Team Spotlight: Clearwater Lady Tornadoes Set Sights on Lakeland
As a Pinellas County resident, I wanted to do a piece on a Clearwater team that should be the best in the county this year with some strong additions and improvements.
After losing a 9 point fourth quarter lead in last years district final game and not getting a state playoff bid, the Lady Tornadoes turned their focus towards the 2020-2021 season and have spent the last 9 months preparing for their next shot.
Last years team was led by Senior forward
D’Mya Ferguson
D’Mya
Ferguson
6'1" | C
Clearwater | 2020
State
FL
and Freshman forward
Liv Fuller
Liv
Fuller
5'10" | SF
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
in a season that had plenty of ups and downs that you’d expect a young team to have with a starting five composed of 3 Freshman, a Sophomore, and a Senior. They finished the season with a modest 15-12 regular season record, but were able to pull off an upset and defeat perennial powerhouse Lakewood in the PCAC championship game.
The 2019-2020 Tornadoes had a lot of talent but lacked a true floor leader and consistent high volume 3 point shooter to help compliment the efforts of players like Liv Fuller and
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
, who scrapped and clawed their team to a few victories they may not have otherwise earned. Enter incoming 5’7 Freshman PG
Beckham Hockley
Beckham
Hockley
5'7" | PG
Sickles | 2024
State
FL
, a much improved 5’10 Liv Fuller, 5’10
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
, and 6’3
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater | 2022
State
FL
and you have my #1 ranked Pinellas County team heading into the 2020-2021 season.
Both Hockley and Fuller will enter the season as high level state ranked players, along with
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater | 2022
State
FL
, who have multiple D1 and D2 schools interested already with Fuller already holding an offer from USF. The starting 5 for the Tornadoes will compete with anyone and are planning to make a deep run, so it will be no surprise to them if they end up in Lakeland in February.
Wing players
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
and 5’10 Jade Price are very active and skilled wings that are the perfect compliment to what Hockley and Fuller will bring to the court every night and both are capable of carrying this team to victories when needed. Depth will be the question that needs to be answered as the season progresses but Junior guards Iyanna George and Emily Merkel are slated to play quality minutes off the bench, with George having extensive experience from the previous two seasons. Merkel is coming off a season ending knee injury from 2019, but she looks to be back to 100% and ready to go when called upon. The Tornadoes also have another intimidating center in 6’5 Phillicia Jackson and she will most likely fill in for Welsh when needed.
The Clearwater Tornadoes kick off their season on Nov. 11 at 6:00pm against Calvary Christian in a preseason tip off tournament and begin their run to Lakeland the following week when the regular season begins.
There’s no arguing that Fuller and Hockley play massive roles for this team but the size and length that Price, Sturdivant, and Welsh bring is what makes this team the danger that they are. Hopefully the 5A teams around the state are paying attention and taking notes, or they just might run into the weather issues when tournament time rolls in.
Liv
Fuller
5'10" | SF
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
in a season that had plenty of ups and downs that you’d expect a young team to have with a starting five composed of 3 Freshman, a Sophomore, and a Senior. They finished the season with a modest 15-12 regular season record, but were able to pull off an upset and defeat perennial powerhouse Lakewood in the PCAC championship game.
The 2019-2020 Tornadoes had a lot of talent but lacked a true floor leader and consistent high volume 3 point shooter to help compliment the efforts of players like Liv Fuller and
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
, who scrapped and clawed their team to a few victories they may not have otherwise earned. Enter incoming 5’7 Freshman PG
Beckham Hockley
Beckham
Hockley
5'7" | PG
Sickles | 2024
State
FL
, a much improved 5’10 Liv Fuller, 5’10
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
, and 6’3
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater | 2022
State
FL
and you have my #1 ranked Pinellas County team heading into the 2020-2021 season.
Both Hockley and Fuller will enter the season as high level state ranked players, along with
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater | 2022
State
FL
, who have multiple D1 and D2 schools interested already with Fuller already holding an offer from USF. The starting 5 for the Tornadoes will compete with anyone and are planning to make a deep run, so it will be no surprise to them if they end up in Lakeland in February.
Wing players
Ace Sturdivant
Ace
Sturdivant
5'10" | CG
Clearwater | 2023
State
FL
and 5’10 Jade Price are very active and skilled wings that are the perfect compliment to what Hockley and Fuller will bring to the court every night and both are capable of carrying this team to victories when needed. Depth will be the question that needs to be answered as the season progresses but Junior guards Iyanna George and Emily Merkel are slated to play quality minutes off the bench, with George having extensive experience from the previous two seasons. Merkel is coming off a season ending knee injury from 2019, but she looks to be back to 100% and ready to go when called upon. The Tornadoes also have another intimidating center in 6’5 Phillicia Jackson and she will most likely fill in for Welsh when needed.
The Clearwater Tornadoes kick off their season on Nov. 11 at 6:00pm against Calvary Christian in a preseason tip off tournament and begin their run to Lakeland the following week when the regular season begins.
There’s no arguing that Fuller and Hockley play massive roles for this team but the size and length that Price, Sturdivant, and Welsh bring is what makes this team the danger that they are. Hopefully the 5A teams around the state are paying attention and taking notes, or they just might run into the weather issues when tournament time rolls in.
