Plant Beats Jesuit for First FHSAA District Championship
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Above – Plant High School Celebrates – All photos by Jose Marnotes
The H.B Plant Panthers won the District 15 Championship over Jesuit (Tampa) 13-7 Tuesday night renewing a great Tampa rivalry. The Panthers claimed their first District Championship in the inaugural year of varsity lacrosse in Hillsborough County Schools. Plant came out fast as sophomore attackman Danny Carlson scored first. Jesuit scored three unanswered goals to lead 3-1 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter opened with a Plant goal by Stuart Brannan on an assist from Mason Beedy. This was quickly followed by goals by senior captain Julian Taylor (Roanoke) and Mason Beedy with an assist from Bennett Taylor (Army) to tie the game at 4-4. Plant gave up two more goals to finish the half down 6-4.
The Panthers’ defense, led by senior captain Grant Preston (Washington & Lee), senior Sean McClelland and junior Chase Rumbley, came out strong in the second half, while senior goalie Christian Chambers gave up only one Jesuit goal. Plant started a scoring trend that included goals by Enrique Marnotes, Eric Port and Danny Carlson to finish the third quarter leading Jesuit 7-6.
Jesuit would not lead again as the Panthers hit their stride and scored five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter. Middie sophomore Enrique Marnotes and Stuart Brannan both scored two more goals for hat tricks. The quarter was rounded out with goals by Julian Taylor and Eric Port with assists by MG Maltarp and Mason Beedy. Sophomore LSM Bennett Taylor led the Panthers with four take-aways and four ground balls. The Panthers will host Newsome High School on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM in the first round play-in.
Austin Curtis and Noah Menendez scored two goals each for Jesuit.
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Photos: Plant District Champs, #24 Enrique Marnotes, #22 Julian Taylor, #9 Bennett Taylor and Defense after turnover.