A day late, but NOT a dollar short: Girls Dandy Dozen Time

1. (2) St. Petersburg Catholic (20-1)
   Since last time: After playing four straight Dandies (yeah, that's right, that's what I'm calling the teams in our Dandy Dozen), the Barons rolled over Northside Christian by 23, Berkeley Prep by 24 and Clearwater Central Catholic by 22. They were able to give Sasha Chaplin a breather, get some experience for the younger players, and move up to No. 1. Not a bad week, eh?

2. (1) Clearwater (18-3)
   Since last time: The Tornadoes took on Class A Lake Worth Christian Saturday and were dropped 52-45. So we dropped them here too. But just a spot, considering Lake Worth was a state semifinalist last year and ranked No. 5 this year and a better test than PHU (88-54) and Dunedin (50-23) proved to be.

3. (3) Boca Ciega (19-2)
   Since last time: The Pirates spanked Lakewood (again) and Tamara Taylor continues to impress. But with center Hannah Stenfors out for the season, do the Pirates have the height to go deep? Paging Missy Schmidt, Missy Schmidt? Please report to the glass.

Here's rest of the Dandies (oh, you'll get used to it...)

4. (4) Land O'Lakes (20-1)
   Since last time: The Gator Sister Act continues to roll on. Kayli and Meghan Keough have produced over half the Land O'Lakes' points, and last week in three wins (including avenging their only loss against Wesley Chapel) they scored 35 of 48, 27 of 35 and 32 of 42. Hey, it seems to be working, as the Gators have won 12 in a row.

5. (5) Tampa Bay Tech (19-1)
   Since last time: Three more wins for the Titans, including a 47-41 triumph over Bloomingdale, the only team to beat TBT this season.We look forward to the rubber match in the district final

6. (6) St. Petersburg (15-4)
    Since last time: The Green Devils beat Alonso 39-27 and Gaither 64-21. The offense has yet to shine, but here's a good sign -- Jazmyne Green scored 14 points in each victory, which is about right where she needs to be for the Green Devils to get into the postseason.

7. (7) Lakewood (13-5)
   Since last time: The Spartans still can't beat Bogie, though losing by just four points is something to take with them into the postseason. The Spartans should get one more chance to finally knock off their rivals in the district playoffs, but that's about it.

8(10). Sickles (16-2)
    Since last time: The Gryphons cruised to easy district wins over Mitchell and Countryside and Melissa Ramsey has developed into one of the top rebounders in the area, averaging 11 boards over the last three games.

9 (NR). Keswick (14-3)
   Since last time: Since a 1-2 start, the senior-laden Crusaders are 13-1, with the lone loss coming to Class 2A-No. 7 Providence. Always a well coached team, the Crusaders have been buoyed by the return of Kate Carl (17.4), who if she was still at SPC I'd order state championship tee-shirts right now. Come to think of it, Carl may still make someone order state championship tee-shirts.

10. (11). Plant (16-4)
   Since last time: Down goes Middleton! Down goes Hillsborough! Down goes Durant! Down goes Blake.! Up go the Panthers, who may have lost standout Kaitlyn Ostroski to injury but still have Michelle Taylor and some nice young talent.

11. (8) Bloomingdale (16-4)
   Since last time: The Bulls 13-game win streak was finally snapped by No. 5 Tampa Bay Tech, and now they'll have to hold off Freedom if they want to stay in the Dandy Dozen (and seriously, who doesn't?).

12. (NR) Largo (12-3)
   Since last time: Largo actually led Clearwater by 17 points heading into the final period. If they didn't have to finish the game with three players, they might have not lost by two points. But they did. And they haven't lost since. Egypt Thomas is one of the top scorers around, and provided the Packers don't try the whole 3-on-5 thing again, they could be a playoff sleeper.

Teams we are keeping a close eye on: Freedom, Tampa Catholic, Wesley Chapel, Academy of Holy Names.

You can reach John C. Cotey at johncotey@gmail.com or drop your opinion in the comments section.

Comments

[Dee]

largo had 5 girls on the court when they blew their 17 point lead.

[Tim]

Keep in mind, Bogie beat Clearwater when Stenfors was out!

[Joe]

Lakewood has 7 losses cotey. They didn't call in two losses over their Christmas tourney........

[Edward]

You mean Lakewood would not call in games they lost or fudge their stats..........no.....that's not like them at all zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[gbc]

yea tim they did but whats that mean they need her BAD!!!!. they had a hard time beating NORTHEAST and only beat gibbs by 4 i think there not gonna make it in the postseason without a post player (Missy Schmidt i don't even know what she is, and she plays the entire game so i dont kno whats wrong with her gettin out rebounded but fellow guard Tamara Taylor its just crazy)they cant keep making the guards do all the work......if im right bogie will lose to st. pete on 1-22 buy ten cause of lack of post players which st. pete has a couple to choose from.

Bogie beat Clearwater and Riverview (both state rated at the time)and Lakewood without Stenfors. They played Gibbs without Tori Stevens. But, I agree that without a Stenfors it will be a challenge.

It's good to see Keswick and Coach Karmayne King get some well deserved recognition.

FYI: The team is 17 - 3 (not 13 - 3) and is 16 - 1 since thier 1 - 2 start.

The seniors with Chelsea Wozniak (14 ppg), Laura Grace Hodupp (15pp) and kate Karl (17 ppg) are the top three guard tandem in Tampa Bay.

The threesome average 46 ppg.

No other team in Tampa has that guard combo.

I've seen them play and they are fun to watch. All three will be playing college ball next year.

[Herbert]

GBC, you are an idiot. Schmidt does a good job rebounding, only reason she does not get more is Bogies lives by the 3. Guards shoot at will, and for your information Taylor is a small forward.

I am glad to see Keswick get some much deserve credit and recognition. However, I would not say they have the best 3 Player tandem in Tampa Bay. I would look who is Number 1 and go with SPC. Sure their top 3 are averaging a few points less, however you can't base the decision on points alone. Look at Rebounds,Assists,Steals, and who SPC has played, compated to Keswick, no contest!!!

[Cotey]

Besides, the best three-player combo in the area is Tamara Taylor, Tory Stephens and whoever you want to throw in that third spot from Bogie, say a Latavia Dempsey. You could argue they all play in the backcourt, so that makes them a mighty trio.

Bogie has the best tandem??? Sure..if you are considering jacking up 3's is the category!

[John]

You are right about the trio, but you have to put Demspey #1, she's leading Tampa Bay in 3's. Put Stephens in here and Taylor......that trio is unreal......but it all comes down to the post play with that team.

I referred to keswick as the best three gaurd tandem not neccessrily total player tandem. Maybe i should of added the best most unselfish tandem to the equation

The three are all guards not post players. SPC, Bogie, etc... probalbly have the best three players but i was referring to gaurds only.

The keswick tandem assist, rebounds and steals are most likely up among the best as well.

[Joe]

Tory Stephens, Latavia Dempsey, and Tamara Taylor are all guards.......and who crush Keswick's player.....it would be ugly.

[Joe]

And to the person talking about jacking up three's........sure, Bogie shoots a lot of three's but they make them!

Look at the stats, they have made 125 three pointers......2nd place is 75! So, they shoot a lot because they make them!

Nature Coast is out??? Why???

[Marcus]

Perhaps because they got killed in their tournaments over the break and have like 6 losses.........and the biggest reason......their wins come in Hernando........the varsity ball there is like JV in pinellas/hillsborough.

gbc,

Just curious which one of the Bogie/Northeast games was a "hard time" that you referred to in your posting? The 1st game (Bogie 59-Northeast 18) or the 2nd game (Bogie 65-Northeast 37)? If you understand basketball at all...well I guess I don't need to go there.

[Marcus]

Some people just don't get it. Bogie 'struggled' for 3 quarters vs. Northeast........you could just tell they were not interested in playing that game......when you have 2/3rds of your games get to running clocks it is hard to stay motivated game in and game out.....so they did not work well that game.....but they turned it up in the 4th quarter and won by nearly 30.....

Well I support Nature Coast and agree with Marcus partially. Every team in the Tampa area would have lost games up in Kentucky, Basketball is all they do there, year round and they are so fundamentally sound its crazy.
Then for the IRC Tournament, NCT was playing without Shareka Maner and 2 other key reserves. With them I believe Tampa Catholic would not have won. From what I saw Tampa Catholic is like the twin of Gulf which NCT beat by 13 last night. TC is good.. but nothing special. Gulf and Pasco are in the district also in which NCT is undefeated. Throw in Sunlake and Wiregrass and all that does is give the backups some experience vs 8th graders and takes away some good out of district games like South Lake, Ridgewood and Lecanto.
So, yes they play Hernando ball but.. they are still a good team. Remember it is still practically the same team that did well in the playoffs last season, just without Eberts, the 3-pt shooter. And Pinellas does have some great teams but this poll is irrelevant. Just let the girls play ball.

[Missy]

I'm so sick of people writing stuff about me on these stupid blogs and having people come up to me and tell me what they say. You know what I think, I have started on a very good varisty team since I was a freshman, I have won two district championships with my team and what have you pople done but wrote mean things about me on a blog. I'm not getting paid to do this and I'm giving it all I got. It's can become really hard when you don't get any positive feed back. And If you people have nothing better to do than sit on a computer and talk about then I feel very sorry for you and I hope one day you'll get a life.

[Fan]

Largo Clearwater show down is hours away!

[Joe]

Is the Largo/Clearwater girls game the conference game or was the last one?

[Nick]

Tonight's Clearwater win over Largo was a conference win. Clearwater clinched a berth in the PCAC title game, and #1 seed in districts

PLANT IS GARBAGE!

[gbc]

herbert,

maybe your right and i am being too harsh and should give her a break.........they just have 3 guards that can do it all