Preps

Hillsborough: News and notes

TC's tough task

Besides traveling to the "muck," as Tampa Catholic football coach Bob Henriquez calls it, the Crusaders face a two-headed Clewiston rushing attack that will be tough to tackle. TC 9-2, 5-0 has boasted a stout defense all year, but few teams have shut down Clewiston backs Colin Ricketts (1,077 yards, 7.4 ypc) and Darris Hughes (922 yards, 6.6 ypc).

Rickets, a bigger, bruising back, and Hughes, a slippery, speedy back, have combined for 18 of Clewiston's 27 touchdowns. Henriquez said the duo reminds him of the attack from Jacksonville Trinity Christian, which the Crusaders beat 35-21 on Oct. 12.

"We're not going to stop them completely," Henriquez said. "But if we keep them from hitting home runs and just hitting singles and doubles, we'll be okay."

Soccer showdown

When Tampa Prep hosts its Challenge Cup boys showcase today and Saturday, it'll bring in one of its best fields ever. Four final four teams will go head-to-head, with the defending 2A champ Terrapins kicking off the round-robin tournament at 8 a.m. by facing Alonso, a 6A semifinalist last year. After 3A finalist Clearwater Central Catholic faces Orlando Orangewood Christian at 10:30, Tampa Prep takes on CCC at 1:30. On Saturday, action wraps up with the Terrapins playing OCS at 8, then Alonso goes back-to-back vs CCC (10:30) and OCS (1:30).

Basketball tourney

Also at Tampa Prep, the Southeast Basketball Thanksgiving Classic pits some strong bay area teams today and Saturday with defending 6A champ Lakeland Kathleen. The two-day showcase will include defending district champs Sickles, Tampa Prep, Wharton and Middleton.

Today: Sickles vs. St. Petersburg Catholic, 5:30; Land O'Lakes vs. Middleton, 7; Wharton vs. Lakeland Kathleen, 8:30;

Saturday: Wharton vs. SPC, 5:30; Land O'Lakes vs Sickles, 7; Tampa Prep vs. Middleton, 8:30

Quotable

"We're telling our kids, first team to 17 wins. It's two very good defenses, so it's going to come down to one or two snaps. The last time we played we lost 17-0, but people forget it was 3-0 with three minutes to play." - Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia on tonight's football game against Armwood

It's all in the head

After watching tape of the Gaither football team, which the Chiefs play tonight in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, the Chamberlain coaching staff has come to this conclusion: The Cowboys aren't the same team Chamberlain beat 41-17 on Aug. 31. Gaither, the Chiefs say, is better. And the numbers back that up.

Since starting 0-2 against Chamberlain and Plant (and allowing 89 points in the process), the Cowboys have won eight of nine. During that stretch, they've scored 30 or more points five times and the defense has drastically improved. "You know what it is?" longtime Chamberlain coach Billy Turner said. "Confidence."

For the record, the Chiefs think they're also better. "We're a lot more confident, too," Turner said.

[Last modified November 22, 2007, 20:30:18]