Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

CCC left bloodied and battered

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Clearwater Central Catholic forward Jon Simmons' right eye was gashed just above the outside corner, the result of a wayward elbow -- or something -- in a scrum for a first-half rebound.

Simmons played the second half with a large bandage and a low-slung headband protecting the wound. By the end of the Class 3A, Region 3 semifinal, the eye was partially closed and discolored.

He symbolized the CCC team: The Marauders were battered and beaten Tuesday by No. 1-ranked Melbourne Florida Air Academy's squad of international all-stars, 87-60.

Sporting a starting lineup of two guards from Puerto Rico, a forward from Canada and a forward and center from Russia, the Falcons were overwhelming, using their prodigious size -- 6-foot-7, 6-8 and 6-10 across the starting front -- to pound on CCC.

"We're beat up," said CCC coach Bart Citro, whose No. 6-ranked team hadn't lost at home all season. "There is no weakness on that team. And they're huge. Huge. Huge."

FAA (28-0), using an aggressive zone-trap on defense, bolted to an 18-6 lead, but CCC (26-6) scored the next eight points on three-pointers by Dominick Jarmula and Chris Zumwalt and a two-pointer by Marcus Edwards to trim it to 18-14 late in the first quarter.

However, FAA, a boarding school ranked No. 21 in the National Prep Poll, highest in Florida, steadily pulled away. It was 41-24 at the half and 68-36 after three quarters.

"They hit everything, and whatever they missed, they rebounded," Citro said. "They are one of the best high school teams I have ever seen."

Forward Juan Mendez led FAA with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three power dunks. Point guard Alvin Cruz had 18 points and forward Evgueni Sokolov added 10.

Sixth man Andy Gonzalez had 13. For CCC, which had eight seniors play their final game, Dominick Jarmula had 14 points and Chris Platt added 11.

Mustangs fall, 76-40

NORTH PALM BEACH -- For Northside Christian, the long trip across the state Tuesday precluded a long night on the court as it lost to No. 2-ranked North Palm Beach Benjamin 76-40 in a Class 2A, Region 3 semifinal.

The Mustangs stayed close early, trailing 11-8 with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter following a layup by Geoff Patterson.

But that was as close as they could get as the Buccaneers went on a 15-0 run during the next five minutes to take a 26-8 lead.

The Buccaneers stayed hot early in the second half, going on a 16-5 run during the first four-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter to break the game open.

Benjamin improved to 25-1, with the lone loss coming to Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy. No. 10-ranked Northside Christian, which has just one senior on its roster -- Patterson -- fell to 21-9.

Benjamin was led by senior Nick Long, who had a game-high 18 points.

-- MIKE ZATESLO

IRC's run continues

The Golden Eagles, who beat No. 5 Tampa Prep on the road in the quarterfinal, have been playing without senior point guard Jon Joyner (mononucleosis) since the beginning of the district tournament

Senior forward Caleb McMillen led IRC (19-11) with 17 points and 15 rebounds, and his brother, sophomore shooting guard Gabe McMillen, had 15 points.

"We rebounded just like we did against Tampa Prep," IRC coach Joe Frost said. "We dominated the boards, gave them just one shot."

IRC closed the first quarter on a 15-2 run to take a 15-6 lead. The Golden Eagles led 23-12 at halftime, but Canterbury opened the second half on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to two. Gabe McMillen answered by scoring all 11 of IRC's third-quarter points to push the lead to 34-25.

IRC plays No. 2-ranked Benjamin (25-1) on the road Saturday in the region final. Benjamin defeated Northside Christian 76-40.

"We have nothing to lose," Frost said.

-- PETE YOUNG

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright