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By PETE YOUNG
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 19, 2001
After a long 13 months, Northeast is finally ready to move back into its own gym.
Since December 1999 the Vikings' indoor sports teams have practiced and played home games elsewhere as the school underwent wholesale renovations. On Jan. 26, the refurbished gymnasium will hold its first event when the Vikings play Osceola.
"The biggest problem has been getting practice time," Northeast coach Dave Redding said. "I feel like I've aged 50 years in the past year."
It has been an unusual season for the Vikings. They returned no starters, but first-year player Jamie Flournoy has helped keep the Vikings (6-9, 2-1 in the PCAC South) afloat. The 5-foot-10 Flournoy is averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 4.0 assists.
"He scores from all over. He's just a good athlete," Redding said. "And he's just a real nice kid."
Flournoy was academically ineligible until this year. Redding hopes to get a few more players off the ineligible list next week (exams were Monday through Thursday). Terrance McKay, the team's best player last season, and Alex Hill, have been practicing with the second team -- and regularly beating the first team.
"We're hoping everyone can make the grades. It sure will give us a lift," Redding said.
ON THE MEND: The graduation of star forward Corey Bailey and injuries to several players contributed to East Lake's 1-8 start.
But the Eagles have gotten healthy and are 4-1 in their past five (5-9 overall), with the one loss coming in overtime to powerhouse Land O'Lakes.
"It's nice looking down the bench and having more guys in uniform than in street clothes," coach Joe Bloznalis said.
With the Eagles coming around, it could become a banner season in north Pinellas. Across town, Tarpon Springs is 9-2 after winning just two games last season.
TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS: Admiral Farragut coach Mike Wells stocked his schedule with larger schools. Including two preseason games, Class 2A Farragut has "played up" in 10 of its 19 games.
It's paying off. The Blue Jackets, who reached the final four last season but graduated their top three players, appear to be a threat again for another playoff run. AFA (10-7) is 3-1 since an impressive third-place showing at the 16-team Blue Jacket Holiday Classic.
The future looks promising, as the key players are underclassmen. Junior Andres Kirchman, a 6-6, 235-pounder who starred in football, has rounded into basketball shape and leads the team with 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game.
Freshman Vitor Boccardo, 6-8, a Brazil native, is second with 13.1 points and leads the team with 31 three-pointers, and junior Habib Lesevic, 6-6, averages 10.1 points.
ON THE FLY: Tarpon Springs is rolling despite a woeful 46.5 team free-throw percentage. ... Indian Rocks Christian sophomore guard Gabe McMillen needs 40 points to reach 1,000 for his career.