Preps

Farragut's fight still for respect

Twenty-one straight wins, 30-point average margin of victory have the Blue Jackets brimming with confidence.

By LAURA LEE
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 8, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- Military academies are big on respect, and Admiral Farragut is no exception. And when the Blue Jackets give it, they expect it in return.

But for a small private school that routs other small private schools, respect has so far eluded the Blue Jackets, even though it is hard to overlook a team that has won 21 straight games and has an almost 30-point average margin of victory.

"Right now we're just completely gelled. We're rolling right now," junior guard Tommy Lampley said.

Farragut (31-2) plays Naples St. John Neumann tonight in the Class A region final. If the Jackets win, they advance to the state tournament.

Coach Mike Wells said he hasn't kept track of the streak.

"When you take the floor, it doesn't score you points," Wells said, "but it does build confidence."

What Wells has noticed is that his team is playing its best at the most important time of the season. Like many teams, Farragut has had its share of problems. John Whitehead was temporarily suspended for breaking school rules, and both the Jackets' losses came when he was out.

"It just showed that without the whole team we can't win," Whitehead said. "I came back to win. I had the desire."

And while it didn't play out on the court, Wells said there were issues that some individuals had to get over for the sake of the team.

"We have talented players but we only have one basketball, and I think we managed to figure out how to cut that ball up and share it," Wells said.

Senior captain Elliot Anderson, a member of Farragut's team that advanced to the state semifinals in 2000, said the Jackets are stronger now.

"You can't have a team that doesn't have struggles, some hardships. That's all part of growing," Anderson said. "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

What the Blue Jackets really want is to be taken seriously.

"I think our team has as much talent as any team in the county," Lampley said. "We're tired of not getting the respect because we are a private school."

For the time being the Jackets don't have to worry about the county. Farragut has to take its high-intensity game and prove it is the best team in its region.

"This is the best team I've ever been with," Whitehead said. "When we get hot, we're unstoppable."

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