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This time, Packers say the best is yet to come

Largo's matchup with rival Clearwater next week promises to be the Packers' first big game of the season instead of its only big game.

By JOHN SCHWARB, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 17, 2002

LARGO -- The swarm of fans congregated at center court, celebrating the triumph with their beloved Packers. It was as if a title had been clinched in the season's second week.

It was December 2000, and the team had just knocked off its rival and long-time tormenter, Clearwater. Senior Dee Feazell hit the winning jumper with 3 seconds left to beat the Tornadoes for the first time in years.

Largo would go on to a 17-7 season, a nice one by any measure, but also one that peaked in that Game 5 home win against Clearwater. The Packers lost by a basket at Clearwater six weeks later, lost by 14 to the Tornadoes in the district final to earn a road playoff game, and then were blasted 84-45 by Bradenton Southeast.

Today, the Packers are 19 games into a new season, and they promise the best is yet to come. Again, they have the Tornadoes in sight, but as more of a steppingstone to greater things than the end of the road.

"We're just trying to build our strength up for when it really, really counts," Packers senior Monica Adams said.

The biggest game of the season is next Thursday, but the Packers plan on having many more meaningful games in the next month.

The team is 18-1 and riding a 17-game winning streak that is among the longest in the state. But if anything, it's a quiet 18-1, as the team focuses on the improvements rather than the numbers.

"Just the other day I was asked what our record was, and I did not know," center Shaneisha Walton said. "I didn't know until the coach said we were 18-1."

But other teams have certainly noticed, as Largo has had its way both inside and out of the county. In the past week Largo, No. 7 in the latest Class 5A poll, knocked off two higher-ranked teams, traveling to Venice to beat 3A No. 4 Englewood Lemon Bay and traveling south on Alt. 19 on Monday to knock off 5A No. 4 Seminole 71-54.

"That's the best inside game we've seen this year," Seminole coach Dave Swanson said. "They're good and they're athletic."

In 6-foot-1 Walton, the Packers have a dominating presence on the glass. She is arguably the best in the county and has held her own against other top centers in the state, such as 6-4 Candace Dupree of Wharton, a Temple University signee. (Largo took care of Wharton en route to the A.P. Leto Holiday Classic title.)

Feazell, a first-team all-county pick last year, watches the games from the bench as an assistant coach. But her spot has been ably filled as well by Adams, who averages 13.5 points and three assists per game.

"Everybody when the season started said, 'Largo doesn't have a point guard,"' coach Leonard Williams said. "I just said we'll see."

The biggest "we'll see" comes next week, however, when Clearwater comes calling for the second time this year. The Tornadoes won 71-58 on Nov. 28 in the Packers' second game.

While the players admit beating the Tornadoes will not bring the same unbridled thrill as last year, they know a win would probably be even more important. The teams are almost certain to meet in the 5A-9 final, with an important home playoff game on the line.

"Oh, it's big," Walton said. "They've been the best team in the county for the last couple years. It would be a statement to beat them, and if we beat them one time we can keep on beating them."

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