Boys basketball: Pinellas district preview

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published February 4, 2008

A model guard in basketball is like a good host at a dinner party, unselfishly serving the ball to teammates, making sure they have their fill of shots. They also can provide points when needed. Here are some to keep an eye on this week:

6A-7 at Sickles

Wednesday - Alonso (4) vs. Countryside (5), 6 p.m.; Gaither (3) vs. Mitchell (6), 8. Friday - St. Petersburg (2) vs. TBD, 6; Sickles (1) vs. TBD, 8. Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Antwan Carter, St. Petersburg

The sophomore guard is averaging 6.3 points and nearly five assists per game for the second-seeded Green Devils.

5A-11 at Boca Ciega

Wednesday - Dixie Hollins (4) vs. Seminole (5), 5 p.m.; Boca Ciega (3) vs. Northeast (6), 6:30; Gibbs (2) vs. Osceola (7), 8. Friday - semifinal, 6; (1) Lakewood vs. TBD, 8:30. Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Reggie Reed, Lakewood

At the Kingdom of the Sun in Ocala, Reed set a tournament record with 36 assists.

5A-9 at Pinellas Park

Wednesday - (5) Palm Harbor University vs. (4) East Lake, 5; (3) Largo vs. (6) Dunedin, 6:30; (7) Tarpon Springs vs. (2) Clearwater, 8. Friday - semifinal, 6:30; (1) Pinellas Park vs. TBD, 8. Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Cam Carden, Pinellas Park

The sharpshooting senior led the Patriots to a No. 1 seed and the school's first PCAC championship. Carden's biggest battle will come from Clearwater's Luke Loucks, a Florida State signee who played a big role in his team's victory over the Patriots two weeks ago.

3A-11 at Tampa Catholic

Wednesday - Clearwater Central Catholic (4) vs. Lennard (5), 7. Friday - Berkeley Prep (1) vs. TBD, 6; St. Petersburg Catholic (2) vs. Tampa Catholic (3) , 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Tracy Parks, SPC

A long-range specialist, Parks came up big in an upset over top-ranked Berkeley Prep. Also watch CCC's Eric Segert, who has scored 84 in his past two games.

2A-11 at Admiral Farragut

Tuesday - Shorecrest (4) vs. Bradenton St. Stephens (5), 7. Friday - Keswick Christian (3) vs. Northside Christian (2), 6; Admiral Farragut (1) vs. TBD, 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7 p.m.

Player to watch

Josh Birch, Admiral Farragut

He is averaging 14.3 points per game and leads the team with 31 3-pointers.

2A-9 at Tampa Prep

Friday - Calvary Christian vs Indian Rocks, 6 p.m.; Tampa Prep vs. Bishop McLaughlin, 7:30. Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Marcos Quinnones, Calvary Chr.

He scored a team-high 21, including 10 in the third quarter, to help the Warriors beat Bradenton Christian in last week's Bay Conference game.

A-11 at Citrus Park Christian

Tuesday - Lakeside Christian (3) vs. Citrus Park (2), 5 p.m.; Academy at the Lakes (4) vs. Canterbury (1). Saturday - Final, 7

Player to watch

Brandon Hamilton, Canterbury

He is averaging 24.6 points per game and has more than 1, 000 points in his career.

[Last modified February 3, 2008, 21:37:35]