Girls hoops: Barons in control from the start

By Bryan Burns
Published January 6, 2008

LARGO - After Friday night's seven-point semifinal victory over Boca Ciega - one of the better games in the bay area this season - St. Petersburg Catholic's 55-33 win over Ridgewood Saturday in the Indian Rocks Christian Holiday Tournament seemed anticlimactic.

The Barons (17-1) wasted little time jumping on Ridgewood (11-7), racing out to a 13-4 lead after one quarter and extending it to 30-9 to end any doubt to the game's outcome by halftime.

Using an effective full-court press that never allowed Ridgewood to get comfortable in its offense, St. Petersburg Catholic forced Ridgewood into 27 turnovers and held the Rams to 28 percent (11-for-39) shooting from the floor.

"We were trying to put the defensive pressure early to avoid a letdown," SPC coach Nick Vandewalle said.

With Sasha Chaplin, who took home tournament MVP honors, doubled much of the night, the Barons' Holly Janicki had a career night, finishing with 30 points, including hitting 5-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc. Janicki was named to the all-tournament team.

"Holly Janicki played incredible," Vandewalle said. "We didn't want to come out flat after (Friday) night's game, and I think she really took that to heart. She put us on her back."

Chaplin finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. The Barons held a 22-10 rebounding advantage by halftime and, led by Jerrica Coley's eight rebounds, finished with eight more boards than the Rams.

IRC's Courtney St. Louis and Boca Ciega's Tamara Taylor also made the all-tournament team.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 23:48:52]