Things to look for in 2009

As everyone breaks out a new calendar, there are several storylines for GBHS fans to follow this month:

Looking to bounce back

The girls soccer and basketball teams notched wins over their archrivals six weeks, both of which were battling injuries at the time. Catholic basketball standout M.C. Bell played with a broken hand (unbeknownst to her at the time) in the Lady Crusaders' two-point loss in Gulf Breeze on Nov. 18. Bell's hand is near 100 percent as Catholic looks to split the season series at Catholic on Jan. 21.

The Lady Dolphin soccer team blanked a short-handed Navarre squad 3-0 on Nov. 20. Alex Hermann didn't play in that game due to an nagging back injury. But the ODP player will be back up top for the Lady Raiders in the rematch on Jan. 9 in Navarre.

The Lady Dolphin offense will look to start 2009 with a bang after being shutout in three straight games at the Michelle Akers Tournament. Navarre's defense will look to keep them down without one of their top defenders, Jenny Wells, who injured her knee in the team's first meeting.

While GBHS teams have fared well against the injury bug so far this season, the boys soccer team will probably be without midfielder Jack Begley for the remainder of the season.

Begley suffered four fractures around his eye going for a header during the recent Tampa Tournament and is expected to miss at least a month.

Dynamic duo

The Dolphin basketball team opens 2009 at home Tuesday against PHS. The Tigers boast the top tandem in the area in Erin Straughn and Terrence Beasley, who have already committed to East Carolina and Florida International, respectively. The JV boys start the action Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity girls (6 p.m.) and the varsity boys (7:30).