Gibbs stuns Lakewood on home court

By CHRIS GIRANDOLA
Published January 7, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Simply huge.

Jaw dropping, even.

For the first time in who knows how many years, Lakewood lost its second home game in a season. Gibbs pulled off the upset, beating Lakewood 64-58 in front of a sold-out crowd. The loss also was the Spartans' first in Class 5A, District 11 and creates a three-way tie at the top with Boca Ciega and Gibbs.

"To be honest, I can't remember when we lost two games on our home court, let alone a district game," Lakewood coach Dan Wright said.

Gibbs could care less though, as they took the win in stride.

"Hey, this is just the next step in our program in getting us there where Lakewood is," said Gibbs forward Emmanuel Bell, who scored 14 and grabbed 14 rebounds.

"There" is at the top, where Lakewood (10-3), which is ranked No. 3 in the Class 5A state poll, has been the past few years, having won two straight Class 4A championships.

Gibbs (10-5) started out the night as if it was the same old Gladiators playing the mighty Spartans, turning the ball over eight times in the first quarter.

Lakewood seemed to be picking up where it left off after winning three straight in the Hooters Shootout last week. Guard Dion Burton helped the Spartans jump to an early 11-2 lead as the senior captain scored six points and assisted on another. But the Gladiators settled down and got back into the game behind two long 3-pointers from Kevin Williams (11 points), and trailed 17-12 at the end of the first.

"We have a lot of young players, so we kind of started out a little rattled," Gibbs coach Larry Murphy Sr. said. "We started to execute our game plan in the second quarter, which was to get back on defense and keep them off the offensive boards."

The Gladiators, behind Tracy Parks' six points went on a 10-0 run to take a 22-19 lead midway through the second. The teams were tied at 25 at the half, then Lakewood led 45-43 going into the fourth.

With a minute and a half left and Gibbs up 57-55, Burton stole the ball in the open court and was fouled on the layup attempt. But he missed the second free throw.

Burton stole the ball again with the score 59-57, and was fouled with 22 seconds left, but the senior made only one free throw. He finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Then with 10 seconds to go, Parks, after sinking the first free throw on a one and one, missed the second but recovered the long rebound. On the second bonus opportunity, Parks again made the first and missed the second, but Bell tipped the ball out and Williams recovered it, was fouled and made both free throws to seal the win. Parks finished with 16 points.

"I'm more disappointed than surprised," Wright said after the loss.

PHU 62, CLEARWATER 57: A.J. Tyler scored 25 and Adam Pegg 24 as the host Hurricanes upset the Tornadoes (11-3) and improved to 8-6.

MITCHELL 47, COUNTRYSIDE 44: Mitch Foster scored a team-high 15 and Elliot Bernard grabbed seven rebounds to lead host Mitchell.

EAST LAKE 86, DUNEDIN 57: The host Eagles were led by a strong all-around performance from Jason Stypul, who scored 19 and pulled down 10 rebounds.

LARGO 54, PINELLAS PARK 41: The Packers trailed with less than five minutes to play, but came from behind to improve to 12-2. The Patriots' Cam Carden scored 17, including 11 in the third quarter, and Nate Johnson finished with 15 for Largo.

BOGIE 70, DIXIE HOLLINS 29: Mehemiah Simpkins scored 21 and Orhian Johnson added 14 as the host Pirates easily defeated the Rebels.

AFA 61, SHORECREST 25: Bernard Scott scored a team-high 24 and Derrick Ochoa finished with six boards to lead visiting Admiral Farragut.

SEMINOLE 46, OSCEOLA 42: The host Warhawks got 16 points from Bill Hobach. Seminole's Lyndon Rowells, Bryant Lumpkin and Clay Bania each finished with six rebounds.

ST. PETERSBURG 68, ALONSO 52: St. Petersburg's Garren Adulte scored 13 and Donald Bowens pulled down 11 rebounds to handily defeat visiting Alonso.

IRC 63, CALVARY CHR. 54: Barrett Bailey scored 28 for visiting Indian Rocks Christian, and Brian Horrach finished with 10, including his 1,000th career point.

MITCHELL 76, COUNTRYSIDE 17: Mitchell's Taylor Lunin finished with 23 points and hit six of her team's 10 3-pointers.

CCC 52, BERKELEY PREP 26: Kendall Gibson led the Marauders with 14 points while the Bucs' Jalan Wishik finished with 13.

- BRANDON WRIGHT, Times staff writer

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:22:58]