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An unbeatable team? Probably

By BOB PUTNAM
Published March 1, 2005

With the playoffs under way, the most beguiling question is not if Melbourne Florida Air Academy can be beaten, but if it ever could have been beaten.

How about the 1994-96 teams of Daytona Beach Mainland, led by Vince Carter? Or any of the teams of Miami Senior, which has won a record 17 state titles?

The matchups can't happen, obviously.

So we're left to reach for the history books and ponder what has been a long, ho-hum season in Class 3A.

Each of the other teams has an exciting, talented player who probably will land a I-A scholarship.

But collectively, just call them the Other 15, a terrific group that in a normal season would create an exciting rush toward the state tournament. This season, alas, they seem so far down, it must feel like up to them.

That's because Florida Air has risen to such a different, higher plateau that it makes the other teams seem mediocre.

"I have not been able to see much of them," Pasco coach Willie "Poncho" Broner III said. "All I know is that they're unbeatable."

The Falcons are 28-0 and favored to win their fourth state title. About the only teams Florida Air can compare itself with are ones from its past. After all, the Falcons also are seeking their third unbeaten season in the past five.

"Actually, this is not my most talented team," said Florida Air coach Aubin Goporo, who is in his fifth season. "The best was 2000-01. We were unbeaten for the first time, and we had four players sign with Division I programs."

This season's team is not too far behind. The Falcons have a little bit of everything. Greg Washington is a 6-foot-9 shot blocker, and Walter Hodge is one of the top players in the state. And to think this team is undefeated without Sasha Kohn, now a freshman at Kansas.

"They have size. They have shooters," said Admiral Farragut coach Mike Wells, whose team lost to Florida Air earlier this season. "You have a small margin of error if you want to win."

So how do you beat the Falcons?

It's widely agreed opponents must, among other things, minimize the Falcons' transition baskets, keep them away from the offensive glass and force them into a slow, methodical halfcourt offense.

All the while, continually switching defenses to keep Florida Air thinking.

Then again, the Falcons can be patient. They don't take many bad shots or commit many turnovers. They're also fiendishly unselfish, and their interior passing might be the best in the state.

Okay, that's the offense.

Defensive weaknesses?

Forget it.

Make no mistake, Florida Air wins with defense, where it terrifies opponents. Probably no team has distorted games this season with such overwhelming pressure.

Blocks, interceptions and deflections. The Falcons have devastated teams, forcing 20 turnovers a game.

That is why, offensively, an opponent must: have guards who not only hold up under the pressure, but attack it; open up the driving lanes with crisp passes to the weakside; and spread the offense with backcuts as much as possible.

"(Florida Air) plays very solid man-to-man defense and can do a lot of things on offense," Wells said. "Hodge had 25 points in the first half against us, and we had just about everybody guarding him. They also created some turnovers and grabbed the lead pretty quickly. But that's what good teams do."

Though the prospects of knocking off such a heavyweight are slim, the Pirates have some advantages.

The game was moved to Melbourne Central Catholic because Florida Air does not have enough seating in its gym. The Falcons have not lost a home game in the past seven seasons.

In addition, the Pirates have beaten touted teams in other sports. Last season, their baseball team upset unbeaten and top-ranked Dunnellon in the playoffs.

Can the same thing happen in basketball?

"We'll see," Broner said. "I like challenges, and this is a big one."

[Last modified March 1, 2005, 01:11:12]