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Durant Heads To Tournament

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Jesuit High School soccer tournament has been around for years and draws numerous top area teams, but this weekend marks Durant's first appearance in the event.

That's because the Cougars might not have been able to hang in the past. This year is a different story.

"It's a very competitive tournament. This year I think we're ready for it," said Durant head coach Jamin Hollingsworth.

His team, laden with seniors, is off to an undefeated start and has clinched a first-place finish in District 6A-8. Although the 7-0 start is reason to get excited, the Cougars really can make an impression by coming away with some wins this weekend.

So loaded is the Jesuit event - called the High School Soccer Invitational - that the 32 schools have to be split into Elite and Premiere brackets. Durant will play three teams in its pool, including the hosts, who recently found a perennial spot in the national rankings.

Although Jesuit is hosting and has an incredible home stadium complete with artificial turf, because of the size of the tourney games are played at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in North Tampa.

Durant will face Jesuit at 8 p.m. Saturday. On Monday, the Cougars line up against another state power, Tallahassee Lincoln, in a 3 p.m. game and then face Mitchell at 8 that night.

"This will be a great test to see where we are at and what we need to work on," Hollingsworth said.

Thus far, the Cougars have been making relatively easy work of their opponents. Three of their wins were by one goal, and the others were lopsided. Last week, Durant took care of East Bay, 3-2, in a game that decided the top spot in 6A-8. The Cougars went to 5-0 in district play, and even if they lost to Plant City in a match scheduled for Tuesday, Durant will still finish in first place.
Cecil Clarke has returned as Durant's leading scorer, and Billy Fanning is second on the team in goals and points. Also a strong suit is the defense, which is an all-senior unit (Freeman Bass, Jarrett Williams, Micah Garcia, Tommy McCandless). Williams moved from playing up to strengthen the back line.

"Those guys are like their own clique, and that's good," Hollingsworth said. "I like to challenge them to put up shutouts every time."

After the Jesuit tournament, the Cougars are off for Christmas break but return to another quality event when they play in the Wharton Invitational. Durant is scheduled to play Alonso (a defending 6A region finalist), Bloomingdale and Lennard.

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