.
Carley Plentovich -  Calvary Christian 5’7”  Fr.
Savannah Plentovich -  Calvary Christian 5’7”  Fr.
Alicia McCray -  Trinity Christian (Lake Worth)  6’  Sr.
Riley Burke – Benjamin   5’10”  Jr.

4A
Ieshia Small -  Florida High   5’11”  Sr.
Brandy Montgomery -  Lincoln Park Academy 6’2”  Sr.
Ronnie Williams -  Port Orange Atlantic   6’2”  Sr.
Destiny Woodard -  Port Orange Atlantic 5’8”  Jr.
Sherranda Reddick -  Ribault   5’6”  Sr.
Jatavia Tapley - Ribault   6’1”  Fr.
Taliah Moore -  Walton   5’10”  Sr.
Kiara Desamours -  Dunbar 5’8”  So.
Keri Jewett -  Dunbar 5’4”  So.
Destinee Walker -  Lake Highland Prep 5’10”  So.
Brittany Betts -  Tampa Catholic   5’3”  Sr.
Shambria Washington -  Trinity Catholic 5’6”  So.
Tytionia Adderly - Cardinal Newman   5’10”  Fr.
Nyasia Davis -  Bradford 6’2”  Fr.

5A
Tianah Alvarado -  Lakewood 6’  Sr.
Kayla Wright -  Dillard 5’10”  Sr.
Eva Myers -  Dillard 5’8”  Sr.
Ashley Robinson -  Jensen Beach   5’9”  Sr.
Raigyne Moncrief -  American Heritage Plantation 5’9”  Sr.
Shakoa Edwards -  Boynton Beach 5’4”  Jr.
Tiffany Echevarria -  Wesley Chapel   Sr.
McKenna Beach -  Cape Coral 5’6”  So.
Brianca Roberts – Pasco   5’7”  Jr.
Tanika Jackson -  Dunnellon   5’10”  Sr.
DeAngela Mathis – Southeast   5’10”  Jr.
Kayla Kivinski -  Gulf 5’9”  Jr.
Jonell Williams -  Palatka   6’2”  So.
Tiara Lundy -  Eastside 5’4”  Sr.

6A
Jayla King -  Pine Forest 5’8”  Sr.
Cynkeria “Bre” Mobley -  Winter Haven 5’8”  Sr.
Zeneka Willix -  Winter Haven 5’10”  Sr.
Trimaine McCullough -  Edgewater 5’7”  Sr.
Nyala Shuler – Edgewater 5’10”  Jr.
Brittany Brown -  Choctawhatchee   5’9”  Sr.
Brittany Dinkins -  Norland   5’7”  Sr.
Nia Roberts -  Norland   6’  Sr.
Joharra Russell -  Leesburg 5’8”  Sr.
DeJa McPhee -  Gainesville HS   5’9”  Sr.
Morgan Thomas -  Dixie Hollins   5’7”  Jr.

7A
Jessica Thomas -  Buchholz   5’7”  Sr.
K.P. Pound -  Sebastian River   6’1”  Sr.
Faith Woodard -  Freedom (Tampa)  6’2”  Sr.
Taylor Emery -  Freedom (Tampa)  5’9”  So.
Jone’ Akins -  Haines City 5’5”  Sr.
Brekia Henderson - -  Haines City   5’5”  Sr.
Erica Young -  Tampa Bay Tech 6’3”  Sr.
Zykira Lewis -  Bartow   5’9”  Sr.
Jonika Garvin -  Lake Worth 5’9”  So.
Dee Anderson -  Viera   5’8”  Jr.
Shanovia Dove -  Palm Beach Lakes 5’8”  Sr.

8A
Sydnei McCaskill -  Dr. Phillips   5’7”  Sr.
Hannah Schaible -  Dr. Phillips 5’9”  Sr.
Crystal Primm -  Palm Beach Central 5’11” So.
Kia James -  Dwyer 6’5”  Sr.
Samantha Gloddis -  Dwyer 6’3”  Sr
Keyanna Harris – Dwyer   6’  Jr.
Tiffany Suarez -  Lourdes   5’11”  Sr.
Astaja Tyghter -  Colonial   5’9”  So.
Nina Guillaume -  Colonial 5’9”  Sr.
Beatrice Mompremier -  Miami Senior 6’4”  So.
Tyisha Moore -  Deland   6’1”  Sr.
Rose Marie Julien -  Treasure Coast   5’10”  Jr.
Quatasia Fantroy -  Alonso   Sr.
Stephanie Oramus – Flanagan   5’4”  Jr.

High school wrestlers must now weigh-in with their artificial limb

Posted Apr 25, 2013 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 25, 2013 at 03:14 PM

Effective with the 2013-14 season, high school wreslters who have been approved to wear an artificial limb must weigh-in with the artificial limb if he or she chooses to wrestle with it on. In addition, once the wrestler has weighed in while wearing the artificial limb, it cannot be removed during competition. With these revisions, competitors who have been approved by their state associations to wear an artificial limb have the option to wear or not to wear the artificial limb during competition, but must weigh-in accordingly.

The change were made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 8-10 meeting in Indianapolis.

“The concern was that if a wrestler weighed-in with an artificial limb (and) then decided to remove the artificial limb for the match, the wrestler’s weight without the artificial limb might not qualify the wrestler for that weight class,” said Dale Pleimann, chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee in a press release. “The changes require that if the wrestler weighs-in with an artificial limb, then the wrestler shall wear the artificial limb when competing.”

In other rule changes, forfeits in high school wrestling will no longer count toward a wrestler’s daily match limit. Currently, wrestlers are limited by rule to five matches in one day.

“The limit on the number of matches permitted in any one calendar day was established as a safeguard to prevent any wrestler from undo fatigue, thus increasing the possibility of injury,” . “Since there is no fatigue or exertion involved with accepting a forfeit, the committee felt that it was not necessary to count forfeits in the match total for any wrestler.”

The committee also ruled to allow the use of electronic devices for video recording and review by the wrestler or coach unless prohibited by the state high school association;  approved an addition to Rule 5-1-1 that allows for bad time if a wrestler is not given the choice of position after a two-point stalling penalty;  added “after a two-point stalling penalty” as an instance when an error occurs in positioning wrestlers that would result in canceled points during bad time; if a hair cover is worn by a wrestler, it shall be attached to the ear guards.