Boys basketball: Ram Classic

Wiregrass Ranch is showing loads of promise in just its second season of varsity action.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published January 5, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - All half, Jeremy Calzone had been yelling for his team to "Find No.1." But as the final seconds of the first half ticked down, there was No. 1, also known as 6-foot-4 Gaither swing man Kornilous Donnell, weaving his way through the Wiregrass Ranch defense and hitting a 16-foot jump shot from the right wing as time expired.

As his Bulls team trudged off the court toward the locker room, Calzone exploded, yelling, "How does that happen?" at no one in particular as his words echoed through the sparsely populated gym.

"It's youth," the coach said later. "They just get stupid sometimes."

Coaching a second-year varsity program can redefine a man's patience. But midway through this season, Calzone and his Wiregrass Ranch team are more often than not finding themselves on the same page.

Though the Bulls dropped both of their games at the Ram Classic, including a 59-48 loss to Gaither on Friday night, they showed the makings of a team that could contend for a district title as early as next year.

Despite a regular rotation that features two freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors, the Bulls have already won five games. Their 5-11 record is better than the marks at far more established programs like Gulf, Mitchell, Hernando and Central.

Against Gaither, the Bulls were led by junior guard Sean Cooper, a steady ball handler who scored nine points and provided solid defense. Freshman Tanner Carey, meanwhile, scored 10 points. Combined with 6-foot-6 sophomore Eric Williams, Wiregrass' potential is limitless.

Calzone, who spent two years as an assistant at Ridgewood before accepting the job at Wiregrass, said he expects to compete for a district title next year.

"We're a lot better than last year," said Cooper, who attended Land O'Lakes as a freshman and was denied school choice twice when Wiregrass opened, forcing him to enroll.

Last year, the Bulls won just one game. This year, they've recorded wins over district foes Hernando, Gulf and Sunlake, and played teams like Hudson and Pasco tough.

Friday, they outscored Gaither 34-28 in the second half to finish the classic with a great deal of momentum.

"I think we're right where we need to be," Calzone said.

In earlier games Friday, host Ridgewood thumped Archbishop Carroll 72-31, Newsome beat Hernando 82-23, Freedom defeated Sunlake 61-43 and Oldsmar Christian took care of IMG 80-60.

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 23:11:58]