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Lakewood will stick to its game

Lakewood coach Dan Wright has looked at film of No. 4 Plant, studied its tendencies and memorized its best players, but when it comes to using all that information, he'd rather rely on the scouting report of his own team.

Press. Trap. Harass.

"Our goal is to impress upon our kids the need to concentrate and go over there and play Lakewood basketball," Wright said.

Besides, what's the point in learning about what the other team will do when your whole plan and path of success is to make them do what you want them to do?

Panic. Buckle. Turn the ball over.

"That's always our goal," Wright said. "We have to disrupt what they do."

To achieve that goal, the Spartans, 30-2 and ranked No. 2, will focus on keeping the ball out of Plant guard Tyler Azzarelli's hands. The senior playmaker was the Times' Hillsborough County Player of the Year last season and has led Plant (25-5) to another banner season.

Last year, Azzarelli took Plant all the way to the Class 5A final four, where it lost to Belleview.

If Azzarelli, who had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 steals in Thursday's regional win over Lake Wales, has his way, he will make sure forward Mike Williams touches the ball most times down the court. Another of Plant's many seniors, Williams is coming off a career-best performance of 30 points and 7 rebounds.

Azzarelli and Williams have the kind of talents that have brought out the best in Lakewood. The Spartans played Los Angeles Westchester, USA Today's No. 1 team in the country at the time, to a draw until the final 3 minutes, and beat three champions from three different states at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers.

At the Hooters Tournament, Lakewood reached the finals by beating Boca Ciega, the same team that beat Plant three weeks later. And the Spartans have also knocked off Largo, which was No. 1 in 5A, and Orlando Evans, which was No. 1 in 6A.

"I think we have responded to all of our challenges up to this point," Wright said. "Like I say, if we came out and play Lakewood basketball (today), everything else take care of itself."

Lakewood forward Marcus Morrison, the Times' Pinellas County Player of the Year last season, agrees with his coach. He said while the team paid close attention to a Plant game on cable television earlier this year, what they do is of no concern to the Spartans.

"They have a good team, and I know Mike Williams is good," said Morrison. "But we're ready."

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