ROLAND PARK TOPS TOMLIN IN COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Hillsborough County Girls Basketball County Championship was won by Roland Park as they defeat the Tomlin Tigers by a score of 40-27.  Although Roland Park won by 13 points the game was much closer than the scoreboard indicated.  The Tomlin Tigers 6th grade group outscored Roland Park 6th grade group by 20-1.  These 6th graders were hustling and playing great fundamentals.  In the future this 6th grade group will keep Tomlin as one of the county’s top girls basketball programs.  Tomlin's 7th and 8th grade group battled and played with a lot of emotion against a team that was bigger, stronger and faster.  The Tomlin players, fans and parents displayed lots of class.  The Tigers are well coached and there is no doubt in my mind that this team will find its way back into the championship tournament next year. 
The real difference in the game was the play of three players that really made the difference:

Alise Davis:  College scouts better start keeping track of this young lady.  Alise controlled the game form the start.  She just simply dominated and could not be stopped.  Alise Davis scored 24 points along with 8 rebounds in her last game of her middle school career.  She is fast, athletic and is a total force down in the paint.  Remember her name because she will be a star next year playing at the high school varsity level as a freshman.

Rachel Hagens: Rachel played spirited defense and has some key steals, points and assist.  Rachel stopped the Tigers 10-0 run late in the 2nd half with 2 key steals.  She did not only do it on defense she also dropped 9 points on the Tomlin Tigers.  Rachel is a 7th grader and will now have the mission of leading her team back to the championship next year as an 8th grader.

Mia Blocker:  By far one of the best 8th grade point guards in Hillsborough county.  She has speed, leadership, and makes her teammates better.  Mia will be able to play at the varsity level as a freshman.  Her contributions to the game were 9 points, 6 assist and 5 steals.  Most importantly, with under 1:30 left in the game, she showed class.  Coming up with a couple of steals and having a clear layup lane on the fast break, Mia pulled back acknowledging her team had the victory in hand.  While other players would have taken the shot to pump up their stats, this young lady showed true sportsmanship and dribbled out to let time expire.

What's the common denominator with Mia, Alise and Rachel?  They play for the Tampa bay Inferno.  Playing in over 70 games from March to August, these girls gained valuable experience.  They played against the best competition in the country and continue to improve their skills during TBI's by weekly strength and conditioning program. 

TOMLIN: You girls have an open invitation to join our organization.  We will welcome you with open arms and help you take your game to the next level.

The most important thing about the Hillsborough county championship is the fact the Roland Park will forever remember this game.  Twenty years from now when Alise, Mia, Rachel and the rest of the Roland Park team reminisces about their basketball careers they will remember this game.  They will forget all of the competitive AAU tournament games and all of the regular season HS games but they will never forget the night they became COUNTY CHAMPIONS.

 Right to left: Alise Davis, Rachel Hagens and Mia Blocker

TBI CONGRATULATES ROLAND PARK!