GULFPORT - Some in local basketball circles wondered how Boca Ciega would fare with star guard Tiffany Williams sidelined until January. On Tuesday, the Pirates answered their doubters loud and clear.
Boca Ciega kicked off its season with a 54-28 trouncing of visiting Manatee, a team that returned four starters from last season's region semifinal squad.
"I was very surprised (about the margin of victory)," Pirates coach William White said. "But we wanted to schedule a tough first game to gauge where we are at."
Boca Ciega (1-0) forced 25 turnovers, thanks in large part to swarming defense from the backcourt tandem of Ashley Williams and freshman Tory Stephens. Playing at the top of the Pirates' trapping 2-3 zone, Williams (seven steals) and Stephens (three) accounted for 10 of Boca Ciega's 17 steals.
"It kind of reminded me of a street basketball game the way we (Williams and Stephens) were getting after them," White said. "We just told them to be aggressive and make plays."
Williams was equally as effective on the offensive end, pouring in 24 points. The 5-foot-3 junior hit a pair of 3s and went 4-of-7 from the free-throw line.
"Everyone is doubting us because we don't have our star player," Williams said. "We need her, but we showed we could also get it done until she's back."
The Pirates' Krista Oliver finished with seven points and Stephens added five. Boca Ciega's Whitney Newton recorded a game-high 10 rebounds to go with four blocks.
Volleyball
The White team defeated the Red team 25-16, 25-15, 18-25, 20-25, 15-12 in the Pinellas County Senior All-Star game held at Indian Rocks Christian.
Area coaches met in October and chose 28 seniors to be divided in a draft-style selection between the teams. The White team, coached by Palm Harbor U.'s Tara Burton, chose first and the Red team picked the next two players. This format was followed until the teams had 12 players and two reserves each. PHU's Christine Tan (seven kills, 24 digs) was the No. 1 selection.
Clearwater's Teale Richards (15 kills) was named White team MVP while PHU's Heather Smith (eight kills) took the honors for the Red team.
Red team members and Clearwater standouts Kelsey Salava and Eileen Case had eight and seven kills, respectively.
