[	mood	|	sore	]
[	music	|	"l'via l'viaquez" by the mars volta	]

We've won five out of our last six games, including our first two in the Eddie Shannon Classic, which puts us in the finals tonight against Southeast. Here is a little mention (and another picture - although this one is a LOT funnier than the last one.)

EDDIE E. SHANNON CLASSIC

Indians, 'Noles set to meet in finals

Championship set for tonight at 8:20. BY BRIAN NEWBERRY CORRESPONDENT

BRADENTON -- Venice and Southeast have reached the finals of the Eddie E. Shannon Classic Boy's basketball tournament. Venice took care of Manatee 50-35 while Southeast upended DeSoto 73-68 at Manatee Community College on Thursday night. The two semifinal winners will meet in the championship game at 8:20 p.m. 

 Venice opened and closed its semifinal contest well. The Indians sprinted out to a 16-5 lead and early and led by as many as 12 in the first half. Manatee was able to keep contact until the midway point of the final quarter. The Hurricanes cut the deficit to 38-33 on a basket by Dwight Sutton with just over minutes to play. Following the hoop, Venice was able to break pressure and get a lay-up by Kyle Abney off an assist from George Stritz. Abney was fouled on the shot and converted the free throw to extend the Indians lead to eight. From that point, it was all Venice. Manatee managed to score just two points in the final five minutes while the Indians converted their free throws down the stretch.

"We did a much better job in the second half," Venice head coach Steve Cavallaro said.

Ilya Vasilevskiy led Venice with 12 points on the night. Edgar Theliear also collected 12 for Manatee.

And the image that was actually in the Venice Gondolier (the above article was from the Herald Tribune):

Venice High's Kyle Abney gets a leg up on the competition as he drives the basket during first quarter action in the Eddie E. Shannon Classic basketball tournament at Manatee Community College in Bradenton.

[	mood	|	excited	]
[	music	|	"take it to da house" by trick daddy	]

Still recovering from Christmas. You know how it is.

Anyways, here are some updates from the last week of my basketball season - we won both games, one against Bayshore away and one against Manatee at home, both of which were district games so our record is now 4-7 (2-4 in the district). Here's a little article that mentions me:

Success at line lifts Venice

By PERRY D. PENTZ

VENICE -- The Venice High boys basketball team countered Manatee's aggressive play with its foul shooting to lift the Indians to a 54-50 win Thursday in a Class 5A-District 12 game at Venice High. The Indians (4-7 overall, 2-4 district), who have won three of their last four games, lived at the foul line in the fourth quarter. Venice hit 9-of-10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and protected a four-point lead in the final minute with six straight foul shots. For the game, the Indians went 18-for-21 from the line for 86 percent.

"One thing that is better is our foul shooting,'' said Venice coach Steve Cavallaro. "It's definitely one advance we have made from the beginning.''

"We definitely are getting better,'' said new Manatee coach Brian Reeves, who is 0-10 overall. "I was missing seven guys from the Final Four football team and have only had six practices and six games with all my players.'' After Venice took a 41-36 lead after three quarters, the Hurricanes tied it at 44 after three straight points by T.J. Sherman with 2:31 left. Venice went ahead 48-44 as Ariel Bonilla hit both ends of an one-and-one foul situation and Ilya Vasilevskiy, who scored 10 points, hit a layup with 1:33 left. Manatee had a chance to tie it but only made 2-of-4 from the line to trail 48-46 with 57 seconds remaining. Venice's George Stritz made both ends of his one-and-one as Venice led, 50-46. Manatee's Dwight Sutton hit a layup but missed a foul shot to trail 50-48.

The 'Canes only missed seven foul shots but four were in the fourth quarter. Vasilevskiy and Kyle Abney made two foul shots each in the final 42 seconds to give the Indians a 54-48 lead. Abney led all scorers with 17 points in his second game back after recovering from a broken arm. Venice led 8-2 early but Manatee closed out the scoring on a 8-0 run to end the first quarter for a 15-11 cushion. Venice outscored Manatee 15-11 in the second quarter to produce a 26-26 halftime score. Manatee took a 34-30 cushion with 6:03 left in the third quarter a 3-point play by Clay Orr, who had 11 points total. Venice scored nine straight for a 39-34 lead as Vasilevskiy had four points and Kalen Lyons had five of his 10 points.

Venice plays Palmetto at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday in the Manatee CES Holiday Tournament at Manatee Community College.

And a little image from that game:

You can kind of see my black eye (my right eye, so on the left of the picture as you look at it) and can clearly see the brace I wear to protect my bad arm.