Daytona State 81, Central Florida 75 (MBB)

Daytona State completed the homecoming sweep of Central Florida on Saturday night, handing the Patriots an 81-75 defeat and knocking CF from the ranks of the Mid-Florida Conference unbeaten.

Central Florida (21-5, 3-1 MFC) shook off a 38-37 halftime deficit to build an 8-point lead with just under 9 minutes to play before folding down the stretch. The Patriots shook off their recent shooting woes, making 52 percent from the field and 12 of 24 from 3-point range, but were done in by struggles on the glass, allowing 23 offensive rebounds as the Falcons (17-6, 4-0) took 75 shots to CF's 56.

Ricardo Ratliffe scored 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting and added 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Justin Cecil was the only other Patriot in double figures with 12 points, including 3 shots from long range.

The loss puts CF at risk for falling into the conference tournament, which includes the MFC's second through fifth-place teams with the conference's second state tournament berth at stake. The Patriots, if both they and the Falcons win out, would have a chance to force a tie for the conference title on the last day of the season, a Feb. 17 visit to Daytona. Next up, CF hosts last-place FSC-Jacksonville on Feb. 6.

Visit the CF Patriots YouTube channel for highlights of this game.

South Florida 9, Central Florida 3; South Florida 14, Central Florida 4 (SOFT)

Central Florida opened its spring softball season in unpleasant fashion on Saturday, dropping both sides of a doubleheader against South Florida in Avon Park. SFCC won the first game 9-3 and the second 14-4.

Jessica Chewning enjoyed a productive two games, going 2-for-3 with a home run and 2 runs scored in the opener and 3-4 with a double and an RBI in the nightcap. Fellow sophomore Katie Hayes went 2-for-3 in each game to aid the CF offense.

Jessica Knight and Megan Still took the losses on the mound for the Patriots (0-2).

Daytona State 72, Central Florida 59 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots sunk deeper into the Mid-Florida Conference pack on Saturday, falling 72-59 to Daytona State to fall below .500 in MFC play.

CF (16-9, 2-3), playing without standout sophomores Markeshia Grant and Olivia Nino, was paced by Amber Powe's 13 points and a 12-point, 9-rebound effort from Tyeshia Battles. The Lady Falcons (11-12, 2-3) quickly put a damper on the women's half of the homecoming hoops doubleheader, building leads of 8-0 and 20-3 on their way to a 34-24 halftime lead and a comfortable 13-point final margin.

The setback all but assures Santa Fe the MFC title, though CF should still reach the postseason and the conference sends the top three of its four teams to the state tournament. A third-place finish behind Santa Fe and Daytona, however, sets up a first-round matchup with juggernaut Gulf Coast. A loss at last-place FSC-Jacksonville on Saturday, however, raises the possibility of missing the playoffs entirely.

Central Florida 9, Young Harris 0 (TENNIS)

Central Florida swept Georgia program Young Harris on Friday at Jacksonville, evening its season record to 1-1.

Singles

1. Bethania Laan (CF) def. Black 6-1, 6-0

2. Terri Thomas (CF) def. Deese 6-2, 6-0

3. Julia Ferraz (CF) def. Smith 6-0, 6-0

4. Kelly Bush (CF) def. Michelle Allen 4-6, 6-0, 10-5

5. Savannah Sapienza (CF) def. Maxwell 6-1, 6-2

6. Amanda Ingrilli (CF), default

Doubles

1. Laan/Ferraz (CF) def. Black/Smith 8-2

2. Thomas/Bush (CF) def. Deese/Allen 8-2

3. Sapienza/Ingrilli (CF), default

Patriots Post-Game: Central Florida 4, St. Petersburg 3 (BASE)

Central Florida standouts Paul Karmeris and Dru Jones discuss the Patriots' 4-3 defeat of St. Petersburg in the team's season opener on Friday.

Central Florida 4, St. Petersburg 3 (BASE)

Central Florida opened a promising 2010 spring baseball season with an encouraging win Friday, beating St. Petersburg 4-3 behind a solid team pitching effort and a pair of home runs.

Sophomore catcher Dru Jones hit a two-run shot in the fourth and freshman designated hitter Paul Karmeris notched a solo homer in the sixth for the FCCAA No. 10 Patriots, now 1-0 off the starting line. Tito Mendoza's fifth-inning RBI double provided the other run as CF answered St. Pete scores in the fourth and fifth innings.

Patriot ace Matt Gendron yielded 7 hits over 5 innings while striking out 4 and walking 2. The sophomore right-hander allowed 3 runs, 2 of them earned, and was left out of the decision. Tim Luksha tossed 3 shutout innings out of the bullpen to pick up the win, and fellow sophomore left-hander Chris Labriola stranded St. Pete's go-ahead runner on second base for the save.

While the schedule calls for a noon doubleheader against Northwest Florida State on Saturday, weather forecasts suggest otherwise. Visit this site before coming out to the game for word of weather delays or cancellation.

Highlights: Central Florida 69, Santa Fe 66 (MBB)

A couple of key plays from Central Florida's 69-66 win over Mid-Florida Conference rival Santa Fe on Saturday.

Central Florida 69, Santa Fe 66 (MBB)

Central Florida won the season's first showdown against local rival Santa Fe on Wednesday, notching a gritty 69-66 victory and surviving its second consecutive test from a worthy Mid-Florida Conference foe.

The Patriots (21-4, 3-0), who on Saturday outlasted St. Johns River 110-102 in double overtime, stayed undefeated in MFC play and pushed the Saints (13-9, 1-2) below .500 in the early conference standings. Ricardo Ratliffe posted game-highs of 28 points and 15 rebounds, Josh Proctor had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Justin Cecil added 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Santa Fe took a 29-28 lead into the halftime locker room, moved ahead by as much as eight in the second half and held on to a narrow lead down the stretch. The win came despite subpar shooting from the usually dead-eyed Patriots, who shot 35 percent from the field in the first half and 41 percent for the game. CF also went just 2 for 12 from 3-point range, missing all four of its second-half attempts from deep.

Homecoming Saturday brings yet another formidable opponent in Daytona State, the MFC's other undefeated team entering Wednesday's games. That's a 7:30 p.m. tip, following the women's game.

Santa Fe 70, Central Florida 59 (WBB)

Santa Fe won on the Lady Patriots' home court for the second time this season, handing CF a convincing 70-59 setback in a key Mid-Florida Conference matchup.

CF fell behind 25-10 early, trailed by 11 at halftime and never got closer than five down the stretch. Tyeshia Battles carried the weight offensively in the absence of injured star Markeshia Grant, scoring 24 points and playing straight through before fouling out in the final minute. Jamesha Willis joined her in double figures with 10 points.

The seventh-ranked Patriots fall to 16-8 and 2-2 in MFC play, while the sixth-ranked Saints (16-7, 5-0) stayed undefeated in conference play and built what might be an insurmountable lead as the conference schedule approaches the halfway point.

Mesa Projected to Start at College of Charleston

Former Patriot baseball standout Jesse Mesa should man second base for Division I College of Charleston this season, it says here. The SEBaseball.com report is a thorough preview of the Cougars' prospects this season, including a projected starting lineup featuring the former CF star and son of major league pitcher Jesse Mesa holding down the 4 spot.

Sunshine State Conference Preview

Following up on Tuesday's summary of Patriot baseball alumni competing at the four-year level, here's a comprehensive season preview of the Sunshine State Conference. Four of the SSC's nine-team membership have Central Florida graduates on the roster.

Former Patriots Dot the Four-Year Baseball Landscape

First pitch arrives at Central Florida on Friday, but the Patriots' reach into the world of college baseball goes much, much further. Here's a list of former Patriot stars now playing at the four-year level, with links to their player profiles. If you're a fan of any of the listed players, be sure to visit CFPatriots.com throughout the season for updates on their achievements.

Division I

• Easily the best prospect among recent CF graduates is Nick Ebert, a pre-season All-American third baseman entering his senior year at South Carolina. A former draft pick of the New York Yankees, Ebert has the opportunity to play his way into the early rounds of this year's draft while leading the Gamecocks in SEC competition.
• A second-team All-State selection at CF and the son of major league pitcher Jose Mesa, infielder Jesse Mesa is poised to make an impact for Southern Conference contender College of Charleston.
• A pitcher and position player at CF, Kyle Maulbetsch has settled into the first base slot at Stetson, an Atlantic Sun Conference power in nearby DeLand.
• Third baseman Juan Perez begins his NCAA career this season with Bethune-Cookman, a MEAC school in Daytona Beach.

Division II

• Former do-everything Patriot Jon Koenigsfeld has continued to bring value to his team at Valdosta State, a Gulf South Conference school in Valdosta, Ga. The senior shortstop was named to the GSC's top 10 all-around student-athletes after his standout junior campaign.

Sunshine State Conference

Former Patriots are all over the rosters of the Sunshine State Conference, a highly competitive NCAA Division II league with nine member schools across Florida.

• Former All-State outfielder Yas Gutierrez is now excelling at Barry University (Miami Shores). Gutierrez finished third on the team in batting average and home runs as a junior while earning first-team all-conference honors.
• Nova Southeastern (Fort Lauderdale) features no less than four former Patriots on its roster in infielder Luis Penate, outfielder Matt Seese, catcher Michael Hartley and pitcher Nick Avila.
• Catcher Dane Derstine earned honorable mention All-American status at CF, and he's now manning the plate for Lynn University (Boca Raton), the defending DII champions.
• Flagler College (St. Augustine) boasts a pair of Patriot products in first baseman Zach Bove and outfielder Jarrod Simmons.

NAIA

• CF alumnus Tommy Reed mans second base for Montreat College, an Appalachian Athletic Conference member located in Montreat, N.C.
• Pitcher Jason Ferguson enters his senior season as a key piece for Tennessee Wesleyan, an AAC school in Athens, Tenn.

Ricardo Ratliffe Named FCCAA Player of the Week

Central Florida All-American power forward Ricardo Ratliffe was named the FCCAA Player of the Week on Tuesday. It's the third time the 6-9 sophomore has claimed that distinction this season; he won consecutive awards Nov. 17 and Nov. 24. From the FCCAA press release:

Central Florida Community College’s Ricardo Ratliffe is this week’s FCCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Ratliffe averaged 38.5 points and 14.0 rebounds as the Patriots opened Mid-Florida Conference play with wins over Florida State College and St. Johns River. Against Florida State College on January 20, he hit 15-of-23 field goals en route to a 37-point night, one in which he also grabbed 15 rebounds. Three days later, he tallied 40 points and 13 rebounds in the Patriots’ double-overtime win over St. Johns River. For the week, Ratliffe shot 69.0 percent (29-of-42) from the floor and 66.7 percent (16-of-24) from the free throw line.

Men, Women Hold Rankings in FCCAA State Poll

Both the Patriots and Lady Patriots maintained their respective rankings in the latest FCCAA men's and women's basketball polls, released Tuesday. The men hold steady at third, while the women remain at seventh. Here's the men's top 10:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Northwest Florida State (15) 20-1 150 1

2. Tallahassee 18-3 134 2

3. Central Florida 20-4 119 3

4. Indian River State 14-4 102 4

5. Broward 17-5 76 6

6. Daytona State 16-6 67 8

7. St. Petersburg 12-7 54 7

8. Chipola 16-4 53 5

9. Polk State 13-8 20 --

10. Pensacola 12-10 19 --

Also receiving votes: Santa Fe 16, Hillsborough 6, Gulf Coast 5, Pasco-Hernando 4.
Dropped from rankings: No. 9t Pasco-Hernando, No. 9t Santa Fe.

And the women's top 10:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (12) 19-0 129 1

2. Pensacola (1) 19-2 118 2

3. Tallahassee 14-5 95 4

4. Indian River State 16-3 91 5

5. Northwest Florida State 14-4 80 3

6. Santa Fe 15-7 60 6

7. Central Florida 16-7 46 7

8. Hillsborough 13-5 40 8t

9. Palm Beach State 13-6 26 10

10. Chipola 10-10 21 8t

Also receiving votes: Daytona State 5, Miami Dade 4.

Patriots Rank Tenth in Preseason State Baseball Poll

Central Florida debuts at No. 10 in the FCCAA baseball poll, the preseason version of which was released Tuesday. Chipola ranks first, as it often does, but the other big news here is the presence of Mid-Florida Conference rival Santa Fe at No. 2, and in fact receiving seven first-place votes to Chipola's six. Two ways to look at that: one, CF will have its hands full with its I-75 rival this year; or two, another MFC team has the hard luck of starting the season with the target on its back. Here it is in full:

Rank Team (First-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Chipola (6) 27-18-1 179 7

2. Santa Fe (7) 28-19 152 5

3. Miami Dade (4) 37-10 151 1

4. State College of Florida 34-16-1 109 3

5. St. Petersburg (1) 32-23 99 8

6. Palm Beach State (1) 31-18 93 --

7. Tallahassee 37-14 67 2

8. Gulf Coast (1) 32-20 55 --

9. Broward 32-14 48 4

10. Central Florida 35-16 43 6

Also receiving votes: Pensacola 36, Northwest Florida State 18, Daytona State 16, Seminole State College 15, Polk State 13, Florida State College 2, Hillsborough 2, St. Johns River 1, South Florida 1.
 
A note: CF received a vote but did not crack the top 10 in the FCCAA preseason softball poll, available here.

Central Florida 110, St. Johns River 102, 2OT (MBB)

St. Johns River has always had a reputation for being incredibly scrappy and hard to put away. Saturday's game can serve as Exhibit A in proving that reputation well-deserved.

The host Vikings battled FCCAA No. 3 Central Florida into two extra periods Saturday night before the favored Patriots finally put together a decisive run. CF survived the perilous trip to Palatka with a 110-102 double overtime victory and records of 20-4 overall and 2-0 in Mid-Florida Conference play. 

The Patriots nearly had the game won in regulation, but SJR's Tony Baker hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime. That ended in a standoff too, however, as CF's Josh Proctor hit two clutch free throws to necessitate another overtime period. The Patriots' depth and talent advantages kicked in at that point, and the visitors rattled off an 11-0 run to start the second overtime and bring the dramatic game to a anticlimactic conclusion.

Ricardo Ratliffe, the recently-crowned school career scoring champion, continued to raise the bar for future Patriot scorers with a 40-point effort. Justin Cecil added 24 points, while Proctor finished with 18.

The Patriots have a few days to recover from this epic, next facing Santa Fe on Wednesday at the tail end of a women's and men's conference doubleheader. Those four halves of basketball start at 6 p.m.

Patriots Sign Local Prep Star Scott Schaub

Central Florida baseball added an impact player to its 2011 class on Wednesday as Ocala Vanguard infielder Scott Schaub signed a scholarship to begin his college career with the hometown Patriots. Schaub earned first-team all-area honors from the Ocala Star-Banner as a junior last season, hitting .384 with 22 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 26 RBIs. In the video above, Schaub and Patriots coach Marty Smith discuss Schaub's addition to the Central Florida fold.

Central Florida 81, FSC-Jacksonville 68 (MBB)

The Patriots got their eight-game Mid-Florida Conference schedule off to a brilliant start on Wednesday, handling host FSC-Jacksonville 81-68 behind an offensive outburst from Ricardo Ratliffe and a stifling overall defensive effort.

Ratliffe, who last Friday became the school's career scoring leader, padded his new record with a dominant 37-point effort. Josh Proctor added 12 and Travis Johnson 10 to join him in double figures. CF's defense, after facing four consecutive subpar offenses in a series of non-league games in January, celebrated the long-awaited date with a conference opponent with a signature defensive performance that should send a message throughout the MFC.

CF (19-4, 1-0) visits St. Johns River on Saturday before hosting Santa Fe in the nightcap of a women's and men's doubleheader Jan. 27.

Central Florida 83, FSC-Jacksonville 70 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots improved to 2-1 in Mid-Florida Conference play Wednesday with a solid 83-70 road win over FSC-Jacksonville.

Central Florida exploited its deep reservoir of talent in the victory as six players scored between 11 and 18 points. Jamesha Willis was on the high end, followed by Tyeshia Battles with 17, Markeshia Grant with 14, Olivia Nino 12 and Amber Powe and Shaunte Forward 11 apiece. Grant added 12 assists and 5 steals in a standout all-around effort.

CF (16-7, 2-1) has won two consecutive conference games since its opening loss to Santa Fe. The Lady Patriots enjoy a week off before the rematch with their Gainesville rival Jan. 27 at Patriot Gym.

Lewis, Dibble Help Valdosta Take Down DII No. 1

Former Patriots Ricardo Lewis and Marvin Dibble were a part of something special Saturday. The two senior stars helped Valdosta State to an 81-75 upset of Augusta State, the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II. From the Valdosta Daily Times:

The P.E. Complex turned into a madhouse Saturday afternoon, as the Valdosta State Blazers took down the nation’s No. 1 team for the first time in school history. The Blazers knocked off the previously-unbeaten Augusta State Jaguars 81-75 in front of the third-largest crowd in school history (2,636), prompting students to rush the floor in celebration of one VSU’s biggest wins.

And a passage concerning the exploits of Lewis, a two-year Patriots starter and a native of Ocala:

With the Blazers up 68-67 with 4:45 remaining, it was Lewis who provided the game’s decisive run. The senior point guard, who had been quiet all game, went on a 7-0 run by himself to lift the Blazers. He made a layup, then he drove through the lane, made another layup and drew a foul. The next time down the court, he drained a long jumper with 2:35 left and the Blazers led 75-67.

“I was thinking about being aggressive,” Lewis said. “Coach (Mike) Helfer told me I had to be aggressive. Kevin and Tyrone carried us the whole way, and being a senior, it was time to step up."

Lady Patriots Still Seventh in State Poll

Nothing new to report by way of the latest FCCAA women's basketball coaches' poll, which remarkable is identical to last week's. Here's what it still looks like:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (13) 17-0 139 1

2. Pensacola (1) 18-2 127 2

3. Northwest Florida State 14-2 101 3

4. Tallahassee 13-4 99 4

5. Indian River State 14-3 86 5

6. Santa Fe 14-7 55 6

7. Central Florida 15-7 52 7

8t. Chipola 10-9 32 8t

8t. Hillsborough 11-5 32 8t

10. Palm Beach State 12-5 30 10

Also receiving votes: Daytona State 12, Miami Dade 5.

Patriots Inching Back Up FCCAA Rankings

Central Florida climbed a rung on the FCCAA coaches' poll today, scooting up from fourth to third and leapfrogging Chipola. With a perfect run through the Mid-Florida Conference, the Patriots might have a chance to regain the top spot in the state as the Panhandle elite - unanimous No. 1 Northwest Florida State, No. 2 Tallahassee, and No. 4 Chipola - smack each other about in conference play.

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Northwest Florida State (13) 18-1 130 1

2. Tallahassee 16-3 114 3

3. Central Florida 18-4 99 4

4. Indian River State 13-4 87 5

5. Chipola 16-3 67 2

6. Broward 15-5 62 6

7. St. Petersburg 11-6 53 8

8. Daytona State 14-6 38 9

9t. Pasco-Hernando 13-7 17 --

9t. Santa Fe 13-7 17 --

Also receiving votes: Pensacola 14, Gulf Coast 6, Polk State 5, St. Johns River 4, Miami Dade 1, State College of Florida 1. Dropped from rankings: No. 7 Gulf Coast, No. 10 Polk State.

Central Florida 77, Lurleen B. Wallace 41 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots picked up a win in their final non-conference game of 2009-10 on Saturday, scoring a 77-41 victory over Lurleen B. Wallace CC at Andalusia, Ala. CF (15-7) was led by Shaunte Forward's 21 points and 3 steals, Markeshia Grant's 18 points and Amber Powe's 15-point effort. Mid-Florida Conference play resumes in earnest on Wednesday, part of a women's and men's doubleheader at FSC-Jacksonville.

Ricardo Ratliffe Breaks Central Florida Career Scoring Record

Ricardo Ratliffe threw down a two-handed putback dunk in the second half of Central Florida's rout of IMG Academy on Friday, bringing his career scoring total to 1,347 and setting the Patriots' new career scoring record. The record, set by Kregg Overton in 1985, had stood for 25 years before the 6-9 phenom shattered it Friday night.

Ricardo Ratliffe Discusses the Central Florida Scoring Record

Ricardo Ratliffe set a new Central Florida Patriots career scoring record Friday night, surpassing the mark of 1, 346 held by Kregg Overton since 1985. The 6-9 sophomore power forward discusses the accomplishment in the above video.

Central Florida 114, IMG Academy 58 (MBB)

In a night defined by Ricardo Ratliffe's ascension to the top of historic Patriot scorers, Central Florida took care of its other business Friday night in blasting IMG Academy 114-58. Ratliffe finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds, Travis Johnson added 18 and Rahshon Tabb, Josh Proctor and Justin Cecil cracked double figures with 11 apiece. CF (18-4) is now through with its string of non-FCCAA opponents and will finally open Mid-Florida Conference play Wednesday at FSC-Jacksonville.

Ricardo Ratliffe Poised to Break School's Career Scoring Record

With just 21 points tonight against IMG Academy, Patriots sophomore Ricardo Ratliffe will shatter Central Florida's career scoring record.

Ratliffe set a single-season scoring record as a freshman last year, pouring in 798 points. Through 20 games in his sophomore campaign, the 6-9 power forward has racked up 528 points. That's a total of 1,326 points, 20 points behind current record-holder Kregg Overton's mark of 1,346, set in 1985. Based on Ratliffe's per-game average of 26.4 points, Ratliffe should eclipse that tonight.

Yahoo! Ranks Patriot Alum Nick Ebert Among Top Seniors

No less a source than Yahoo! Sports considers former Central Florida star Nick Ebert likely to enjoy a monster senior season for the University of South Carolina.

The Gamecocks welcome back several impressive hitters this spring, but no return is more anticipated than that of Ebert. Ebert was the team’s top power hitter last season and returns after turning down overtures from the New York Yankees. Ebert had a solid junior season for the Gamecocks. He batted .321 with 13 doubles, 23 homers and 72 RBIs. He also slugged .713 and tallied an impressive .468 on-base percentage. Ebert provides the Gamecocks with outstanding leadership and production that can lead them to Omaha this season.

As if you needed another reason to follow Ebert's exploits this season.

Central Florida 92, Webber International JV 54 (MBB)

The Patriots handled Webber International's junior varsity squad in a lopsided exhibition game Wednesday, registering a 92-54 victory to improve to 17-4. CF, playing without leading scorer Ricardo Ratliffe, placed five players in double figures, led by Justin Cecil's 15. Rahshon Tabb notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Kenny Williams added 12 assists.

Central Florida completes its string of non-FCCAA games Friday night against IMG Academy, a 7:30 p.m. tip at CFCC. The Patriots visit FSC-Jacksonville on Jan. 20 to open its eight-game Mid-Florida Conference schedule.

Central Florida 77, Daytona State 75 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots picked up its first Mid-Florida Conference victory Wednesday night at Daytona State, edging the host Lady Falcons 77-75 to improve to 1-1 in MFC play and 14-7 overall.

Sophomore forward Olivia Nino poured in 30 points, continuing a recent streak of impressive play. Tyeshia Battles added 14 and Shaunte Forward 12 as the No. 7 Lady Patriots survived a test from unranked Daytona State.

The win cleaned the slate from last week's disappointing conference opener, a 64-61 loss to Santa Fe. The Lady Patriots have a week until their next MFC matchup, a Dec. 20 visit to FSC-Jacksonville, and will pass the time with a Saturday visit to play Lurleen B. Wallace in Andalusia, Ala. CF's conference home opener falls on Jan. 27, the opener of a women's and men's doubleheader against Santa Fe.

Lady Patriots Slip a Spot in Latest State Rankings

Central Florida slid to seventh in the latest FCCAA Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. The Lady Patriots were leapfrogged by Mid-Florida Conference rival Santa Fe, who handed CF a conference-opening 64-61 loss last week.

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (12) 16-0 138 1

2. Pensacola (1) 17-1 126 2

3. Northwest Florida State (1) 13-1 106 3

4. Tallahassee 12-4 88 4

5. Indian River State 12-3 85 5

6. Santa Fe 13-5 74 9

7. Central Florida 13-7 43 6

8t. Chipola 10-7 35 8

8t. Hillsborough 10-5 35 7

10. Palm Beach State 11-4 25 --

Also receiving votes: Daytona State 14, Miami Dade 1. Dropped from rankings: No. 10 Daytona State.

Patriots Retain Fourth Spot in State Rankings

Central Florida maintained its fourth-place position in the latest FCCAA Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. Here's this:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Northwest Florida State (11) 16-1 137 1

2. Chipola (1) 16-1 120 2

3. Tallahassee (2) 16-2 118 3

4. Central Florida 16-4 99 4

5. Indian River State 11-4 63 10

6. Broward 14-4 56 7

7. Gulf Coast 13-6 50 5

8. St. Petersburg 10-5 46 8

9. Daytona State 12-6 29 9

10. Polk State 12-6 23 --

Also receiving votes: State College of Florida 12, St. Johns River 11, Santa Fe 3, Miami Dade 2, Pensacola 1. Dropped from rankings: No. 6 State College of Florida 

Valdosta State Update: Lewis and Dibble Doin' Work

A couple of years ago, Central Florida sent a pair of top prospects up I-75 to Valdosta State, a premier Division II program in Valdosta, Ga. Since then, Ricardo Lewis and Marvin Dibble have represented themselves extremely well and in the process made the Patriots look really good for sending such polished student-athletes up the ladder to the four-year level. Here's the latest:

The Blazers are 14-2 overall and won their first Gulf South Conference game on Sunday, an 86-73 defeat of North Alabama. VSU is currently ranked 12th in the nation.

Lewis, a product of Marion County's Lake Weir High School, has started all 16 games at point guard and is one of three VSU players averaging double figures with a 10.2 average. He's also shooting 45 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line while logging a team-high 30 minutes a game.

Dibble, a versatile 6-7 wing out of North Carolina, has played in all 16 games, starting 9 times. He's producing 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while making 55 percent of his shots and collecting a team-high 31 steals.

Keep an eye on VSU as Lewis and Dibble write the final chapter of a collegiate career that started right here with the Central Florida Patriots.

Former Patriot Brian Buscher Named Among Gamecock Greats

Brian Buscher, a former Central Florida Patriots and University of South Carolina baseball star now in the Cleveland Indians organization, earned a well-deserved mention in this breakdown of the best South Carolina ballplayers of the past decade. From The State, a South Carolina-based newspaper, which had this to say upon placing Buscher at third base in its all-decade starting lineup:

An All-American in 2003, the two-time CWS participant had a glove as strong as his bat, which produced a .356 average, 29 home runs and 130 RBIs in two seasons.

Central Florida 113, Tampa Swish 77 (MBB)

The Patriots knocked around another non-FCCAA opponent on Saturday, handling Tampa Swish 113-77. Central Florida (16-4) faces two more such opponents, Rise Academy on Tuesday and IMG Academy on Friday, before opening Mid-Florida conference play at FSC-Jacksonville on Jan. 20.

Central Florida 81, Miami-Dade 72 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots shook off Wednesday's frustrating conference-opening loss with an epic comeback on Saturday, overcoming an 18-point second-half deficit for an 81-72 win over non-conference foe Miami-Dade.

CF erased a 10-point lead with under 5 minutes to play and had the game tied by the 2:34 mark. Markeshia Grant had a triple-double with 14 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, Jamesha Willis added 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Shaunte Forward scored 16 for the Lady Patriots (13-7).

Central Florida now travels to Daytona State on Wednesday in search of its first Mid-Florida Conference win. The Lady Patriots lost the first game of their 12-game MFC schedule on Wednesday, falling to Santa Fe 64-61. Click here for details on conference play and the upcoming postseason.

A Video Interview with Josh Proctor

Central Florida sophomore forward Josh Proctor discusses the Patriots' postseason hopes, his four-year college options and sharing a frontcourt with Ricardo Ratliffe.

New Entrants in the Ricardo Ratliffe Sweepstakes

Just talked to Patriots sophomore All-American Ricardo Ratliffe before practice, and he mentioned a few schools interested in him that I hadn't heard before. Those programs are UNC-Charlotte, Texas Christian University and Indiana University. Also, representatives from Kentucky and South Carolina were on hand for CF's game Wednesday night. Ratliffe said he continues to consider all interested schools and doesn't plan to commit until spring.

Patriots Slip From National Top 25

Central Florida's preseason No. 1 men's basketball team has fallen out of the national top 25. The latest NJCAA National Poll includes three Florida teams - No. 5 Chipola; No. 10 Northwest Florida State; and No. 22 Tallahassee - but no sign of our Patriots, not even in the "receiving votes" category. And given that the Patriots are about to start conference play, it's hard to see how wins over other unranked Mid-Florida Conference teams will help CF regain its national stature this season. In short, it's time to shift our gaze from the polls to the standings.

Central Florida 123, Tagg Academy 94 (MBB)

The Patriots made quick work of a non-NJCAA opponent Wednesday night, blasting Tagg Academy 123-94. CF (15-4) got 32 points and 12 rebounds from Ricardo Ratliffe, 31 points from Justin Cecil and 26 from Josh Proctor. Overall, the Patriots shot 61 percent from the field and 12-for-23 from 3-point range, including a 7-for-8 effort from Cecil.

CF has three more games against non-NJCAA opponents before conference play starts, an unfortunate quirk of the schedule. The three other conferences start their conference schedules earlier than the Mid-Florida, leaving the Patriots without any willing non-conference FCCAA opponents to schedule as they await their Jan. 20 conference opener.

Santa Fe 64, Central Florida 61 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots dropped their Mid-Florida Conference opener on Wednesday, a disappointing 64-61 loss to rival Santa Fe.

No. 6 CF (12-7, 0-1 MFC) struggled mightily in the first half against the No. 9 Saints (12-5, 1-0), scoring just 17 points on 23 percent shooting and making just one of 10 attempts from 3-point range. Things got slightly better after halftime, as the Lady Patriots shot a respectable 50 percent from the floor and 38 percent from deep to erase Santa Fe's 10-point halftime lead and briefly tie the game. But some late turnovers and bad decisions doomed the home team to defeat.

Markeshia Grant had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in a brilliant overall effort. Jamesha Willis added 14 points and Olivia Nino scored 10, but both Willis and Nino fouled out late to damage CF's comeback effort.

CF hosts Miami-Dade in a non-conference game on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Explaining the Junior College Basketball Postseason

The Central Florida women's basketball team starts its Mid-Florida Conference schedule tonight; the men starts theirs Jan. 20. With postseason positioning now at stake, it's time to navigate the quirky and esoteric maze that is the junior college basketball playoff system. Don't worry, it's easier than the BCS.

Fans of four-year college basketball understand that conference play is important. In junior college basketball, it is not only important, but it is the only thing that matters in terms of reaching the postseason. Non-conference games help voters determine state and national rankings, settle bragging rights and give teams a taste of what's out there competitively, but they are meaningless in determining who qualifies for the postseason.

That's because each conference sends a select number of representatives to the Florida Community Colleges Activities Association/National Junior College Athletic Association Region VIII Tournament, held each March at Chipola College in Marianna, and those representatives are decided based solely on conference record and/or a conference tournament. In theory, a team could go winless in non-conference play, finish first in their conference and reach the tournament 10 or 12 games below .500.

Now's the point where we need to talk about the slightly different playoff systems that govern women's and men's basketball. Click through for the details.

Kentucky to Visit Ricardo Ratliffe This Week

The pursuit of CF All-American power forward Ricardo Ratliffe continues in earnest this week. Coaches from the University of Kentucky are scheduled to visit the Central Florida campus at some point this week to reiterate their interest in the 6-9 sophomore phenom. The Wildcats are a top contender to secure Ratliffe's signature this spring, along with Louisville, Connecticut, Arkansas, Alabama and a host of other major Division I programs.

Lady Patriots Hold Strong in State Rankings

Central Florida remains nestled comfortably in the No. 6 spot in the latest edition of the FCCAA women's basketball coaches' poll. Check it out:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (12) 14-0 134 1

2. Pensacola (1) 15-1 119 3

3. Northwest Florida State (1) 13-0 116 2

4. Tallahassee 12-2 91 4

5. Indian River State 10-3 71 5

6. Central Florida 12-6 61 6

7. Hillsborough 10-3 56 7

8. Chipola 10-6 47 9

9. Santa Fe 11-5 46 8

10. Daytona State 9-7 18 10

CF Men Drop to Fourth in State Rankings

Central Florida is ranked fourth in the first FCCAA men's basketball coaches' poll of 2010, clocking in just below the three Panhandle powers. The data:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Northwest Florida State (11) 15-1 127 1

2. Chipola (1) 15-1 117 2

3. Tallahassee (1) 14-2 104 4

4. Central Florida 14-4 92 3

5. Gulf Coast 13-4 54 8

6. State College of Florida 10-2 51 7

7. Broward 13-4 50 6

8. St. Petersburg 9-5 47 5

9. Daytona State 10-6 27 9

10. Indian River State 9-4 24 10

Central Florida 84, Coastal Georgia 62 (MBB)

The Patriots cruised to an easy home win over an overmatched opponent, building a 15-point halftime lead and handling Coastal Georgia 84-62.

Ricardo Ratliffe had 21 points and 8 rebounds, Josh Proctor scored 14 and Travis Johnson tossed in 11 for the Patriots, now 14-4. Kenny Williams had 7 assists for CF.

The Patriots completed a home-and-home sweep of the Mariners, who fielded just seven players.

Central Florida 85, Hillsborough 72 (MBB)

The Patriot men got 2010 off to a fitting start with an 85-72 win over Hillsborough.

Josh Proctor scored a season-high 33 points, Ricardo Ratliffe added 22 and Travis Johnson scored 14 as the Patriots flipped a one-point halftime deficit into a double-digit win over a tough Hawks team.

CF (13-4) hosts Coastal Georgia on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Chipola 88, Central Florida 78 (WBB)

The Lady Patriots opened 2010 with a tough home loss to a perennial rival, falling 88-78 to Chipola College. CF drops to 12-6 on the season entering Sunday's visit to Miami-Dade.

Olivia Nino scored 23 and Shaunte Forward 21 for the Lady Patriots. CF mounted an impressive comeback from a nine-point halftime deficit, even leading by as much as five in the second half before faltering in the final minutes.

CF and Chipola split their season series, with each team winning on the other's campus. The Lady Patriots earned a buzzer-beating 53-52 win over the Lady Indians on Dec. 14.