Titans focus on preparing for league games

St. Petersburg College basketball coach Earnest Crumbley will not look back.

It would be easy to compare last year's state championship team with this season's squad, but Crumbley will not do that.

"Two different teams," Crumbley said.

Despite a second straight 4-4 start entering the weekend's Thanksgiving Shootout, the head coach is making no comparisons.

His only early concern is getting SPC's young players ready for the beginning of the Suncoast Conference schedule in January.

"We're up and down right now," Crumbley said. "We've got young guys trying to learn the system still.

"We've got good perimeter play right now, but our inside game needs some work," he said. "They are all freshmen, so they have to get used to the banging that goes on at this level."

The Titans were dealt a slight setback in the preseason when ex-Lakewood standout Kevin Dorsey sustained a season-ending back injury. He will receive a medical redshirt and return next year as a freshman.

Dorsey was expected to make an impact at guard. Now freshmen Dominique Coleman, Damitrius Coleman and Kory Crumbley, Earnest's son and a former Lakewood star, must step up.

Sophomores Orien Hatcher, Carl Jenkins and Terrance Taylor are expected to be team leaders. Taylor is averaging 12.9 points, 4 blocks and 8 rebounds. Jenkins is scoring 19.5 points per game.

"Terrance has played very well for us," Earnest Crumbley said. "He can play on the perimeter, and he has an inside game. He's our most consistent player right now.

"I'd like to see a little more consistency from Orien. One night he'll score 12 points, the next two."

The Titans have some tests on their schedule prior to league competition, which tips off Jan. 8 against Polk Community College. "Winning our conference and getting back to the state tournament is our main goal," Crumbley said. "Right now we've got some work to do, but we'll be ready."

KEEPING UP WITH THE BOYS: The SPC women's basketball team wants to be just like its men's squad, and it is off to a good start.

The Titans are 4-4. They opened the season with a 69-68 loss to Webber International University. But St. Petersburg had a two-game win streak entering Friday's action against Daytona Beach CC.

PERFECT FIRST WEEK: The Eckerd men's and women's basketball teams got the ball rolling with victories to open the season.

The men are 2-0 after defeating Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Puerto Rico-Cayey.

After a game Wednesday against Winona State, the Tritons had the Eckerd College Classic this weekend with meetings against Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Armstrong Atlantic.

The Eckerd women are 2-0, including a 106-17 win over Puerto Rico-Cayey to start the season. The second game was much closer, 60-50 over Flagler.

The Tritons battled Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Wednesday, then played host to the Sunspree Classic with weekend games against St. Paul's and Nova Southeastern.

SSC VOLLEYBALL: Eckerd finished 15-19, 3-11 in the Sunshine State Conference, in the first season for coach A.J. Joseph.

The University of Tampa ended up atop the league with a 14-0 mark, 27-6 overall.

Tritons junior outside hitter Delaney Mennell was an honorable-mention selection to the all-conference team, the only Eckerd player on the squad.

Saint Leo outside hitter Cristiana Florea was the player of the year.

Tampa is alive in the Division II playoffs and has a second-round game Thursday or Friday against an opponent to be determined.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright