Hoop Scoop

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Sorry for the break between posts -- I spent my holiday back in Michigan, and have been fighting off the flu ever since.

But I came back to find some quality hoops action at the Hooters Tourney and beyond:

At Hooters, there will be two intriguing matchups Friday night for the semfinals (at Eckerd College).

In one, there's St. Petersburg against Clearwater at 6 pm. The two teams played in their season openers back in early November, with the Tornadoes pulling away late to win by 13. On Thursday night, St. Petersburg looked strong in their 64-53 win over Brandon. They pressed the Eagles, who were playing without one starter and six reserves as a result of that bleacher-clearing melee against Plant City on Dec. 15.

A 16-0 St Pete run in the second quarter was enough for them to hold on. Shamon Cox (22 points) and Geno Green (19 points 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) came up big.

Clearwater, helped by the recent return of sharp-shooter Nick Nickerson, held off a scrappy Countryside group 59-48.

*The other semi includes Pinellas Park and Boca Ciega. While Pinellas Park cruised against Jefferson in their quarterfinal, the Pirates needed some heroics.

Sophomore forward Julius Forte was there to deliver, sinking the second of two free throws with 4 seconds left to lift Boca Ciega to a 52-51 in the teams' third matchup of the season. Gibbs guard Al Bostic had tied the game with a 3 with less than 30 ticks to go.

*OUT-OF-TOWNERS: Three of Pinellas County's top teams -- Lakewood, Largo and St. Petersburg Catholic -- are representing well around the state. Lakewood, playing in the Kingdom of the Sun Shootout in Ocala, pulled out another squeaker, 69-66 over Dr. Phillips. The Spartans overcame a 12-point, half-time deficit.

On Friday, they face an even stiffer challenge: Decatur (GA) Columbia at 8:30. Columbia is 11-0 and No 10 in USA Today poll....and, they are the defending tourney champs

As for Largo, it took them overtime to beat Golden Gate, 82-79 in the Gulf Coast Shootout in Naples. Senior guard Dionte Hall came up huge, draining 3 3-pointers and racking up three key steals in Largo's third quarter rally, which helped erase a double-digit deficit. Charlie Lytle (21), Mike Helm (19) and Ben O'Donnell (17) were solid again

Largo plays in the semis Friday at 7:30 pm against Bishop Merrimack.

St. Petersburg Catholic beat Cape Coral in the Chase Memorial Tourney at Hudson, and will play Wharton Friday at 6 pm (Wharton is No. 5 in state and should be huge test for SPC)

Here are some other boys scores I know:

Boca Ciega 52, Gibbs 51... Pinellas Park 57, Jefferson 33..... St. Petersburg 64, Brandon 53.....Clearwater 59, Countryside 48.... Dixie Hollins 74, Central 36...Northeast 56, Osceola 36.....King 65, Spoto 49..Lehigh 60, Armwood 47....Dixie Hollins 74, Central 36.....Palm Harbor 77, Wesley Chapel 64....Ridgewood 84, Dunedin 50......CCC 54, Lakewood Ranch 28....Seffner 58, Tarpon Springs 47.....Hollywood 42, Indian Rocks Chr 39, Wharton 51, East Lake 43, SPC 56, Cape Coral 37...Oldsmar 61, Jesuit 49...Seminole 51, Walton Verona 41...Calvary Chr 87, Baker 60....Keswick 50, St Clair 43

***Some big girls hoops games to watch on Friday: At Academy of Holy Names — Blake vs. St. Petersburg Catholic, 5:30; AHN vs. Clearwater, 7.

at Indian Rocks Christian: Indian Rocks Chr vs. Hollywood, 4; Tampa Catholic vs. Pace Academy, 7.

SPC girls beat Armwood by 25 and Indian Rocks won by 26 over Seffner. Getting the Keswick girls tourney results in late, so you can check them out in Friday's Times

- JOE SMITH

Comments

FRIDAY NIGHT will be two great games AT THE ECK_ERD......America's Team.....To the top