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CLASS 3A: The Hurricanes play well but can't match the athleticism and quickness of Orlando Jones in a 77-52 loss.
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 5, 2003
ORLANDO -- Following Tuesday night's region semifinal against Orlando Jones, Citrus coach Jimmy Thomas had a look of disbelief on his face.
His squad shot well.
Its passing was solid.
It gave all it had.
But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
Behind a ferocious defense, fourth-ranked Jones derailed the seventh-ranked Hurricanes' playoff hopes with a 77-52 win that sends the Tigers to the region final. "They were too physical," Thomas said. "They had too many jumpers. I thought we played a heck of a game even though we got beat like we did."
Physically, Citrus was outmatched, but the Hurricanes gave Jones a fight well into the second half. Behind junior guard Jamaal Galloway (18 points) and senior forward Joel Miller (11), Citrus jumped out to an early 11-8 lead. Miller hit a 3-pointer eight seconds into the game and scored eight points in the opening quarter.
Jones, however, closed the quarter with a 14-4 run to take a 22-15 lead.
The Tigers forced seven first-quarter turnovers.
In the second quarter, Citrus (26-3) kept things close at the free-throw line, but had no answer for the Tigers' fullcourt defensive pressure. Jones (27-5) also took control on the boards, outrebounding the Hurricanes 25-11 in the half.
"That's definitely a good team," Miller said. "We didn't have time to catch our breath."
Two free throws by Donnie Ross brought Citrus to within 32-24 with 2 minutes, 38 seconds left in the second quarter, but Jones answered with an 8-0 run.
Citrus had plenty of spurts, but every time the Hurricanes gained some momentum, the Tigers took it back with a run of their own.
"I don't know what to say," Citrus point guard R.J. Cobb said. "I've never seen anybody as quick or as strong as they were. They had a counterpunch for everything we had."
Late in the third, Jones went on an 8-2 run to take command. It was never close in the fourth.
"That's just a great club," Thomas said. "Every one of them can play. We haven't played anyone as big or as physical as them. There was nothing we could have done to do much better."
Jones center Antoine Dade scored a team-high 16 points. Jabari Bush added 14.
Ten Tigers scored.
"That's a great team," Jones coach Jerry Howard said of Citrus. "They came out and were ready to play."