If there was a theme for Clearwater in its rematch against Largo, that was it. The Packers were the only team to beat Clearwater this season. Friday night the Tornadoes had a chance to avenge that.
Such a task did not come easily, but Clearwater's defense - anchored as usual by 6-foot-10 Cruz Daniels - proved to be the difference, forcing Largo to play almost exclusively on the perimeter on offense. That led to 28 percent shooting from the floor for Largo and a 51-45 win for Clearwater (19-1) in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
The problems for the Packers (13-6) weren't just trying to penetrate inside Clearwater's defense and score. It was scoring, period.
"You've got to make free throws," Largo coach Phil Price said. "We shoot about 79 percent from the line for the season. What were we (Friday) - 5-of-17? You can't do that against Clearwater."
If there was a difference-maker in the contest, it was Daniels. And it wasn't through his scoring; he had just seven points. But in the first half, he blocked seven Largo shots.
"He does a lot for us, intimidating teams inside," Clearwater coach Jack Coit said.
But the Tornadoes didn't have everything go their way against the Largo defense. They shot just 31 percent (16-of-52) from the floor, but did hit 10 of 14 free throws.
Largo had the slight edge in the opening quarter, thanks to five points from Ben O'Donnell. But that 11-10 advantage melted early in the second, with Clearwater getting 3-pointers from Jabez Mitchem and Nathan Loucks and a basket from Darius Hart to build an 18-10 lead.
They increased that to 24-11 with three minutes left in the half before a closing 6-2 Largo run narrowed it to 26-18. The Packers closed within six a few times in the second half, but could not get closer.
"People forget the defense that's being played out there," Coit said. "These are both pretty good defensive teams."
O'Donnell and Mike Helm topped Largo with 11 points each. Clearwater got 15 points from Hart, nine from Mitchem and eight from Trevor Lee.
Lakewood rolls over Gibbs
ST. PETERSBURG - Mario Telfair led Lakewood to a 64-26 win over Gibbs, proving why the Spartans are the No. 1 team in Class 4A.
Telfair, who scored 17, was one of four Spartans in double figures. Ed Nixon netted 16 points while Sean Morrison and Louis Murphy scored 15 and 10, respectively. Morrison added some style to his scoring when he wowed the crowd with two big dunks in the second quarter.
The Spartans not only were a threat on the scoreboard, but under the basket. Lakewood grabbed 33 rebounds and forced 14 turnovers.
Lakewood, leading 13-8, outscored the Gladiators 11-2 in the final four minutes to take a comfortable 24-10 advantage after the first quarter. Gibbs tightened its defense in the second quarter, holding the Spartans to 13 points while scoring just six.
Nixon stole the show in the third quarter for Lakewood, scoring 12 of his 16 as the Spartans extended their lead to 53-22.
Naason Bordon led Gibbs (10-10) with seven points while Larry Murphy and Al Bostick contributed four each.
