Road to the Final Four

Lakewood can punch its ticket to the Final Four with a win tonight over Charlotte High. It’ll be a tough test for the Spartans (27-2), who’ll walk into a pretty intense atmosphere in Punta Gorda (1,300 fans). Rumor has it, fans asked if they could camp out and wait in line for tickets, which will go on sale at 5:30 pm….

Don’t forget: If you cant make the trip, I’ll be posting live updates from Punta Gorda on this blog. I’ll also post score updates from the Calvary-Bradenton Christian game – which is sold out…

Here’s the skinny on Charlotte, a group that, as you will find, boasts many similarities to the Spartans….

The Tarpons have big, athletic wings – from the 6-4 to 6-7 range. They like to run the floor – and like Lakewood, they make a living off crashing the boards. Most of their possessions include a few touches inside. They’re a physical group that initiates contact in the key, drawing a ton of fouls (just ask Clearwater’s Luke Loucks, who fouled out and played just 11 minutes in a semi loss).

Oh yeah, and they can flat out shoot. Starters, bench players. Give them an inch, and they’ll pop from 3-point land.

They’re a tough team to scout, because any of three or four guys could lead them in scoring on a different night.

There’s 6-7 senior Timmy Snyder, a forward who often likes to play like a point guard. Most of his drives are from the baseline, or close to the hoop. He scored 27 vs. Clearwater, carrying the Tarpons on his back…..He’s only averaging like 8 pts per game, but he’s coming into his own after recovering from a broken finger suffered at the City of Palms Tourney.

Dago Pena, a wiry 6-foot-6 junior, has a Mike Morrison build but likes to float around the perimeter. As you’ll find out, the Tarpons don’t have that big guy with dazzling post moves; rather they’ll shoot from outside or just take it right at you. Pena (13.3 ppg) is a transfer from now defunct Florida Prep; he’s a guy who can get frustrated when he’s not getting the ball and can play a bit out of control. But when he’s on, he can wow you – a reason why USF has showed interest.

The Stephenson brothers. Jordan, a senior, is the point guard. Either him or his brother, Chris Stephenson (6-3) will bring the ball up. Chris (14.4 ppg) is really good when he gets the ball around the basket. He’s so strong, he can bully inside (he’s their leading rebounder 7.8 rpg)
His bread and butter is putting back offensive rebounds and drawing the foul. Like Jordan, he can also step out and shoot the 3.

Their fifth starter, 6-4 forward Ronnie Phillips, is a defensive tackle for the football team. He’s also a pretty good sprinter. He won’t beat you from the outside, but can pick up garbage points inside and play pretty solid D.

As for the bench, the Tarpons are deep, boasting guards that would probably start for other teams in their district.
Senior guards Mike Wilkie and Matt Kautz are classic kick-out shooters – they’ll set up shot and make you pay for doubling down inside. As for reserve post players, DJ Goshay can come in and give the Tarpons a more traditional post up presence.

Overall, it should be a pretty competitive game. I know Lakewood is ranked No. 2 in the state and Charlotte didn’t crack the top-10, but the Tarpons have won 14 straight, they’re hungry, and they’re a group that has played together since they were 10 or 11 years old.

One place Lakewood could take advantage is with their press. They’re so quick, so long and athletic they can fluster Charlotte’s guards and , more importantly, keep them out of the flow of their offense. The Spartans are more comfortable playing at that helter-skelter speed.....

The Spartans also aren’t the kind of team that gets intimidated. They’ve played in big games – three of them have won a state title – and they’ve played in tough atmospheres.

I’ve posted Charlotte’s roster and schedule (with results) below. As you can see, their common opponents are Venice, which the Spartans drubbed in the region quarterfinals by 25, Clearwater (both beat them) and Boca Ciega.

“They’re a real good team,” Lakewood guard Anthony Dorsey said. “A lot like us. They beat bogie 80-48, so they must be good. We’ve never beaten them like that.”

YOUR TAKE: Who will advance to the Final Four?

-- JOE SMITH

Charlotte -2006-07 season
Arlington Country Day L, 85-79
At Bishop Verot W, 69-64
At Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch W, 61-59
Bradenton-Bayshore W, 76-48
At Port Charlotte W, 69-49
At Bradenton-Manatee W, 80-61
Bradenton-Southeast W, 70-35
At North Port W, 72-60
vs. New Orleans-Helen Cox L, 60-70 (City of Palms)
vs. Pompano Beach-Blanche Ely L, 81-100 (City of Palms)
vs. Decatur, Ill.-Eisenhower W, 67-64 (City of Palms)
at Bradenton-Bayshore W, 60-45
vs. Lakeland-Kathleen L, 51-75 (at Lakeland Center)
Fort Myers L, 70-76
Port Charlotte L, 42-44 (OT)
Bradenton-Manatee W, 82-51
At Bradenton-Southeast W, 51-35
At Venice W, 61-52
Kewanee, Ill.-Wethersfield W, 80-47
North Port W, 77-46
At Lemon Bay W, 66-56
Venice W, 63-56
At Sarasota W, 72-60
vs. Auburndale W, 68-47 (at Southpoint Shootout)
vs. Bradenton-Bayshore W, 82-51 (District 5A-12 tournament)
vs. Bradenton-Southeast W, 71-58 (District 5A-12 tournament)
vs. Venice W, 53-41 (District 5A-12 tournament)
Boca Ciega W, 80-48 (Region 5A-3 quarterfinal)
Clearwater W, 68-61 (Region 5A-3 semifinal)

Charlotte Tarpons roster
10 - Timmy Snyder, 6-6, F, sr.
11 - Bryan Greenberg, 6-1, G, jr.
12 - Joey DeGaeta, 5-10, G, fr.
14 ‹ Ted Oboute, 6-3, F, jr.
20 - Chris Stephenson, 6-3, G-F, jr.
22 ‹ Matt Kautz, 6-0, G-F, sr.
23 - Jordan Stephenson, 6-0, G, sr.
24 - Michael Wilkie, 6-0, G, sr.
30 ‹ Bobby Ringerson, 5-10, G, jr.
32 - Tim Sylver, 5-11, G, jr.
33 ‹ Dago Pena, 6-6, G-F, jr.
34 - Renald Desir, 6-4, F, jr.
40 ‹ Zach Ruple, 6-5, F-C, jr.
42 ‹ Ronnie Phillips, 6-4, F-C, sr.
44 - DJ Goshay, 6-4, C, jr.

Times photo of Lakewood guard Ed Nixon. Click to enlarge. Photo by Lara Cerri.