Boys 2A hoops: Warriors dictate pace, surprise Terrapins

By Rod Gipson, Times correspondent
Published February 20, 2008

TAMPA - Stymied in his team's three previous attempts against Tampa Prep, Calvary Christian coach Dave Bintz had to come up with something new heading into the team's fourth meeting - Tuesday's Class 2A region semifinal.

During the week he thought about something he saw the University of North Carolina use in the late 1970s. Digging into his coaching archive, Bintz installed a four-corner offense in hopes of slowing the game and giving his squad more control.

With four players spread out and one in the middle controlling the flow of the game, Calvary frustrated Tampa Prep and made off with a 46-37 upset victory.

Tampa Prep (24-3) couldn't contain 6-foot-7 center Christian Bibi Ndongo, who had five dunks and 12 points. Calvary (20-9) led by as much as eight in the second half before the Terps made a run. After David Waller (11 points) made successive layups and Jake Haslem hit a 3-pointer, Tampa Prep trailed 34-32 with 6:15 left. But another Calvary slow down, spread 'em out trip down the floor ended any hopes of a comeback.

"We're used to going up and down the floor and we couldn't change the tempo because we couldn't get the lead," Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon said. "They had the right recipe and they beat us."

Rod Gipson, Times correspondent

[Last modified February 19, 2008, 22:34:49]