Playoff time is payoff time
Student athletes regularly strive for improvements during regular season competitions with hopes of playing their best when it comes time for the postseason.
With district and regional play heating up, it’s that time for those individuals and teams to see how far they’ve come.
Ida Baker senior Miko Dougherty is one who took a step forward last Tuesday with a 2-over-par 74 in the girls’ District 2A-15 Golf Tournament. That earned her a spot in Monday’s Region 2A-5 tourney at Vineyards Country Club in Naples.
It’s an impressive bounce-back for Dougherty, who shot a disappointing 91 in the LCAC Championship.
“She didn’t play all that great at LCAC and felt she needed to redeem herself,” Baker coach Scott Conforte said. “She went down in the middle of the week to practice and said she had a great practice round and felt comfortable on that golf course.”
Dougherty, who won the 2008 Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Jr. Masters, has played on the boys’ team at Baker the past two years.
She’s one of two Baker golfers to advance to Monday’s regionals. The other is junior Michael Faulkner, who turned in a 3-over-par 75 at the District 2A-15 Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club in Naples.
Faulkner is joined by Cape Coral freshman Anthony Myers at Monday’s Regional Meet at Heron Creek in North Port.
The top two teams and top two individuals advance to state.
The Region 6-1A tournament is Monday at The Hideout in Naples. Bishop Verot hopes to advance to the state meet for the second straight year.
Junior Jack Hernandez and senior Chase Marinell led the Vikings to the District 1A-17 title Monday, finishing first and second, respectively.
Sixteen schools converge Monday at the YMCA Norris Pool in Naples for the District 2A-10 Swimming & Diving Championships.
Cape High has momentum after winning the girls’ LCAC Championship this week, but coach Dianne Kimble realizes the caliber of teams vying for the district title and regional berths.
“This is one of the largest and certainly one of the fastest (districts),” Kimble said. “There are definitely some big programs in this district. You have to be on your game.”
Though only a freshman, Sean O’Connor leads Ida Baker’s charge, after winning the LCAC diving title.
Fort Myers (21-4) hosts the District 4A-11 volleyball tournament and is the team to beat. None of the other district teams have been a threat to the Wave this season. They’ve won every set in district play.
Eighth-seeded Mariner gets the first crack at the Wave at 7 p.m. Monday. Play begins at 5 p.m. with Riverdale-Estero and Cypress Lake-North Fort Myers.
If Fort Myers continues its dominance in taking the district title, that leaves one regional berth for the runner-up. That race should be up for grabs.
Ida Baker (16-6) has been the top team in the West Zone, but the Bulldogs must get past dangerous Lemon Bay at 7 p.m. Monday.
The semifinals are Tuesday with the championship Wednesday.
Unbeaten Bishop Verot (21-0) begins its playoff quest Tuesday in the District 3A-12 tourney at LaBelle.