Boys basketball: Hillsborough district preview

By JOE SMITH, Times Staff Writer
Published February 4, 2008

A-10, at Cambridge

Tuesday - No. 4 Tampa Bay Christian vs. No. 5 Berean, 6. Friday - No. 2 Seffner Christian vs. No. 3 Cambridge, 6; No. 1 Bayshore vs. Tampa Bay Christian-Berean, 8; Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Bayshore Christian, led by Fred Lewis (16 points per game) could be in for an interesting battle with defending champ Seffner Christian., Devin Paularinne, Seffner Chr, So.: The 6-foot-4 forward averages 13.9 points.

A-11, at Citrus Park Christian

Tuesday - No. 3 Lakeside Christian vs. No. 2 Citrus Park, 5; No. 4Academy at the Lakes vs. No. 1 Canterbury, 7. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Canterbury should roll in this one. The battle is for runnerup.

Matt Grossenbach, Academy at the Lakes, So.: Scores a district-high 19 per game.

2A-9, at Tampa Prep

Friday - No. 2 Calvary Christian vs. No. 3 Indian Rocks, 6; No. 1 Tampa Prep vs. No. 4 Bishop McLaughlin, 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Tampa Prep is getting a career year from senior David Waller, and the Terps likely will get tested only by Calvary Christian's bigs., Jake Haslam, Tampa Prep, Sr.: The forward has been the Terps' catalyst, scoring in double figures in seven of his past eight games.

3A-11, at Tampa Catholic

Wednesday - No. 4 Clearwater Central Catholic vs. No. 5 Lennard, 7. Friday - No. 1 Berkeley Prep vs. CCC-Lennard, 6; No. 2 St. Petersburg Catholic vs. No. 3 Tampa Catholic, 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Two weeks ago, the Bucs were slam-dunk favorites. Now with St. Petersburg Catholic and Jesuit recently beating Berkeley, this one's a three-team race with the Bucs, Barons and host Tampa Catholic. , James Didden, Tampa Catholic, Sr.: The 6-3 swingman can go outside (16.5 points per game) and inside (6.5 rebounds per game).

4A-9, at Spoto

Tuesday - No. 4 Ridge vs. No. 5 Haines City, 6; No. 3 Lake Wales vs. No. 6 Spoto, 7:30. Friday - No. 1 Kathleen vs. Ridge-Haines City, 6; No. 2 Bartow vs. Lake Wales-Spoto, 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Spoto, a second-year program, boasted a five-win improvement while competing in one of the state's toughest districts. , Derick Beltran, Spoto, Sr.: The Queens, N.Y., native, is the 4A player of the year for District 13.

5A-8, at Tampa Bay Tech

Tuesday - No. 1 Brandon vs. No. 8 Freedom, 6; No. 2 Wharton vs. No. 7 Tampa Bay Tech, 8. Wednesday - No. 4 Armwood vs. No. 5 Newsome, 6; No. 3 King vs. No. 6 Bloomingdale, 8. Friday - Semifinals, 6 and 8. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Brandon has been the favorite, but nobody wants to play hot Wharton. , Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, King, Jr.: If his ankle is 100 percent, the Lions are dangerous.

5A-10, at Plant

Today - No. 8 Robinson vs. No. 9 Leto, 7. Tuesday - No. 4 Hillsborough vs No. 5 Jefferson, 6, No. 1 Plant vs. Robinson-Leto, 7:30. Wednesday - No. 3 Middleton vs. No. 6 Blake, 6; No. 2 Chamberlain vs. No. 7 Jesuit, 7:30. Friday - Semifinals, 6 and 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

One of the bay area's most wide-open districts, favorite Plant could get topped by Chamberlain or defending champ Middleton. , Mike Plummer, Chamberlain, Sr.: Plummer has been Mr. Clutch with two buzzer-beaters this season.

6A-7, at Sickles

Wednesday - No. 4 Alonso vs. No. 5 Countryside, 6; No. 3 Gaither vs. No. 6 Mitchell, 8. Friday - No. 2 St. Petersburg vs. Gaither-Mitchell, 6; No. 1 Sickles vs. Alonso-Countryside, 8. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Sickles, boasting a very talented but young backcourt, could get its best challenge from St. Petersburg. , Jordan Davis, Sickles, So.: The stocky guard is playing well beyond his years.

6A-8, at Riverview

Tuesday - No. 4 Durant vs. No. 5 Sarasota, 4; No. 3 Plant City vs. No. 6 Riverview, 6; No. 2 Sarasota Riverview vs. No. 7 East Bay, 8. Friday - No. 1 Lakeland vs. Durant-Sarasota, 8; semifinal, 6. Saturday - Final, 7.

Skinny, Player to watch

Durant and Plant City could be wild cards in a district still controlled by Lakeland. , Aaron Garden, Durant, Jr.: The Cougars' top scorer (18 a game) makes them tick.

[Last modified February 3, 2008, 21:37:41]