2 weeks Ago By The Ledger
Lakeland head boys lacrosse coach Zac Brownlee was confident that his team could pull off a win against Celebration in the Class 2A, District 9 Championship game Wednesday night at Bryand Stadium.But when the game ended, it was evident with a 7-5 score in favor of Celebration that the Dreadnaughts (10-7) underachieved, especially since Lakeland was the No. 1 seed with a bye earlier in districts and Celebration was the No.
3 seed that played all rounds. Senior Collis Rhodes of Lakeland, the No. 1 scorer in all of Florida and the No.
2 scorer in the entire nation, was the only goal scorer with five goals for the Dreadnaughts. Senior goalie Ishmael Rosillo registered four saves."Overall season I think we did very well.
But we didn't come through when it mattered. ..
. That's life," Brownlee said.Rhodes 100th: Lakeland's Rhodes scores 100th lacrosse goal; Dreadnaughts off to good startIn this part of life, Lakeland didn't have the team performance it wanted against a Celebration team that they had already beaten 10-5 on March 7.
A major reason was because of the injuries of key players sophomore Tyler Lloren and senior Logan Silve, who suffered a broken clavicle and a rib in the last regular season game of the year.Still, Rhodes did his best to keep his team in the game, as the leading scorer notched a goal with 10 seconds left to put the Dreadnaughts down by just two.Celebration did a solid job in ensuring that Rhodes didn't go crazy, as he was seeing two or three defenders on him all night.
"I think they knew what I was coming with. ..
. They definitely came well prepared," Rhodes said.Still, Lakeland won 10 games on the year ― a third straight season with 10 or more wins ― and Rhodes enjoyed the entirety of the year as well as the entire time he played the game of lacrosse for Lakeland.
"It was wonderful. This year was my best year for sure. I feel like I stepped up into a big leadership role thanks to coach Brownlee.
He coached me all four years. Growing up with him and learning lacrosse with him, it's been great," Rhodes said. ".
..He definitely stepped up into a dad role.
Every day I was with him (whether) it was on the road to Philly, ...
or Orlando ...
he took me under his wing and taught me everything he knows." This lacrosse education led to a full ride to William Wood University in Fulton, Missouri, which is about two hours away from Kansas City and just under two hours away from St. Louis.
Rhodes also has a full ride for football for William Wood University, too.Rhodes isn't the only one graduating, though, as most of the defense will be graduating this year as well.".
..I want to thank my team, (and) all my coaches for helping me develop.
Love all y'all boys," Rhodes said.All Saints, Haines City, Lakeland win girls lacrosse, flag football district titlesIn other news, All Saints girls lacrosse won the Class district championship 23-2 over Pasco at home, advancing to regional action.Haines City flag football won its Class 4A, District 6 championship game by a score of 19-13 over Durant, the No.
3 seed to stay undefeated with a record of 16-0.Lakeland (5-3) flag football, the No. 2 seed, beat Auburndale, the No.
1 seed, 7-6 in the Class 3A, District 6 championship game."This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland boys lacrosse goes down in district title game to Celebration.
