CLEARWATER - Largo forward Fred Marshall is expected to miss the rest of the season after rolling his ankle last week, though he said Tuesday he would try to return before districts.
Marshall, who is averaging 18 points and is the team's leader, said he may not play again this year as a safety precaution.
While the injury to his left ankle is not serious - Marshall's limp was barely noticeable - he is expected to receive a Division I-A scholarship for football and said he doesn't want to jeopardize those chances.
Marshall was the Times first-team quarterback last year and led the county in passing.
"Fred will come back when he's ready," Largo coach Phil Price said. "His loss definitely hurts us."
It hurt the Packers on Tuesday night in a Class 5A, District 9 showdown with Clearwater.
The Tornadoes never trailed in winning 76-60 before a packed house at the Jack Wilson Memorial Gymnasium.
Counting the game in which Marshall was hurt, it was the Packers (9-4) third straight loss since the injury.
Junior guard Darius Hart scored 10 in the first quarter as Clearwater (13-1) jumped out to a 21-7 lead.
Trevor Bing, the Packers leading scorer with Marshall, tried to shoot Largo back into it with a team-high 17 points, but could get his team no closer than nine.
Clearwater, ranked No. 2 in the state, led 39-30 in the third quarter before Luke Postorino hit consecutive shots, including a 3-pointer, to pull the Tornadoes away.
Jon Thomas led Clearwater with 19 points, and Benny Clyde, playing just his second game of the season, scored 14 points - 11 in the second half. Postorino (13) and Hart (12) were also in double figures.
Though 11 players scored for Largo, only Nate Johnson joined Bing in double figures with 10 points.
