Compiled By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Tampa Bay Boys Basketball Rankings
1. CLEARWATER (26-3) – The Tornadoes are headed to the Class 5A regional finals after knocking off Tampa Hillsborough 72-59. Okaro White paced Clearwater with 24 points. Cory Carden (16 points) and Regan O’Rourke (15) added key points and Julien Sargent’s inside presence thwarted several Hillsborough shots. Up next: at Venice in the Class 5A region finals.
2. TAMPA PREP (25-4) – The Terrapins blasted Indian Rocks Christian 71-47 to advance to the Class 2A region finals. Tampa Prep, which defeated IRC in the district finals a week ago, got standout performances from Jay Bowie (16 points, 11 rebounds) and freshman Devonte Morgan (17 points). The Terps next play at Naples for a shot at the state final four.
3. TAMPA KING (22-6) – The Lions not only won their first regional playoff game this season but now they have advanced to the regional final. King beat New Port Richey Ridgewood 44-37 to move on. Do-it-all forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick only scored four points but had eight rebounds as King moved on. Chauncey Day handled the scoring with 12 points for the Lions. King hosts Daytona Beach Seabreeze in the region final.
4. TAMPA SICKLES (24-5) – John Henson’s prep career came to an end with Sickles’ 48-43 loss to Lakeland in the 6A region semifinals. Henson’s future coach, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, watched Henson score nine points, grab seven rebounds and block 12 shots as the Gryphons came up a little short.
5. TAMPA BERKELEY PREP (23-6) – The Buccaneers’ bid for a state final four berth ended with a 53-50 loss against Fort Myers Bishop Verot. The Bucs trailed by as many as 14 points before a furious rally came up just short. Jonathan Gray led Berkeley Prep with 22 points.
6. NEW PORT RICHEY RIDGEWOOD (26-3) – Eliminated by No. 3 King in the Class 5A region semifinals 44-37. Rams led by 12 in the second period before being overtook by the Lions.
7. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH (21-9) – Terriers best season since 1996 ends in the 5A region semis with a 72-59 loss to Clearwater. Ravon Butler’s 18 points and Tarean Austin’s 17 weren’t enough for the upstart Terriers.
8. ST. PETERSBURG LAKWOOD (23-5) – Fell to Venice 57-40 in the Class 5A region quarterfinals.
9. ST. PETERSBURG (21-6) – Lost to Lakeland 76-58 in the Class 6A region quarters.
10. LARGO (23-6) – A Class 5A region quarterfinal exit: lost to No. 7 Hillsborough 69-55.
