Spartans D leads to PCAC crown

By JEREMY WRITT
Published February 13, 2005

PINELLAS PARK - Lakewood treated the Pinellas County Athletic Conference Championship as if it was just another routine game.

The Spartans applied constant defensive pressure on Largo, winning 81-62 Saturday night at Pinellas Park High. Lakewood (24-1) disrupted the Packers offense and forced 18 turnovers.

"That's what we're known for," Lakewood coach Dan Wright said. "We try to create confusion."

"They played a great aggressive man-to-man defense and it kept us from getting into a lot of things we wanted to do," Largo coach Phil Price said. "Their point guard (Dion Burton) did a phenomenal job. He did a great job of not letting us get our point guard to where he could initiate the plays from where we wanted to start them. That's the best defense we've seen all year."

The Spartans got big numbers from seniors Sean Morrison and Brian Caruthers. Morrison, a 6-4 forward, stunned Largo (16-8) with two big 3-pointers in the first quarter. He did most of his damage inside, scoring 12 in the first half as he used his quick first step to get by his slower post defenders. Morrison finished with 18 points.

"I know if he drives and dunks it kind of gets everybody going so we kind of said we let him have to make some 3s and he did and it hurt us really bad early," Price said of Morrison.

Caruthers stepped up his game after the break. Largo zeroed in on Morrison, allowing Caruthers the space to hit from outside. The Lakewood sharp-shooter put up 14 points in the half and led all Lakewood scorers with 20 points.

"Morrison is our guy from night to night, " Wright said. "He's helping us win offensively and defensively and Brian is our zone buster."

The Packers showed heart in the final quarter scoring 27. Guards Ben O'Donnell and Nate Johnson scored 15 combined in the quarter. Johnson finished with a game high 24 points.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]