Sports
Plant Panthers USF Sling and Shoot Cut Short by Weather
Both Panther teams, "Plant1" and "Plant2" teams did well at the 2012 USF Sling and Shoot. Plant1 reached the quarterfinals before the tournament was called off because of stormy weather.
The, true to form, played a three-man rotation at quarterback for the team known as :"Plant1." Senior Aaron Banks playing slightly more games than fellow senior Kyle Groh and sophomore Colby Brown. Groh and Brown rotated at quarterback for the "Plant2" team.
It did not matter who was throwing the ball. Panther receivers were hauling in long balls left and right. Plant1 crusied to 6-0 in day one, knocking off teams fromTampa Bay Tech, Gibbs, Blake, Hardee, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota), and Westwood. Plant2 went 5-1. Again, the fast feet of seniors Wes Bullock and Dereck Mann proved too much for defenses to handle. A host of Panther receivers made their presences known.
"We're going to be a little different this year at receiver," said Plant High wide receivers coach TJ Lane.
Find out what's happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In 2011, the Panthers relied on three primary receivers, Austin Aikens, Daniel Casselli and senior Dereck Mann.
"This year, we could start five receivers," said Lane.
Find out what's happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Seniors KJ Walker, Tristan Cooper, Mann, John Rutledge, and Ronald Winter all had a stellar tournament as the Panthers shredded most of their competition. In elimination play, the Panthers took out Hillsborough in a chippy game. The Panthers prevailed 26-14. They then knocked out Carrollwood Day School and were just a few minutes into the quarterfinals with Steinbrenner High School when lightning lit up the sky and the clouds closed in.
The rain-out signaled the end of the 7on7 season for the Panthers. They now have a lot better idea of what their working with as the regular season looms closer and closer.
