Local roundup: Manatee nips Saint Stephen’s; girls hoops squad now 6-0

The Manatee Hurricanes survived a fourth-quarter rally by the visiting Saint Stephen’s Falcons to prevail 48-46 in a girls basketball game Wednesday.

With the victory, the Canes improved to 6-0 for the season.

Manatee had led the entire game until Saint Stephen’s took the lead in the fourth quarter. The Canes scored four straight points in the last 30 seconds to take the final two-point lead.

Falcons players LeNae Jones (16 points) and Sarah Stephens (12) led all scorers. Claudia Sbaschnik added nine points for the Falcons (2-3).

Tay Watson led Manatee with 11 points. Ophelia Lidge added eight points, three steals and eight rebounds. She was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line with 7 seconds left as the Canes took the lead for final time. Andrea Soto had eight points, three steals, four assists and scored a layup to tie the game at 46-46.

Manatee hosts Lakewood Ranch at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Saint Stephen’s travels to Bradenton Christian for a 5:30 tipoff Thursday.

Boys basketball

Southeast 53, Braden River 49: Southeast’s Ced Brooks scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds as the Seminoles beat the Pirates.

Alex Taylor had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Kam’ron Green tallied 14 points for Southeast.

Leading Braden River were Quinn York (15 points) and Daveon Wortham (10).

Southeast’s junior varsity won 56-26.

Girls soccer

Saint Stephen’s 8, Sarasota Christian 0: The Falcons scored five second half goals en route to victory at home against the Blazers.

With the win, the Falcons improved to 3-0 in district play and 6-1 overall.

Ayla Johnston led the offensive effort with a three-goal hat trick. Adding individual goals were Kendall Miller, Katie Pierce, Zoey Block, Stacie Burgess (penalty kick) and Baylee Barker. Providing assists were Aubrey Dunbar, Johnston, Rena Parent, Barker and KK Hart.

The Falcons defense allowed no shots on goal.

Saint Stephen’s hosts Out-of-Door Academy at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Boys soccer

Saint Stephen’s 8, Sarasota Christian 0: Threee Falcons players scored two goals and added an assist apiece in a blowout of the visiting Blazers.

Scoring twice and adding an assist apiece were Chase Thornton, Ben Whorf and Jacob Whorf.

Noah LaBelle and Truman Carlson each scored a goal, and Chris Pennewill added two assists.

Saint Stephen’s improved to 5-0-1 overall and 2-0 in district play.

Saint Stephen’s hosts Out-of-Door Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Lakewood Ranch 2, Manatee 0: The host Mustangs won Tuesday’s home conference game against the Hurricanes.

Wilmer Yanez and Pablo Vargas scored goals, and Ryan Freeman had two saves as the Mustangs improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in district play.

This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Local roundup: Manatee nips Saint Stephen’s; girls hoops squad now 6-0."