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Cooley Leads Plant; Oldsmar Shocks Montverde

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

TAMPA - Plant senior guard Sheldon Cooley was involved in every facet of the game on Thursday night, leading the Panthers with 17 points, seven rebounds and six steals en route to a 54-42 win over rival Chamberlain in a Class 5A-District 10 basketball game.

"We have a young team that's learning the game," said Cooley, who has signed with Division I East Tennessee State. "We need to be more disciplined and everyone is looking up to me to be a leader."

Plant (3-0) led 47-31 going into the fourth quarter when Chamberlain went on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to five. Cooley scored on a put-back lay up with 2:12 remaining to end Chamberlain's run and Plant dribbled out the clock to seal the win.

"That was a typical Plant-Chamberlain game," Plant coach Mike Phillips said. "(Chamberlain) is well coached and they play basketball the way it's supposed to be played. The last few year's, it has been us and Chamberlain (for the district title)."

Plant freshman guard Michael Frazier added 13 points.

Sophomore Eric Storts led Chamberlain (2-1) with 16 points and two steals while Mike Julien added 13 points.

"The best team won tonight," Chamberlain coach Doug Aplin said. "They out-worked us."

Aplin said Cooley was the difference in the game.

"He does what he does," he said. "He's smooth. It seemed like whenever they needed a rebound or a basket, he was there. He's just a good player."

"That's a typical Sheldon Cooley game," Phillips said."

OLDSMAR SHOCKS MONTVERDE: In what might be the biggest upset by a Pinellas County boys basketball team in recent memory, Oldsmar Christian upset No. 16 Montverde Academy, 61-56, on Thursday at Montverde.

"This is the biggest win in school history," Oldsmar coach Ryan Pannone said. "We've never beat a nationally ranked team."

Senior guard Chris Perez led Oldsmar (5-1) with 19 points while Idaho State signee Eric Segert and senior center Harold Doby added 15 points each.

"We executed the game plan very, very well," Pannone said. "Our guards handled the ball very well and we got lucky."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851

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