Messina up for Florida Player of the Year

TAMPA __ Academy of the Holy Names guard Gianna Messina was named on Wednesday as one of six finalists for the 2007 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball player of the year award.

Messina, a 5-foot-6 guard who has signed with the University of South Florida, averaged 23.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Jaguars as they reached the Class 3A state semifinals before losing.

Messina is in the running against Orlando Edgewater's Brittany Waters (Class 6A), Winter Haven's Tiffany Hayes (5A), Haines City's Marquis Lee (4A), Orlando First Academy's Krystal Thomas (2A) and Orlando Christian Prep's Michelle Mitchell (A).