Tampa Bay area has tough go at Florida boys basketball championships

By Rod Gipson Mar 16, 2011, 12:47pm

Tampa Bay-area teams went a combined 0-for-4 at the state boys basketball final four.

The Tampa Bay area shot a collective airball at the recent boys basketball state championships.

Of the four Bay area teams that reached the state's final four(s) over four different classifications, none made it out the state semifinals. And none of the losses were close.

In Class 5A, Gibbs (St. Petersburg) fell in the semis 63-45 to Lake Wales. The Class 4A state semifinals saw Blake (Tampa) lose 68-52 to Leesburg.

Meanwhile, Tampa Catholic lost to Jones (Orlando) 83-48 in the Class 3A semis. And in the 2A semifinals, Tampa Prep was defeated 68-49 by First Academy (Orlando).



MORE HONORS FOR HENSON
Already honored with Parade All-American status and being named to the McDonald's All-American East squad for the March 30 contest in Chicago, Sickles (Tampa) center Amber Henson has earned another honor.

Sickles has been named the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year.

A 6-foot-4, Duke commit, Henson led the Gryphons to the Class 5A state final four. Henson missed the first month and a half of her season rehabbing from off-season knee surgery. She came on to average 20 points, 13 rebounds and almost seven blocks per contest while helping Sickles to its best season in program history.