Barons getting things done with their depth

By BOB PUTNAM
Published February 18, 2006

The uniforms read Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and Melbourne Central Catholic, but St. Petersburg Catholic made both look more like the Washington Generals during the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Barons, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, are not just beating opponents. They are demoralizing them with lopsided scores: 58-20 over Cardinal Mooney in the region quarterfinals and 65-44 over MCC in the semifinals.

St. Petersburg Catholic has been doing it with unmatched depth and a roster that is one of the most versatile in the county.

Sasha Chaplin (13.2 points) and Robin Link (10.6) are the only ones averaging double figures in scoring. But four others averaging at least five points per game.

The unlimited options presents a battery of choices for coach Nick Vandewalle, who, with playing time at a premium, has tried to come up with a formula to dispense minutes.

"The hardest thing is trying to keep everybody happy," Vandewalle said. "We're sharing minutes, and that means some scoring averages go down. But the bonus is having that depth, which we didn't have last year."

Tonight, Vandewalle will need a system that can produce results against a familiar opponent.

The Barons host district rival Academy of the Holy Names. St. Petersburg Catholic (26-2) has won the past four meetings over the Jaguars, including the district final.

"We definitely know who they are and what they like to do," Vandewalle said. "We don't really need any in-depth scouting report because we've seen just about everything from them."

What the Barons usually see is a 2-3 zone that applies brakes to the game's wheels. Academy uses it because it gives its smaller lineup a better chance at rebounds and forces St. Petersburg Catholic to shoot from the outside.

"(The Jaguars) pack it in so well with that zone," Vandewalle said. "They basically dare us to hit the outside shot. I wish they'd come out and press us, but (Academy coach) Casey Higgins knows what she's doing."

That strategy has helped the Jaguars keep the games close. In the three against SPC, two were decided by six points or fewer.

More problematic for the Barons this week is illness. Link, Vandewalle, Holly Janicki and Shannon McElhaney all have battled the flu.

[Last modified February 18, 2006, 02:00:25]