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Colleges

PHCC takes an early turn for better

By Times Staff
Published December 6, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Suncoast Conference games do not start until January, but the Pasco-Hernando Community College men's basketball team won't have to wait that long for a turnaround.

The Conquistadors (9-5), who have just four conference wins the past two seasons, are off to their best start since the 2000-01 season. That was their last winning campaign (20-13) and last appearance in the state tournament.

PHCC started 6-2, including two three-game winning streaks, is 4-1 on the road and has made the finals of three tournaments.

"I don't ever like to reflect back, because we've got eight new players,", coach Bobby Bowman said. "I'm real pleased with our effort. The chemistry's good."

Three freshmen join returning sophomore forwards Edward Brown and Derell Henderson as starters. That group includes forward Japan Ruise with guards Stanley Pringle and Quintez Thomas .

"We've got a good influx of freshmen," Bowman said. "Definitely we're quicker at the guard slots.

Last Tuesday, Pringle scored 20 to lead five Conquistadors in double figures in a 89-79 win over ninth-ranked Santa Fe at Gainesville. Pringle leads the team at 14.7 points a game. Thomas had a triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists) in an 81-61 win over Dan Wright AAU on Nov. 25.

Ruise had a team-high 12 rebounds against Santa Fe and on Saturday led PHCC with 25 points in an 83-82 loss to No.8 Palm Beach.

As for the sophomore starters, Henderson went 12-for-12 from the free-throw line against Santa Fe and Brown had a career-high 21 rebounds against Dan Wright AAU.

But this season has not been without adversity. Four returning sophomores (including Nature Coast Tech's Jeremy Gambrel and Hudson's Mo Maisonet ), grieved over the death of former teammate David Simpson . The former PHCC forward and Wesley Chapel standout died Nov.14 in a shooting in a Tampa McDonald's parking lot.

Bowman said the team's play was not affected, but Brown wore shorts with Simpson's No.22 for a practice and the returners reflected on their former teammate.

"Obviously, they had a lot of love and affection for David," Bowman said. "Each person handled it in their own way."

BEST AGAIN: Saint Leo's Scott Seifert , named the Sunshine State Conference men's basketball player of the week on Nov.28, did not repeat the honor. But he did earn his team's top award for the second straight week.

In three games through Sunday, the senior guard averaged 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and two assists. He also made 11-of-33 on 3-point shots and 16-of-20 free throws.

LISTED: Saint Leo placed 11 athletes on the SSC Commissioner's list of Outstanding Achievement for November.

They were: men's basketball - Michael Caulfield , George Eshesimua , Seifert; women's basketball - Marquita Fenn , Danielle Hoeffner , Katie Koestner , Jonelle Nieb , Denequia Parrish ; men's soccer - Danny Rissanen ; volleyball - Jessica Lynn , Audrey Starkebaum .

[Last modified December 6, 2005, 02:15:34]