Sports

Girls basketball: TBT senior 'can do it all'

By JOE SMITH
Published December 14, 2007

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TAMPA - Dancing might be one of Andrea Bridges' many passions.

But when the Tampa Bay Tech senior guard led an impromptu trip to Busch Gardens the night of the school's homecoming dance, her teammates tagged along.

"This team is closer than any one I've ever been on," Bridges said. "From the first practice, the first game, we clicked."

It has paid off, with the Titans (12-0) storming to a spectacular start. Winners of just eight games a year ago, TBT is now ranked sixth in Class 5A.

One reason why is that Bridges, a four-year starter, doesn't have to be Ms. Everything.

With sophomores Deandra Davis (11.4 ppg) and Re Re Jenrette (6.2 assists per game) coming over from Blake, they've combined with sharp-shooting Bridges (15.6 ppg) to form what coach Heather Glezen calls "from top to bottom, the most athletic team I've had."

That includes the 2003 TBT team, which had five starters go on to play in college (most notably two-time Times player of the year ChiChi Okpaleke, now at USF).

Bridges, a 5-foot-3 ball of energy, is now the Titans' go-to star, blending her speed and pogo-style hops (she's a strong high jumper and hurdler) in making TBT one of the county's top teams. Bridges, who scored her 1,000th career point two weeks ago, has drawn interest from Clemson for track but could pick any college with her 4.85 GPA and 1,460 SAT score.

"She's playing the best she's ever played," Glezen said of Bridges. "She can do it all."

Super seven

1. Sickles (11-0): Senior guard Shawnta Snakovsky (22.1 ppg) is emerging as a potential player of the year candidate. But Gryphons' glue could be Katie MacKenzie.

2. Plant (11-0):Sophomore Michelle Taylor (13.4 ppg) is one of several young Panthers stepping up.

3. Tampa Bay Tech (13-0):Coach Heather Glezen said this could be her most athletic group ever.

4. Freedom (9-3)*: Lost to Sickles and TBT (twice).

5. Holy Names (8-1):Junior Katie Davis (21.7 ppg) has stepped up for departed Messina sisters. True test tonight vs. St. Petersburg Catholic.

6. Hillsborough (10-2):Junior guard Shalisia Hall (19.3 ppg) might be one of the county's most exciting players.

7. Bloomingdale(6-3)*: Led by guard Paris Moore (20.7 ppg), Bulls have lost to Plant, Freedom and TBT.

* Records through Wednesday

 

Picking up the slack

King senior guard Nicole Hensel, a team captain, is out for the rest of the season after fracturing her tibia last week against Bloomingdale. Hensel (8.4 ppg, 5.9 GPA) has received interest from some Ivy League schools. "It hurts us," King coach Nia Campbell said. "Of course, you can't replace a Nicole. But Dawn (Ziegler), a sophomore, has really stepped up big."

 

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 23:47:14]