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Today's Boys basketball state semifinals
The Lakeland Center
By JOHN C. COTEY
Published March 9, 2005
CLASS 5A
WHO: Lake Howell (26-4) vs. Dwyer (23-5); 7 p.m.
THE SKINNY: Lake Howell, coached by former USF point guard Reggie Kohn, is one of the state's most exciting teams to watch, and many consider them a strong favorite to win state. They'll have to get by Dwyer, the defending champ that knocked off the Silver Hawks 64-49 in the final last year.
WHO: Clearwater (26-1) vs. Clermont East Ridge (22-6); 8:30 p.m.
THE SKINNY: East Ridge is led by 6-foot-7 guard Corey Godzinski, who averages 16.3 points but scored 31 in the region final against Brandon. Chris Bishop, a 6-5 forward, averages 16.8 and nine rebounds, while 6-8 center Chris Haye is at 10 points per game and eight rebound per game. Two of the Knight's losses came to West Orange, which is in the 6A semifinals. Clearwater is paced by seniors Darius Hart (15 ppg), Trevor Lee (11.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and 6-10 center Cruz Daniels (10 ppg, 8.8 rpg). Daniels had 14 points and 18 rebounds in last year's semifinal loss to Lake Howell.
CLASS 3A
WHO: Jacksonville Ribault (23-7) vs. Miami Pace (24-4) 4 p.m.
THE SKINNY: Ribault coach Bernard Wilkes has 737 career wins, more than any other coach at state, and has appeared in 15 final fours with four state championships. He was a 2004 inductee into the Florida coach's hall of fame. Three of the Trojans' losses are to teams at state and two were in overtime. The other four were to Jacksonville Raines. Pace is going for its third state title in five years.
WHO: St. Petersburg Catholic (24-5) vs. Melbourne Florida Air (30-0); 2:30 p.m.
THE SKINNY: The Falcons are 135-12 in coach Aubin Goporo's five seasons, and eight of those losses came last season, the only year they haven't reached the final four in his tenure. Florida Air's 69-61 win over Admiral Farragut was the second-closest game it played this season; the first was a 66-59 win over North Broward Prep. Aaron Holmes led Pinellas County is scoring at 26.1 points per game, and also averaged 6.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists. From 3-point range, Holmes shot 44 percent (64-for-145), but Noah Cumby (54 percent), Grady Jorgensen (52), and Joey Baker (47) showed they can score from deep.
[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:55:19]
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