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By JOHN SCHWARB
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001
All games 7:30 p.m.; admission $5
CLASS 5A, REGION 3
Boca Ciega (16-11) at Wharton (20-7)
HOW THEY ADVANCED: Boca Ciega won at Ridgewood 41-38 and Wharton defeated Charlotte 66-48 in the regional quarterfinals.
THE SKINNY: Both teams turned in impressive come-from-behind wins last week with some unexpected help. As usual, Bogie prevailed behind late-game heroics from Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen, but freshman Villamarie Binalay also came up big with eight points and two key three-pointers. Candice Dupree scored 24 to lead Wharton, but German exchange student Ivana Pesic poured in 15 points in the final nine minutes to pace the Wildcats in a 25-point fourth quarter. However, this game could be a defensive struggle, and the Pirates will again rely on a suffocating zone to come up big again.
MOVING ON: The winner plays East Lake or Sarasota.
HOW THEY ADVANCED: East Lake won at Pinellas Park 79-45 and Sarasota beat Plant 61-48 in the regional quarterfinals.
THE SKINNY: After an up-and-down season, the Eagles found their stride at just the right time, but tonight should be the end of the road. Sarasota is ranked No. 4 in 5A with depth and a voracious defense. Sharpshooting Maggie Carlough is the Sailors' leading scorer (15.1 points per game), while Shelby Weber and Laura Lewis anchored the middle of the defense with 315 rebounds in the regular season. East Lake jumped on the Patriots early in the regional quarterfinal, and to keep alive an upset bid tonight, a similar start will be required.
MOVING ON: The winner plays Boca Ciega or Wharton.
GETTING THERE: Take Interstate 275 south to exit 2, merging left off exit ramp onto U.S. 41, which becomes N. Washington Blvd. Take slight left to S. Tamiami Trail, then left on Bahia Vista Street and left on South School Avenue.
Winter Haven (26-3) at Clearwater (24-6)
HOW THEY ADVANCED: Both teams easily won their regional quarterfinals at home, as Winter Haven beat Armwood 66-33 and Clearwater topped Sebring 62-26.
THE SKINNY: Both teams advanced to the final four last season (Clearwater in 5A), but only one of these top-5 powers will continue its quest for a repeat after tonight. The Blue Devils are a deep, guard-heavy team that also happens to have a pair of 6-footers to clean the glass. Clearwater will need to limit Winter Haven to one shot on offense and hope that underclassmen Dominique Redding and Karley Counts get good looks on the perimeter. The Tornadoes' third three-point threat, Kasie Muchler, suffered a stress fracture in last week's game and is questionable.
MOVING ON: The winner plays Bartow or Bradenton Southeast.
Ft. Pierce Lincoln Park Acad. (25-4) at St. Petersburg Catholic (26-3)
HOW THEY ADVANCED: Lincoln Park Academy thumped Avon Park 87-35, while SPC squeaked by Fort Myers Bishop Verot 48-47.
THE SKINNY: The Barons, ranked No. 5 in 3A, got all they could handle in the quarterfinals from No. 9 Bishop Verot, and No. 8 Lincoln Park will likely be another tough test. Sophomore point guard Laquita Ball paces the Greyhounds, and against overmatched Avon Park, she had a triple-double (32 points, 16 steals, 10 assists). Forward Melaney Denson also had a triple-double (18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 steals). But SPC can counter with equally impressive numbers, starting with Catherine DuPont, who has averaged a double-double for the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds per game.
MOVING ON: The winner plays Melbourne Central Catholic or Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.
Indian Rocks Christian (5-21) at Ft. Myers Canterbury (15-10)
HOW THEY ADVANCED: IRC beat Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy 34-32 and Canterbury knocked off Port. St. Lucie Morningside Academy 52-38.
THE SKINNY: Anyone still laughing at the Crusaders' lopsided record? Last year, IRC advanced to the regional semis, and this young team has duplicated the feat. Amy Johansen, the team's only senior, was the hero last week when she hit a jumper in the closing seconds to seal the victory. Canterbury is making its third consecutive regional appearance. IRC went 3-0 on the season against the local Canterbury.
MOVING ON: The winner plays Bradenton Christian or Jupiter Christian.
GETTING THERE: Take Interstate 275 south to I-75 south, to exit 27. Turn right off ramp onto Tuckers Grade, then take U.S. 41 south for 20 miles. Turn right on Boy Scout Drive, left on Summerlin Road and right on College Parkway.