Land O' Lakes Loses Heartbreaker in Triple Overtime

The Land O' Lakes Gators lost a close game to the Ridgewood Rams on Friday night.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators fell to the Ridgewood Rams Feb. 4 thanks to a buzzer-beating shot in heartbreaking fashion on “Land O’ Lakes 2011 Senior Night” in triple-overtime, 61-59. It was a slow start to what ended in a dramatic victory for the Ram’s. The Gators played their hearts out and looked strong all around. The Rams made their only three-pointer of the game, with three seconds remaining in the fourth period to help send the game into the first overtime with a score of 42-42. Darrell Warren tied the game 52-52 in the second overtime with a free throw that sent Land O’ Lakes into the third overtime. He also led the team in shooting with an impressive 27-points, and a dunk at the beginning of the game, and in the first overtime. ”That …

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5 Things Includes Pizza, Ball

Looking for things to do today?

Ready to get out and enjoy some time in the Land O' Lakes area? Here's what you need to know for today, Jan. 31:

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To Know Today

5 Things Includes Writing, Basketball

Looking for things to do today? This is your place to find out what's going on.

Want to know what’s up today? Here’s the scoop for Jan. 27:

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Ulrich Family Classic Was 'Tremendous'

The tournament raised money for a scholarship in honor of a Wiregrass Ranch High School cheerleader.

The Land O' Lakes High School boys basketball team took home a win in its match during the first-ever Ulrich Family Classic Jan. 22. The night, however, was about more than a game. The five-game classic was staged to honor the memory of a Wiregrass Ranch cheerleader and her family. A special ceremony was held just prior to the final game in the tournament. In June 2010, Wiregrass cheerleader Alexa Ulrich died in a plane crash with her father, Jeffery, mother, Ronni, and sister, Carlie. There are many people that care deeply for Alexa and know what a "great person" she was, said Wiregrass students Elijah Blackman, Tori Quaglia and basketball coach Jeremy Calzone. “(Alexa) would try to be friends with everyone, and she was just a nice person…

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To Know Today

5 Things Includes Artistic Adventures, Basketball

Want to know what’s happening today?

Here’s your scoop on what’s happening in the Land O’ Lakes area that may be of interest as you go about your day:

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Basketball Player Earns Double Honors

Darrell Warren is recognized as player of the week and is named the IRC Holiday Tournament MVP.

Land O' Lakes High School's Darrell Warren is gaining a lot of recognition lately. Warren received  player of the week honors from the school for his performance on area basketball courts Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. He was also named the Indian Rocks Christian Holiday Tournament Most Valuable Player Dec. 30. The senior guard combined for a total of 52 points, four assists, six rebounds, and four steals in the three-game holiday tournament.  “(IRC Holiday MVP) is a great honor, but I’m a humble person and I’m just trying to work harder,” Warren said when asked about his thoughts on his achievement. Darrell’s mother, Shawn Warren, wasn’t expecting the honor. However, after a last-minute decision to go see him play, she was not disappointed. “(Darrell…

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Land O’ Lakes Loses Hard-Fought Game

Mitchell bests Land O' Lakes in basketball 37-32.

The Land O’ Lakes gymnasium was packed with Gator fans Jan. 7 for a close match-up against the Mitchell Mustangs. There was a back-and-forth battle on the court; however, the Mitchell Mustangs brought home the victory with a final score of 37-32. It was a tough loss for the Gators, but nonetheless, a hard fought game.  It came down to the final seconds, and was decided by free throws. “If we hadn’t played hard, I think we would of got blown out, but you have to give credit to Mitchell, they defended us pretty good,” said Land O’ Lakes head Coach Dave Puhalski. “The turnovers are what killed us. Turnovers early are just as bad as turnover’s late, and we had a lot of unforced turnovers in the first quarter.” The head coach is preaching to, “…

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Kids Get Into The Game With i9 Sports

Youth leagues are the backbone of this company's offerings.

Parents looking for a place to get their children physically active and teach them sportsmanship at the same time might find what they've been seeking at i9 Sports. Specializing in flag football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball and more, i9 is a nonprofit company based in Bradenton. Its Land O' Lakes location is responsible for many of the youth league games within Pasco County.  "We're not all about winning here," said Jimmy Barbarise, program director for i9 Sports Pasco County. "We're about building kids' confidence." While some team sports may cut young players for a lack of talent, this is not the case with i9. Barbarise said i9 puts more of an emphasis on making sure every child has a chance to play and enjoy the whole experience. …

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To Do This Week

5 Things to do This Week Includes Free Coffee From Patch

It's shaping up to be a busy week in Land O' Lakes. Here are five things you may want to consider fitting into your schedule.

With Christmas on Saturday, there's no doubt most of us will spend this week running around taking care of last-minute details. Even so, there are some great events, activities and civic meetings that are worth putting on personal agendas. Here are five of the biggest to check into:

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