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Springstead bench a little emptier

By DAVID MURPHY
Published December 15, 2005

Had Chris Caggiano used his postgame pulpit to lobby for more playing time after his pivotal play in Springstead's 54-39 victory over Nature Coast on Tuesday, one would have found it hard to hold it against the big man.

After spending most of the last year and a half on the bench as a seldom-used reserve, the 6-foot-5 center tallied six points, two rebounds and two blocks in relief of starter Ethan Selph, who spent much of the game on the bench in foul trouble.

Nevertheless, after a game in which his interior defense played as big a role as any in helping Springstead improve to 6-2, Caggiano seemed content.

"Minutes don't matter to me," he said. "Springstead isn't used to going 6-2."

Caggiano, a soft-spoken, unassuming player who is the Eagles' fourth option in the frontcourt, has been with the team the past four years. After a sophomore year in which he was the junior varsity captain, the center spent last season languishing on the bench. But as this season has progressed, Springstead coach Craig Swartout has started to call on Caggiano with more frequency.

Though Selph and twins Jeff and Jason Haynes already give the Eagles the biggest frontcourt in the county, a team can never have enough big men, and against Nature Coast, that was more than evident.

Selph picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, then spent most of the rest of the first half on the bench. Selph and Jeff Haynes each picked up their third fouls early in the third quarter and eventually fouled out.

Even with their top two big men on the bench, the Eagles had a formidable front line of Caggiano and Jason Haynes.

"If we want to go big beefy we can go with Ethan and Chris; if we want to go big athletic, we've got the Haynes brothers," Swartout said. "Either way, we've got a lot of fouls between four guys."

And with Springstead off to its best start in quite some time, it's only appropriate a kid like Caggiano is contributing.

Said the center: "It feels good."

NATURE COAST DISAPPOINTED: After his team's disappointing loss to the Eagles, Nature Coast coach Travis Priddy stood outside the visitor's locker room at Springstead and explained exactly how unhappy he was with his players. "Tomorrow," he said, "we are going to hit hard."

Though the game was a lot closer than the 15-point final margin indicated, Nature Coast was defeated in all phases of the game. The Eagles hit six 3-pointers to the Sharks' two, held Nature Coast forward Josh Ortiz to just seven points and out-shot Springstead from the free-throw line (16-of-22 to 16-of-26).

Still, the coach wasn't ready to cede the HCAC title to Springstead. Nature Coast was without guard John Kayl, who, for the second straight game, did not play because of what Priddy called a "coach's decision" (read: discipline) and committed, in the coach's estimation, more than 20 turnovers.

"Turnovers and foul shooting killed us," he said.

Priddy said Kayl should be back in action when the Sharks face Hernando on Friday.

CENTRAL OFFENSE STARTING TO CLICK?: Before his team's game against River Ridge on Tuesday, Central coach John Sedlack bemoaned the team's lackluster offensive start, pointing out leading scorers Derek Jacobs and Tim Plumadore rarely have had their big games coincide. Though the Bears went on to lose 57-51, Jacobs scored 16 and Plumadore had 14.

[Last modified December 15, 2005, 00:33:15]