TAMPA — King’s bounce-back season in boys basketball did not come with a reward at the end.

Instead, the Lions, who finished 18-9, their best regular season record in five seasons, just missed the FHSAA Class 4A state playoffs thanks to a critical loss in the district final against Blake on Feb. 5.

While a win would have clinched a playoff berth, the Yellow Jackets beat King 66-57, popping the Lions spot on the proverbial playoff bubble.

They were also hurt by a weak schedule. While they were ranked No. 8 in the region, usually good enough for a spot, teams that had worse records got in ahead of King because they had a higher strength of schedule. Four teams from 4A-District 11, all with worst records than King, made the postseason, including Sarasota Booker, which was 13-14.

That made for a disappointing conclusion to a season in which the Lions improved from last season’s 6-21 record to 18-9, one of the top turnarounds in Tampa Bay. Although they lose leading scorer TJ Daniels and Nuri Hakim, the Lions expect to return the bulk of their offensive production next season.

Still waiting

Wharton is coming off one of the best baseball seasons in school history, but getting around to an encore is taking a little longer than it expected.

The Wildcats were scheduled to open the 2026 season last week against Middleton and Tampa Bay Tech, but it turns out neither school has enough players to field baseball teams this season.

Instead, the Wildcats opened at home against Chamberlain on Feb. 17, followed by a matchup against Newsome on Feb. 19.

The Wildcats did get some action in, however, in a 4-2 preseason win over Gaither. Jeremiah Brown had two hits and scored a run, and pitchers Chase Andress, a Holy Cross commit, and Cooper Antelek, a Jacksonville State commit, combined to allow only three hits while striking out 14 in 6.2 innings.

Rough debut

Anthony Macaluso’s debut as King’s head coach didn’t go quite as hoped. Chamberlain pounded out 16 hits and struck out 14 Lions to cruise to a 17-7 win in the season opener for both teams last week.

Anthony Macaluso is taking over for his legendary father Jim, who led King to 687 wins in 50 years of coaching. Anthony is a 1997 King graduate who played for his dad and was an assistant coach for 23 seasons before picked for the top job last May.

Big numbers

Congrats to Wharton senior midfielder Riley Downs, who set a pair of school records while leading the Wildcats to the postseason this year.

Downs finished the season with 25 assists, breaking Taylor Hubbard’s school record of 19 set back in 2015-16.

She also broke the school’s career assists record with 48, topping the previous mark of 42 set by Hubbard, who graduated in 2019.

Jayce Saint Louis, King’s sophomore forward, scored 18 goals this season, with five assists and three hat tricks.

Wes Cunningham led Freedom’s boys’ soccer team back to the playoffs with a team-high 19 goals, while teammate Napo Neves had 16 assists.

New Tampa keepers had big seasons, as Wharton freshman Eva Chandler finished with 11 shutouts, and Freedom’s Ali Faiad added 10.

Wharton’s Josie Barie scored 16 goals for the playoff Wildcats.

Wharton had its worst season ever this winter, finishing 6-20, but Nicholas Korpi was a shining light, as the junior scored 33 points in the final game, capping a season in which he also had games of 45, 32 and 31.

Finally

The Wharton baseball team, ranked No. 5 in Hillsborough County by 813Preps, hosts Chamberlain on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in its season opener as it looks to return to the state final four. If you can’t make that one, No. 10 Newsome visits two days later on Feb. 19.

Play ball

You have to drive up the road for it, but Wharton’s softball team will travel to Wesley Chapel on Feb. 18 for a 6:30 p.m. game that could produce some fireworks. Wharton won last year’s meeting 11-5, as Eliza Connell went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI for the Wildcats, and Alanis Escalante hit a homer. Both players are back.

BBD Bowl

Wharton and Freedom will kick off their flag football seasons against each other on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Patriots quarterback Aubrey Reed, one of the area’s best all-around athletes and three-sport standout, ran for 142 yards and both touchdowns in Freedom’s 14-7 win last year. It was the second straight win (and third in four years) by the Patriots in the neighborhood rivalry between the two teams.