Boy, the hoopsters were hitting last night. Lots of big games, and one little game from someone who usually turns in big games.
Here's your second-to-last Morning Meanderings of the year. But we will be out at Freedom's girls game Thursday against Steinbrenner. Look us up.
PLAYER OF THE NIGHT
Wesley Chapel's Erik Thomas kind of went off last night.
The 6-foot-5 senior, about as good an inside player as there is in Tampa Bay, scored 45 points and grabbed 26 rebounds in a win over Gulf. He shot 16-for-27 from the floor and made 12 of 14 free throws.
But get this: it's not his first 40-point, 20-rebound game this season. It's his second.
In a row!
Five days ago, Thomas went for what was then a career-high 41 points and pulled down 22 rebounds in a win over Fivay.
For the season, Thomas is averaging 31.8 points and 18 rebounds in nine games.
MIND BLOWING STAT OF THE NIGHT
Faith Woodard only had nine points in a 65-18 blowout win over Wiregrass Ranch, which is understandable considering the margin of victory. But how unusual is that?
Really, really unusual. Like, Halley's Comet unusual. Or Lindsay Lohan not getting arrested unusual.
The single-digit effort snapped a string of 82 consecutive regular-season games in which the Freedom senior had scored in double figures. The last time she failed to do so was the only other time in her high school career she failed to put up double-digit points: Dec. 1, 2009, when she scored eight for Riverview, her freshman season, in a 58-20 win. (She missed six of eight free throws, if you're wondering how that happened.)
So, that means in 84 high school games - unofficially - Woodard has dropped at least 10 points 82 times. And if you're counting playoff games, it's 84 for 87, as Haines City held her to four points in last year's playoff loss.
RODERICK RULES
Sssssh, don't look now, but the Brandon boys are back. After going 24-5 in 2007-08, the Eagles have posted four straight losing seasons, including going 9-15 last year. But behind 6-foot-8 junior Roderick Davis and senior guard Avewry Bolton, the Eagles are off to a 6-0 start.
And lest you think they are fattening up on some easy early-season competition, consider: in their past two wins, the Eagles handed East Bay and Armwood their only losses of the season.
Here are some video highlights from their 42-39 win over Armwood on Monday, with a few dunks -- including a vicious alley-oop -- by the aforementioned Mr. Davis, who is wearing No. 35.
TOP SCORERS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT
BOYS
Erik Thomas, Wesley Chapel 44
Matt Cassity, Seminole 32 (on eight 3-pointers)
Adonis Welch, Carrollwood Day 27
Jared Gregory, Lakewood 27
John Childs, River Ridge 25
Jordan leston, Clearwater 23
Tymere Carter, Anclote 23
Jack Fleming, Jesuit 22
Jay Joyer, Shorecrest 22
Christian Renner, Canterbury 21
Curtis Walls, Cambridge 21
Andrew Sanders, Plant 21 (and 15 rebounds)
Keith Harrington, Northeast 21
Gary Wintermeier, CCC 21
Alex Mitura, Plant 20
Ben Kieler, CCC 20
Alicia Artley, Fivay 30
Taylor Emery, Freedom 30
Caroline Shelton, Indian Rocks Christian 26
Ivey Green, Countryside 22
Savannah Plentovich, Calvary Christian 20
Yasmine Moore, Tarpon Springs 20
Haley Gossard, Northside Christian 19
John C. Cotey does Morning Meanderings, so hit him up at johncotey@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @JohnnyHomeTeam