Chiefs use huge third to reach final

James Devlin scores 12 of Chamberlain's 29 points, which help take out Riverview and set up a matchup with Sickles.

By ANTHONY GAGLIANO
Published December 28, 2005

TAMPA - Monday, James Devlin propelled Chamberlain past Tampa Bay Tech with his stellar free-throw shooting. Tuesday, the senior showed off his range.

Devlin made five 3-pointers as part of his game-high 18 points to carry the host Chiefs into today's final of the Chamberlain holiday tournament with a 66-52 victory against Riverview.

Twelve of Devlin's points came during the decisive third quarter, when the Chiefs (9-2) outscored the Sharks 29-12. The 29 points doubled Chamberlain's halftime score and helped it coast into today's 4 p.m. final against Sickles.

"It's real good knowing we can do that in a matter of minutes," said Devlin, a Times second-team All-Suncoast selection as a junior in 2004-05.

"If we can do that in all of our games, it's going to be a lot easier the rest of the season."

Devlin scored 29 on Monday thanks to 17-of-21 shooting at the free-throw line against TBT. However, like that game, the Chiefs started slowly against Riverview, trailing 14-8 after one quarter.

Chamberlain countered the Sharks' pressure with their fullcourt trap and led by three at halftime before the big third quarter put them up by 20.

"It's great when the momentum's on your side and you're getting easy baskets," Chamberlain coach Doug Aplin said. "On the other bench, it's not much fun."

The Chiefs seek to keep the tempo fast against Sickles (7-2), which held on for a 55-52 victory against Leto in the other semifinal.

The Falcons (5-6) scored 25 points in the fourth quarter but couldn't make up the entire 18-point deficit. The Gryphons got 14 points from Jason Page and eight from David and Matt Johnson and sophomore Carey Thomas.

Leto's Jovaughn Wade scored seven of his game-high 21 points in the fourth before fouling out in the final seconds. Wade and Kelvin Daniels combined for all six of the Falcons' 3-pointers a day after the team made nine in an opening-round victory against Gaither.

In addition to Devlin, the Gryphons must watch out for Mo Lightburn. The Chiefs reserve came off the bench to score 13 against Riverview a night after he pulled down 16 rebounds and scored 11 points. He's the only other Chief to score in double figures in either game.

Mostly though, the tournament has been a chance to showcase Devlin, who still is looking for a chance to play in college.

"I was using my picks real well," said Devlin, who cited "the players around me and my coach" as his strongest assets.

"He does a little of everything for us," Aplin said. "He handles the ball, makes shots and makes good passes to his teammates for easy baskets. Other teams know where he is at all times, which makes it tougher for him to score. It's a credit to him to fight to get open."

ST. PETERSBURG - Miami Dr. Krop routed Brandon 72-44 in the first round of the Hooters Holiday Shootout at Boca Ciega. The Eagles face Miami Northwest Christian, which lost 63-32 to Lakeland Kathleen, at 8:30 tonight in a consolation bracket game at Boca Ciega.

The Lightning led 18-9 in the first quarter behind junior Eric Rodriguez, who made all three of his 3-pointers for nine of his 15 points.

In the second quarter, the big frontline of Dr. Krop took over. Luis Colon, 6 feet 10, and Orane Chin, 6-7, combined for 12 of Krop's 15 points as the Eagles, whose tallest player was Devin Smith at 6-4, fell behind 33-21 at halftime.

Smith led Brandon with 10 points.

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 00:37:18]