Northpinellas: Whiting starring in different role at Florida State

Having been a top scorer in youth basketball and throughout a stellar high school career at Clearwater, Whiting now is relied on as the spark off the bench.

"It's okay, and it really helps me keep everything in perspective," said Whiting, a sophomore who turned 20 this month. "I come off the bench, give the team a spark and score."

The plan has worked for Whiting and the Seminoles. She has played in all 24 games, averaging 8.3 points for FSU (16-8, 8-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference).

"I learn so much from my teammates," said 1999 Miss Florida Basketball.

"Our team has everyone we need to be a top caliber team. If we come to play, bring intensity and enthusiasm to the game and really focus on our goals, we can be successful," she said.

Florida State is enjoying one of its best seasons in the last 10 years. It's just two positions shy of being listed in the ESPN/USA Today women's top 25 poll.

Whiting, who scored a school record 1,499 points at Clearwater and led the Tornadoes to two conference and four district titles, has been improving on her three-point shot this season.

Against Georgia Tech, she nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half in a tie at 31. FSU went on to post an 86-69 victory. In 20 minutes of action, Whiting scored 13 points.

A three-pointer for Whiting and a total of seven points against No. 4 Duke was critical in the Seminoles' 71-69 upset.

They extended a three-game winning streak Thursday with a 73-61 decision over Wake Forest. Whiting contributed five points. This Thursday, FSU meets 22nd-ranked Clemson, followed by a Sunday matchup with No. 24 Virginia before the March 1 start of the ACC Tournament.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Although Jenny Boucek didn't attend high school in Pinellas County, her family moved to the area in 1993 during her first year at the University of Virginia.

Her brother, Heath, attended Shorecrest and is a junior for the Virginia Cavaliers football team.

Jenny Boucek was a four-year starter for UVa and contributed to four ACC championships and three NCAA Elite Eight berths. She went on to play professionally in 1997 with the Cleveland Rockers in the WNBA.

Attempting a comeback after breaking her back in her rookie season, Boucek played professionally in Iceland before another injury ended her career.

In 1999, she began a WNBA coaching career and was an assistant for the Washington Mystics. Boucek currently is an assistant coach for the WNBA's Miami Sol.

Kelly Crisp (Keswick) became the starting point guard for Valdosta State before the holidays.

The sophomore scored 11 points in a 52-44 loss to Lincoln Memorial. Valdosta is third in the East Division of the Gulf Coast Conference, in which the top four teams advance to the league tournament.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Freshman Earnest Crumbley (Lakewood) is averaging 15 points and 25 minutes per game for Florida Atlantic University.

In a 62-55 win over Central Florida, Crumbley drilled a three-pointer to help FAU take the lead late in the second half.

Josh Walker (Seminole) is averaging 8.3 points and leads North Carolina Wesleyan in three-pointers with 31. Antwain Hamm (Dunedin) is averaging 8.7 points for the Bishops.

Both players started 19 of the 23 games for the third-ranked team in the NCAA Div. III South Region.Wesleyan is 13-7, 4-0 in the Dixie Conference.

Senior Christian Blonshine (Shorecrest) has played in all 21 games for NCAA Div. III Oglethorpe University and is averaging 12.1 points.He's third in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in three-pointers (31).

Matt Mills (St. Petersburg) is a senior guard for Oglethorpe, and freshman Tim Castor (CCC) is a point guard.

BASEBALL: Senior third basemen Corey Slavik (Boca Ciega) singled to center in the eighth inning to set up the winning score for Wake Forest against Penn State.

Wake's 3-0 record is its best since 1998, when the Deacons won the Atlantic Coast Conference title. Slavik is hitting .364.

Pitcher Ben Elbe (Largo) is in his second year with Wake Forest.

This weekend, the Deacs are competing in the Coca Cola Tournament with Rice, Purdue and Central Florida.

Gabe Nunez (Tarpon Springs) is an outfielder and pitcher for HCC.

Senior first baseman Chris Catanzaro connected for his 200th career hit for VMI in the sixth inning against the Air Force Academy.

SWIMMING: Kristen Nardozzi (Northeast) captured the title in 200-yard backstroke and 200 individual medley, helping spark the University of New Hampshire to a 176-124 win over Maine.

This weekend, New Hampshire's Wildcats are competing in the American East Championships at the University of Maine. Two years ago, the 'Cats won the title.

Katy Timm (Dunedin) swam the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.70 and the 100-yard freestyle in 56.07 for the University of Toledo in its 151-149 loss to Ball State.

Jason Brauer (Dunedin) had Toledo's sixth best time in the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.26) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:01.59) in a 195-45 victory over Ohio.

TENNIS: Sophomore Lauren Scaglione (Seminole) scored a three-set win at The No. 4 position for 44th-ranked University of Miami in a 7-0 victory over Richmond.

Scaglione compiled a 22-7 singles record in her rookie season with the Hurricanes.

Joel Berman (Seminole) is in his third year with Miami. He was 14-7 in singles this season.

Berman has been named to the Big East Conference Academic All-Star Team the last three years.

Former professional player Jay Berger coaches both Miami teams.

GYMNASTICS: Ashley Shibel (East Lake) scored a perfect 10 on the vault and broke the all-around record at the University of Denver in its matchup with Utah State.

The freshman executed her signature vault with its on-and-off front tuck technique to post Denver's first perfect performance in the event.

The two-time Junior Olympic Level 10 national champion scored 9.775 on the uneven bars, 9.85 on the balance beam and 9.9 in the floor exercise for the all-time high 39.525 all-around mark.

TRACK AND FIELD: Char Foster (CCC/Ridgewood), a junior at the University of South Carolina, compiled her best 60-meter hurdles time of the season in the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., this month with a performance of 8.73.

Foster scored her best and the team's second best time in the 55-meter hurdles with an 8.04.

This weekend is the Gamecocks Indoor Open. The Southeastern Conference Championships are scheduled for Feb. 24 in Lexington, Ky.

Erin Giesa (Northside Christian) was one of four runners in the record-setting women's distance medley this month in the Tiger Classic at Clemson.

Giesa raced to a seventh-place finish in the 3,000-meter run.

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