Final Four- Live Updates
We're live at the Lakeland Center for the boys basketball final four. Tipoff for the Class A semifinal between Calvary Christian (28-2) and The Rock (Gainesville) is in about 30 minutes...Check here for live updates for the matchup, which promises to be a good one...
Both teams are in their first Final Four. The Rock (25-7) boasts a big, skilled group, including several international players. The Lions big star is 6-6 guard Vytas Sulskis, a Lithuanian who averages 19 points 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He can do it all, and will be a big thorn in the Warriors side...
The Rock's other big weapon is shooting guard Josh Snodgrass. He averages 13 points, shooting nearly 40 percent from the 3-point line..
The Lions point guard is eighth-grader Scottie Wilbekin, son of the coach, who has started since he was in sixth grade. He'll likely be matched up with Calvary senior guard Brian Horrach, a four-year varsity player and one of the Warriors most impressive players down the stretch....
This will be one of the few times Calvary won't boast a big size advantage in the post. They have junior Christian bibi Ndongo (6-6) and Mississippi-bound senior Kevin Cantinol (6-9). They're more powerful and skilled than the Rock's bigs - including Lions 6-10, 265 forward Anton Tuz -- but we'll see how they match up in the open floor...
Calvary is bringing their entire school (about 250 students) on charter buses - they left after second period - so they'll have some friendly faces to calm their nerves....
Stay tuned, and feel free to post any questions....I'll also be posting updates from the Lakewood-Lee 5A semi at 7 pm, so stick by your computer and enjoy the show
-- JOE SMITH
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Calvary begins the game in a 2-3 zone.....
Work it into 6-10 center Anton Tuz, who draws a foul on Kevin Cantinol - his first....
Something to watch will be if Cantinol can stay in the game. In the Warriors losses, specifically to Pinellas Park, he was kept out of it with fouls
They went right at Cantinol again. HTis time Tuz misses.
2-0 Rock
Oh boy. Cantinol picked up his second - a reach-in 50 feet from the basket....less than two minutes, two fouls..
He's taken out of the game with 6:27 left in the first...
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Calvary coach Dave Bintz called a timeout after Warriors fell behind 6-0.....
They're out of sync offensively
Finally, bibi Ndongo banks in a 14-footer.. they're on the board
6-2 ROCK with 4:53 left
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Smart play by bibi ndongo....he held his ground in post, and Tuz (265 pounder) barrelled into him for offensive foul..
With Cantinol out, it's bibi's game now
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Wilbekin sinks a 3-pointer, having been left alone...
So far the eighth-grader is outplaying Horrach, the senior. But there's still plenty of game to go
bibi ndongo hits 1 of 2 from the line
Rock 9, Calvary 3 - 3 min left in 1st
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Another Calvary starter - Marcos Quinones - picks up his second foul....an unnecessary one above the free throw line....
Giancola's nice drive and short jumper had cut it to 9-5...
Tuz did a nice pump fake, getting Ndongo in the air, drawing a foul on bibi (his 1st) - fifth team foul
At this rate, Rock will be shooting FT's most of second quarter...
Tuz his 2 FTs
Rock up 11-5
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Snodgrass hit two straight shots - a jumper and a nifty drive through defenders...
Rock is up 15-5 with 15 seconds left...
Horrach his at the line, going for his first point of the game....
Right now, it just seems like Rock is playing with more confidence - they're calmly moving the ball around offensively...
Calvary is forcing some outside shots - still trying to find their way...
Horrach hits FTs,
After 1st quarter, it's Rock 15, Calvary 7...
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Second quarter starts with more of the same...
Rock drives to the hoop and scores...Quinones picks up his 3rd foul on a charge..
Cantinol is back in the game - and has a block....we'll see if he opens htings up offensively
Tuz scored inside.
It's Rock 19, Calvary 7
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Horrach goes to the line to shoot two, trying to cut down the Rock's lead...
Cantinol has opened things up a bit - the rock can't just collapse on bibi
Calvary is down 19-11 with 3:33 left in half
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Here comes Calary
John Gammon hit a big 3 - getting the crowd in it. Then hie grabbed a reboiund leading a break ending in a Caninol dunk
After a Snodgrass 3, Horrach matches to cut the lead to 3
Then Wilbekin comes back and drains a 3...
Rock up 25-19......
with 37 seconds left
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Calvary has cut the Rock lead to 25-21 at the half....
But it came with a cost...
With 30 seconds left, Cantinol picked up his third foul. It was another reach in, coming 90 feet from Calvary's basket....
The Warriors have gained momentum - and even though they didn't play especially well in the first half, they're only down by 4....
Quinones and Cantinol each have 3, so they'll need to look to their bench. Andrew Giancola is playing well...
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Gammon has been Calvary's unsung hero.....
He grabbed another offensive rebound, popped back and drained a 3 pointer from the corner
That cut Rock lead to 30-26 with 2:40 left...
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:31 PM
End of the third, ROck is up 32-26
Calvary dodged a bullet. Refs originally called a tech foul on Cantinol for hanging on the rim. But they overturned it, saying he was just trying to protect fallen players
Cantinol played third q without picking up a foul. They'll need him down the stretch...
Who do you think's gonna win?
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:37 PM
LETS GO ROCK
Posted by: Jeff | February 28, 2007 at 12:37 PM
aunt KATHY & i saaaaaayyyyy
go GO GO GO
CALVARY
Posted by: hh schick | February 28, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Any Update?
Posted by: Jeff | February 28, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Calvary has cut the lead to 39-32....Horrach hit 2 FTs..
Theyre shooting 31 percent - and haven't looked in sync all game long
There is 2:45 left, and Rock is playing a bit of keep away....
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Another big shot by Calvary's Quinones...he hits a 3 from the top of the key to cu tit 41-35 with 1:58 left...
Plus Calvary has the ball thanks to an off the ball foul
Quinones travels, Rock's ball. Calvary is pressing.....1:45 left
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Looks like Calvary Christian's season is coming to a close...
They're down 46-35 with 50 seconds to go.....There's still a chance, but it's gonna be tough
If the score holds true, it would end a banner year for the Warriors (27-3), making their first ever Final Four appearance...
I'll post a final as soon as I can....
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Both teams have emptied their benches....
Rock is up 51-38.....They'll move on to the championship and play Orlando Pine Castle Christian Friday at noon....
Posted by: Joe Smith | February 28, 2007 at 01:01 PM
Tell Josh Snodgrass Cousin Jeff from PA & Uncle Roger from Ohio Say Congratulations!!!!
Posted by: Jeff | February 28, 2007 at 01:02 PM
John Gammon is deffinately Calvary's unsung hero. He plays hard every game and in my opinion, he doesnt get the credit that he deserves.
Posted by: | February 28, 2007 at 07:39 PM
Gammon was Calvary's unsung hero Wednesday in the semis
He hit two big 3s - one time, it cut the lead to 3 i think.......He's been Calvary's sixth man, but played very steady on Wed....
The Warriors had a great run this season....They lose some key seniors, but with bibi Ndongo and Marcos Quinones coming back - it's a good start...
Posted by: Joe Smith | March 01, 2007 at 01:45 AM