In their first Premier pool match of the Student Sports Invitational at the Ed Radice Sports Complex, the Bulls beat Melbourne Central Catholic 1-0 in penalty kicks - a victory that was a lot like a win to start last year's tournament for Bloomingdale goalie Chris Sedlak.

The senior stopped a late breakaway chance by Melbourne Central Catholic, then made the big save they needed in penalty kicks. He not only turned away the fifth PK by Melbourne Central Catholic's Declain McGrory, he also took and made Bloomingdale's fifth penalty kick for the win.

Last season, Bloomingdale won its Student Sports first-round match against Quartz Hill, Calif., in almost identical fashion when Sedlak stopped a penalty kick and made the final PK for a Bulls victory.

``I wasn't really thinking about it until about five minutes left,'' Sedlak said. ``Then I thought about last year. I felt pretty confident going in, though, because I've already saved two penalty kicks this year.

``Once I made the save, I was definitely fired up to make my shot and get out of the cold with a win.''

Bloomingdale, ranked No. 5 in the country in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas poll, played its first match Saturday at 9 a.m. after a long night Friday. The Bulls traveled to defeat district foe Sarasota 4-0, but the match started 1 1/2 hours late. By the time Bloomingdale's bus arrived back at school, it was midnight.

``Some players only got a few hours of sleep,'' Bloomingdale coach Sam Isajar said. ``But they were able to come back and play well.''

Todd Foley

Brandon, Palm Harbor Advance In Elite Group
TAMPABrandon will face Palm Harbor on Monday for a place in the final four of the Elite bracket in the Student Sports Soccer Tournament after gaining four points in its first two games.

After losing 6-5 on penalties to Hialeah American in their opening game after a 1-1 tie in regulation, the Eagles faced a must win against perennial force Jacksonville Bolles if they were to advance to the championship stage.

They did with a 2-0 win.

While both teams looked lethargic, playing their second games in five hours, Brandon took control in the midfield and was able to open the scoring 17 minutes in when Ryan Teneyck finished a near-post header.

The Eagles doubled their lead nine minutes later as Andy Skiffington finished a through ball from Cabot Brown, and after making the Bolles defender fall down after turning him inside out, Skiffington coolly slotted his finish past Bolles goalkeeper Doug Tutwiler to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.

``We'll take a win against a team like this anytime,'' Brandon coach Alan Ware said. ``The important thing is that we control our own destiny, which is all you can ask for when you come to a tournament like this.''

Brandon was able to use this tournament last season to kick-start its season, one that ended with a state title.

Palm Harbor won both of its opening pool games thanks to its calmness from the penalty spot. Palm Harbor beat Bolles 4-2 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie, then beat Hialeah American 5-4 after a 2-2 tie to put the Hurricanes even with Brandon with four points at the top of their group.

Nicholas Murray

Berkeley Prep Reaches Outback Title Game
TAMPA - Senior guard Spiros Ferderigos scored 21 points to lead host Berkeley Prep to a 79-62 victory against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in a semifinal game in the inaugural Outback Steakhouse Invitational.

Juniors Brandon Suarez and Hamilton Hunt each added 14 points for the Bucs (6-0). Steve Young led Cardinal Mooney with a game-high 23 points. Berkeley Prep advanced to face Kissimmee Gateway on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the tournament final.

``We are going to have our hands full,'' Berkeley Prep coach Bobby Reinhart said. ``They are very athletic. They have size, strength and lots of quickness. They are the most athletic and physical team we'll play so far. I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a good test to see where we are.''

Gateway shot 16-for-20 from the foul line during a 24-12 fourth quarter to defeat St. Petersburg 71-61 in the other semifinal. Keaton Grant scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter to pace Gateway (7-1).

``The free throws were very encouraging for us,'' Gateway coach Bob Baker said. ``We've been a team in the past that shot better from the field than the line. Our kids really came through when they had to.''

Brian Blakely and Ricky Pena each scored 18 points to lead St. Petersburg (6-1), which plays Cardinal Mooney in the third-place game Monday at 5:50 p.m.

Chris Fredricks

CLEARWATER 53, WHARTON 42: In the Brighthouse Shootout, Clearwater (6-0) broke open a tight contest with a 13-2 run to take a 26-15 lead during a 5:41 stretch spanning the first and second quarters.

Wharton's Nate Erickson made two 3-pointers within 26 seconds to pull the Wildcats (6-2) to within 26-21. But Clearwater answered with four points in the final 1:10 of the half to take a nine-point lead.

Clearwater hit three 3-pointers in the third to build its lead to 14.

That lead proved to be insurmountable as Wharton managed only 10 fourth-quarter points in dropping its second game of the tournament.

Luke Postorino scored 17 points for Clearwater.

Steve Karalekas

Cambridge Wins Title By Defeating Armwood
TAMPA - Cambridge staved off a late Armwood rally to win 49-47 in the championship of the Lady Lancers Christmas Classic.

With Cambridge leading 48-44 and less than 15 seconds to play, the Hawks' Ashley Armstrong hit a jumper to cut the deficit to two, then stole the ball and was fouled attempting a layup with 3.2 seconds remaining.

After making the first free throw, Armstrong bounced the second one off the back of the rim and the Lancers' Marie Williams rebounded to secure the win.

Monique Reynard led Armwood with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, but she was held scoreless in the second half.

``I think fatigue played a small part in that,'' Cambridge coach Karim Nohra said. ``But we changed up our presses in the second half and decided not to give them the 3-pointers, so we went to a man-to-man defense.''

The switch worked as the Lancers (7-2) held Armwood to two third-quarter points, turning a three-point halftime deficit into a four-point lead they would never give up.

``The third quarter was the difference,'' Nohra said.

Armwood hurt its chances with poor free-throw shooting. The Hawks (6-4) hit three of 15.

Andrea McAdoo led Cambridge with 15 points, and tournament MVP Alexis Walker added 14.

Members of the all-tournament team included Brandon's Roni Carithers, Gaither's Whitney Harper, Reynard and Willonda Windham from Armwood, and McAdoo.

In the consolation game, Gaither beat Brandon 43-42.