EAST MANATEE -- The Braden River boys basketball team, which opens region play tonight at home against Port St. Lucie, will again be without two-year starting point guard Steven Ross.
The senior is most likely done for the season, the Bradenton Herald has learned. Ross was suspended prior to the district tournament for what school officials described as undisclosed reasons. Apparently he is not coming back.
Braden River managed to win the district title without Ross, who was the quarterback for the Pirates football team last season. But the regions could get a lot tougher, particularly if the Pirates win tonight to set up a possible meeting with Stuart Martin County next Tuesday.
The Pirates have done a good job adjusting with Tre’ Bryant and Tommy Bernhardt sharing a lot of the point guard duties. Bryant, Braden River’s leading scorer, has shown his multi-talented skills by continuing to provide scoring while helping to run the offense.
