Gulf wins battle of unbeatens

By IZZY GOULD
Published December 16, 2005

WESLEY CHAPEL - Gulf ran its layup drills through a shower of hostility.

No doubt, the Buccaneers enter most gymnasiums a marked team.

Targeting them Thursday was Wesley Chapel, a rising power with a chance to dethrone the county bully.

Looking for more spice? The opening tip featured two undefeateds with Gulf touting the No. 6 ranking in Class 4A.

Through the first four minutes, Pasco County basketball appeared at its best with two heavyweights landing big blows. The Wildcats suffered the first setback though, a big one.

Their star point guard, Sthefany Thomas - the county's leading scorer - picked up her third foul in the first quarter, then her fourth with six minutes left in the second.

Gulf coach Mike Quarto eyed the adjustment and unleashed a dizzying attack.

The result was Gulf's 11th win in as many games, 53-36.

The Bucs have traveled to face the county's toughest opponents and earned wins, first at Mitchell and now here.

"We played really good defense," Quarto said. "That was our main thing. Anytime you hold a team to 36 points, you're doing a great job."

Wesley Chapel (7-1, 6-1 Sunshine Athletic Conference) had no answers for Dominique English or Tiara Cook. English scored at will for a game-high 27 points. Cook chipped in with 17.

Defensively, Gulf (11-0, 7-0) was focused on stopping Thomas.

"We tried to stop Sthefany from penetrating, basically stop her game and play our game," English said. "That was our game plan. It worked."

Thomas was forced to think about her moves, knowing a fifth foul would end her night.

She managed to last until 4:26 of the fourth quarter, scoring a team-high 17 points.

The Wildcats' six other scorers combined for 20.

"I knew exactly what they would do," Wesley Chapel coach Warren Jones said. "... I needed her to bring the ball down the court. ... It just goes like that sometimes."

Contact Izzy Gould at 813 909-4612 or sportsjournalist@gmail.com

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:55:10]