Sports

Wildcats retrace familiar path

Wharton expected to meet Lake Howell in a playoff rematch from last season.

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published February 24, 2007

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TAMPA - Apparently, the keen sense of anticipation Tommy Tonelli possessed more than two decades ago as a gritty USF guard hasn't abandoned him.

Sensing his third-ranked Wharton team would find itself back at Winter Park's Lake Howell in the Class 5A playoffs, Tonelli recently purchased a SunPass that will allow his team bus swifter passage through the myriad of expressway toll booths en route to the school.

"I got it about three weeks ago," he said.

Tonelli could use that same pass for metaphorical purposes in the locker room, just before the Wildcats 29-1 take the court for the biggest game in school history.

Top-ranked Lake Howell (27-3) drubbed Wharton, 72-43, in the 2006 playoffs, and the 'Cats have since paid an enormous toll - i.e., thousands of jump shots, hundreds of weightlifting sessions, dozens of summer AAU games - to get a return match.

Tonight, that toil culminates in what could be the best boys matchup in the state, the one senior forward Leonard Simmons says his team has wanted "since the game ended last year."

"From the time we walked off that floor last year, beaten soundly by a very good team, I think our guys realized and were motivated by the fact that if they wanted to compete and have the opportunity to beat them, it was going to take a lot of hard work," Tonelli said.

"I told them, from my standpoint, looking back on all the things they've done and how hard they've worked and how much they've sacrificed ... they've put themselves in a position where they've got to feel good about getting out there and putting on a uniform and competing and seeing how much they have actually progressed."

Six of Wharton's top seven scorers from the club that fell to Lake Howell are back for the rematch. But so are the Silver Hawks' top four, including University of Florida signees Chandler Parsons and Nick Calathes, who stand a respective 6-feet-9 and 6-5; and Virginia Commonwealth-bound point guard Joey Rodriguez.

Last year, the 'Cats matched up effectively for three quarters but were outscored 23-3 in the decisive second, succumbing to Lake Howell's high tempo with hasty shot selection and turnovers.

"I don't know what happened, I just know we had a lot of turnovers," Wharton senior guard and top scorer Shawn Vanzant said. "It seemed like we got tired, out of breath, and we just made turnover after turnover after turnover that led to easy baskets."

The '07 version of Lake Howell hasn't lost to an in-state school. Only two Florida opponents - Ridgewood and Winter Springs - have come within 20 points of the Hawks, who have scored at least 70 in every game this season.

Wharton, also unbeaten against playoff-eligible Florida schools, is cognizant - but not intimidated by - the challenge. To the 'Cats, a mere quest for a respectable margin tonight isn't sufficient.

With sound team defense and disciplined possessions on offense, Tonelli says, his team has a chance to win.

"I think every individual has worked too hard to stop here," Vanzant said. "Lifting weights, running every day, shooting, practicing, traveling all over the state, playing AAU - I think we've worked too hard to stop here."

Joey Knight can be reached at (813) 226-3350 or jknight@sptimes.com.

 

 

[Last modified February 23, 2007, 21:54:59]

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