Boys basketball: Tampa Prep finds narrow escape

By BOB PUTNAM
Published January 16, 2008

CLEARWATER - Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, Tampa Prep began handling the basketball Tuesday night as if it weighed 22 pounds instead of 22 ounces.

Open shots hit the rim, and passes skipped off their hands and into Calvary Christian's. During a stretch in the fourth quarter, the Warriors made the Terrapins pay for every gaffe.

Calvary Christian scored 17 consecutive points to wipe out most of Tampa Prep's lead.

But it wasn't enough.

The Terrapins, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, escaped with a 54-53 win in a key district game. The victory comes three days after Tampa Prep knocked off 3A No. 1 Berkeley Prep to give coach Joe Fenlon his 500th career win.

"I was very concerned about this game," Fenlon said. "We were fortunate to come away with a win."

Early on the Terrapins (17-1) were in control, building a 34-18 lead at the half and increasing it to 51-33 at the end of the third. But with inside players Patrick McCarthy and David Waller in foul trouble, the Warriors took advantage.

Calvary Christian (14-4) cut the deficit to 54-51 and had a chance to tie the game with nine seconds remaining. Warriors coach Dave Bintz designed a play to feed the ball inside to Christian Bibi Ndongo, who was supposed to kick the ball out for a 3-pointer.

Instead, Ndongo threw down a dunk as time expired.

"I think instincts just took over for Christian," Bintz said. "But we can't blame him for that. We wouldn't be in this game without him."

Bibi Ndongo finished with 24 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

[Last modified January 15, 2008, 23:49:47]