Eustis Tops Umatilla In Districts, Bulldogs On To State Playoffs

    After falling short of earning an automatic bid to the state playoffs, the Umatilla High School varsity boys basketball team received good news on Sunday, when it was announced the team had earned an at-large bid. The boys will play on Thursday, February 16, at North Marion High School in the first round of the playoffs. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
   Umatilla, now 21-5 on the season, lost in the second round of last week's class 4A District 6 playoffs, falling to Eustis by a score of 58-44. Eustis would lose on Friday night in the championship to The Villages by a score of 69-50.
   Umatilla had advanced in the tournament, which was held at Umatilla High School, by defeating Lake Weir 60-51, and Eustis had advanced with a 65-40 win over Dunnellon.
   Umatilla enters the state tournament as a six seed in the Region 2 bracket, and would play The Villages next Tuesday, February 21, at 7 p.m., if it wins this coming Thursday night.