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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2002
CLEARWATER -- The room at the top is getting a little tighter, and Clearwater knows it.
Great, they say. It's about time.
For the 30-1 Tornadoes, the season has not quite been an exercise in simplicity, but, on the other hand, it would not be truthful to say the No. 2 team in Class 5A has been challenged every night.
County competition this year did not amount to much as the Tornadoes breezed to district and conference titles. Tournaments provided some good measuring sticks -- Bradenton Southeast, the No. 2 team in 4A, actually beat Clearwater -- but also plenty of easy wins.
The playoffs are what Clearwater has longed for.
"Personally, I'm looking forward to state," said Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt, who hit the 30-win mark for the first time this season. "I enjoy coaching a lot more when you're an underdog or when it's more of an even game in people's eyes.
"In these games, we're somewhat of a favorite in most people's eyes. It's just a whole different feel. It's not as enjoyable, and it's more of a relief when you win."
Tonight's regional semifinal shapes up to be one of those games. Clearwater appears to have every advantage and visiting Punta Gorda Charlotte, though ranked No. 10, is not expected to threaten.
Yet this game, this round of the playoffs, does hold some significance. One year ago, the Tornadoes' season ended at home in a 54-47 loss to Winter Haven.
"We should have won that game," forward Dominique Redding said. "That thought's still there. I don't want to go home early."
The Tornadoes were not close to going home early last Thursday against Boca Ciega even though Redding had two points, center Karen Braden was out with an illness and the Tornadoes were forced into different lineups.
Against the Tarpons, Clearwater will have to be a little sharper. Charlotte's 6-foot-2 center, Chelsia James, scored 25 points and missed the school record of 23 rebounds by one in a 61-54 win over Naples Gulf Coast.
Shaneyfelt said James reminds him of Largo's Shaneisha Walton, and that if Braden remains out of the lineup (she's questionable) he may have to try some different tactics in the post.
"We're not going to shut down people like that, but we can make them work hard," Shaneyfelt said. "I think we have a lot of weapons for other people to match up with."
The stable of freshmen, including Braden, Rachel Hammond and Nicole Ryan, has given Clearwater an edge off the bench that no team has been able to match. Even better, those players have no memory of last year.
"This year, we have a better team, and we've set our goal," senior Kasie Muchler said. "We all know we can reach it."
Just as importantly, they're looking forward to it.