Umatilla Rolls To 9-0 On Season

    Umatilla High School is in the midst of enjoying its strongest start to a season in a generation or more, and this past week capped off its early season perfection by winning its own holiday tournament. Umatilla dispatched Mount Dora on Thursday night by a score of 60-48 to win the Lake County Tournament of Champions and push its record to 9-0 heading into a Christmas break.
   “The kids play hard for us,” said Umatilla coach Pat Todd after Thursday’s win. “We compete, but we have a long way to go.”
   Umatilla, which last week was ranked #11 in the state's Class 4A basketball poll, hosted the three-day tournament and reached the finals after defeating South Lake by a score of 75-64. This week, Umatilla is traveling to a holiday tournament that featured an opening-round game against Osceola on Wednesday evening. Umatilla will return to its regular schedule with a home game on Tuesday, December 3, when Altamonte Christian comes to Umatilla for a 7 p.m. tipoff.