Balance and quickness key the Buccaneers 27-3 start. They're the Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.
Berkeley Prep is this week's Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.
Photo by Jim Redman
Life coaches will tell you balance is the key to all happiness. Basketball coaches often preach the same message.
Berkeley Prep (Tampa) coach Bobby Reinhart sure does, and it's a large reason why his squad is 27-3 and barreling down the bracket in the Florida 4A playoffs.
Following a regular-season ending loss to Haines City, the Buccaneers have rattled off five straight postseason wins while piling up points by the bushels.
In those five games they've scored 88, 68, 75, 76 and 80 points, utilizing at least five big scoring threats.
For its balance and strong season, Berkeley Prep has been selected as the MaxPreps Florida Team of the Week, presented by the Florida National Guard.
"We lost our last regular season game after coming off successive overtime wins over rival schools, Jesuit and Tampa Prep," Reinhart said. "I think it was a timely wake-up call to our guys that we have to remain focused and stay in the present. The guys have worked very hard since and it shows in our play on the court."
Justin Gray, Berkeley Prep
Photo by Jim Redman
The team has been led all year by three core scorers:
Justin Gray (17.6 ppg), a 6-foor-4 senior headed to Texas Tech, 6-3 point guard
Craig Bowman (15.4) and 6-3 shooting guard
Marshall Holmes (14.5).
Add in 6-4 sophomore power forward
Jacob Mathis and
N'Namdi Green, and Reinhart has lots of offensive weapons to choose from.
"Offensive balance is the key to our success," he said. "It makes us hard to guard. In addition to our big three, Mathis and Green combine for almost 16 points per game. Our chemistry shows on the offensive end."
The Bucs have won at least 20 games in seven of the last eight seasons, including back-to-back 22-8 years coming into 2013-14. This is the team's most wins since 2005-06.
The team has a nice blend of experience and youth with five seniors, four juniors, a sophomore and a freshman. Nobody on the squad is taller than 6-4, so they rely on quickness.
"We played a very tough regular season schedule in order to prepare for the mental and physical rigors of the postseason," Reinhart said. "Our guys are tested and feel confident going into any game."
MaxPreps editorial assistant Kirstin Beal contributed to this report.Do you know a team that deserves
consideration for Florida Team of the Week? Email us with your
nominations at FLteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.
