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Royal Knights Seeking Region Final

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - When it comes to putting together a game plan, River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare doesn't look at the three degrees of separation.

She isn't overly concerned that Brandon (20-3) needed five games to beat Armwood, 25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-4, when the teams played Oct. 25 in the Class 5A-District 8 championship game.

The same team her Royal Knights beat 25-23, 25-13, 25-18.

Neither does she put a ton of stock in the fact it took Brandon five games to beat Land O' Lakes in the regional semifinals - a team River Ridge (23-5) lost to in the first game of the season, but dominated in its second meeting.

When River Ridge hosts Brandon Tuesday in the regional quarterfinals at 7 p.m., the Eagles' past isn't the first thing on her mind.

"Any kid can have an off game or an on game and it could throw your whole tempo off. I'm focusing more on what we can do to make our game better," Castelamare said. "If we can put together a good game from everybody offensively and defensively, we shouldn't have a problem, we should be able to get into the regional finals.

"So if I focus on what we can do instead of what they can do, then I have more control over what our game will look like."

One of the main things Castelamare has aimed the team's attention toward is their recent propensity for slow beginnings. For the past four matches, the Royal Knights have gotten off to a labored start, which has allowed opponents to stay within reach.

Castelamare wants back the team that beat state-ranked Ponte Vedra Nease and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in the Bishop Moore tournament at the end of September. That team didn't allow the opponent to stay within reach.

Following an intense week of preparation, she believes that team is likely back.

"We're right there, we just have to put everything into each game," Castelamare said. "We could be better than we were against those teams. We still had unforced errors and missed things now and then, but we just have to be ready.

"I think they are. I think we're ready. I think we're confident, I think they can do the things I've been asking them to do because they know I expect it and I expect them to give all they can at this point in the season."

This point of the season is nothing new to the program. In the process of collecting 11 district and nine Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, River Ridge has found itself in the playoffs every year, but one - 1997 - since 1995.

A victory against Brandon and the Royal Knights reach a position they haven't been since 2004 - the regional final.

For now, the only future Castelamare can think of is what happens Tuesday night.

"I only take one step at a time because I can't take for granted any team that's in our future," she said.

Her team has adopted the same thinking.

"They know we play Tuesday," Castelamare said, "and if we get past that we play Saturday."

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