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By PETE YOUNG
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2001
The time is now, and the timing is perfect.
For the foreseeable future, this is as good as Clearwater Central Catholic basketball is going to get. The team is stocked with quality seniors. If the Marauders are going to achieve something special, it should happen now.
On its home court tonight in a Class 3A, Region 3 semifinal, No. 6-ranked CCC (26-5) will get such an opportunity against Melbourne Florida Air Academy.
The Falcons are 27-0 and ranked No. 1 in 3A. They are ranked No. 21 in the nation by the National Prep Poll.
This is a special opportunity.
"They're not pretty good, they're really good," CCC coach Bart Citro said of FAA, a boarding school with players primarily from Puerto Rico, Russia and Canada. "What's the difference whether we play them now or later? Let's lace 'em up."
The shortest of four regulars in the FAA frontcourt is 6-foot-6, yet FAA's strength is its backcourt where seniors Alvin Cruz (16.3 points, 7.8 assists and 4.6 steals per game) and Israel Pizarro (18.3 points, 71 three-pointers) form perhaps the best guard tandem in the state.
Indian Rocks Christian and Northside Christian also are looking to make statements for their programs. However, they'll have to do so on the road.
The No. 10-ranked Mustangs (21-8) travel to No. 2 North Palm Beach Benjamin (24-1) in a 2A, Region 3 semifinal, and in the other 2A-3 semifinal, Indian Rocks Christian (18-11) is at Fort Myers Canterbury (23-7).
First-year Northside coach Chip McAllister's team, with only one senior, Geoff Patterson, will be at a disadvantage against senior-laden Benjamin.
IRC has advanced despite the loss of senior, four-year point guard Jon Joyner, who has been out since the district tournament with mononucleosis.