Rams' other tower emerges

By JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- It's an old tale.

Star player transfers in. Star player takes starting job. Someone loses theirs.

Senior big man Cory Seels was the star transfer, coming to Ridgewood this season. The 6-foot-8, 265-pounder took up permanent residence as the Rams center.

At 6-9, 190 pounds, Donny Lotz played that position in summer leagues and would have been the starting center had Seels not arrived.

Turns out, though, two towers are better than one.

The Rams have won 19 games and enter tonight's opening round of the Class 5A, District 10 tournament as the third seed thanks in part to the potent combination of Seels at center and Lotz at power forward.

"If I'm in the high post and Cory's down low, he'll give the ball to me," Lotz said. "If I'm down low and he's in the high post, I'll just give it to Cory. You can't stop that."

Before the season, Seels garnered all the attraction a top Division I prospect should, handling the bulk of the Rams' scoring, rebounding and interior defense. But Ridgewood was projected to be a good team before he arrived.

One of the reasons was Lotz, a 16-year-old junior who was already a shot-blocking force and a reliable shooter when the season began. As it has progressed, Lotz has become tougher in the post, improved his rebounding and honed his ability to put the ball on the floor and score.

"I've tried to improve my all-around game," Lotz said. "This summer, I went to a lot of camps and worked hard. I want to go farther, work a lot harder, be stronger and improve my shots and everything; my post moves and stuff like that."

If Ridgewood is to defeat Palm Harbor U. at 7:30 p.m. tonight and have a chance at upsetting top-seeded Land O'Lakes and No. 2-seed East Lake, it needs strong games from Seels and Lotz.

"At times, (Lotz) has looked really, really good," coach Gary Anders said. "But he's been on somewhat of a roller coaster ride. He's become more consistent. But that's just a natural process."

Opponents have had difficulty dealing with Seels. Lotz's presence just doubles their quandary.

"With his height and shooting touch, he can present some problems," Anders said. "Especially if he draws a big player away from the basket because he's always had a very soft touch."

Lotz has the green light to drop 15-footers at will, and he has three-point range, just not the confidence to hit it regularly. He also is a threat under the basket.

"We encourage him to shoot (the 15-footer)," Anders said. "And he has good low-post moves."

Lotz's big adjustment moving to the No. 4 spot has been learning to play facing the basket.

"It's taken longer than we expected," Anders said. "But Donny's playing a new position after backing up the five-spot last season and playing a little four."

Lotz has many of the tools to become a Division I prospect next season and already has interest from Central Florida and Davidson in Charlotte, N.C.

Anders said whether Lotz becomes a legitimate prospect at that level is up to him.

"The only thing that's holding him back is strength," he said.

"If he ever gets some strength, with all the tools he has, he's going to be a prospect."

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