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Durant Dunks Rival In Basketball Drama

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

PLANT CITY - Plant City High enjoyed the advantage over its rival last season, as the Raiders put together a run all the way to the third round of the state boys basketball tournament.

It looks like the 2008-09 version of the rivalry is going to be pretty even.

The Raiders and Cougars might have both been a little on the frenetic side, understandable as the basketball season is still in its early stages. But what they lacked in polish was made up for in drama. Durant won the game 55-52.

Plant City's gymnasium was filled Dec. 2 with fans and they, like the players, were into the game throughout.

"Our kids made some big plays at both ends," Durant coach Jeff Shotwell said. "The game had very little flow, but I think the Plant City kids did a good job of being disruptive and playing off the emotion that comes with the game."

With the victory, Durant claimed the Ron Frost Trophy, which goes to one of the rival schools when it wins on the other's home court.

The game featured a one-on-one matchup of the team's leading scorers, Durant's A.J. Garden and Plant City's Josh Thiebe, that turned into some trash talking, which had to be quieted by a referee. Thiebe had a three-point attempt to force overtime, but it was blocked by Durant's Jeff Thomas.

"Thiebe did an awesome job of forcing A.J. to be a jump shooter, and he really stepped up and carried them at times," Shotwell said. The key move to slow down Thiebe, who scored 31 points twice for Plant City in preseason victories, was putting sophomore Andre Nation on him defensively.

Both teams are going at it this year without a starter from last year's squad who could still be suiting up. Durant no longer has the services of John Mitchell, though Thomas is filling that role quite well, as Mitchell is concentrating on his running career.

The Raiders are without the inside presence of Denzel Drone, the football standout who decided not to play hoops this season. He was one of the factors in last year's success, when Plant City made the playoffs for the first time since 1991. Three other key members of that team - Channing Woodall, Rod Henderson and Steve Hardnett - all graduated.

So far players such as guards Brown Peterson, Kenny Adams and returner David O'Callaghan have received playing time, and sophomore Stephen McIntyre has shown promise. Inside, Alton Honors and Chris Smith are the starters.

Durant looked like it would blow out the Raiders, using a press to gain a 21-7 lead after one quarter. But Plant City would turn the tables around, outscoring the Cougars by the same margin to make for a 28-28 halftime score.

"In our locker room, we looked like we were getting blown out, and I'm sure they were very excited in the Raider locker room. So we showed some character in overcoming a heck of a comeback," Shotwell said.

The teams play again Jan. 9 at Durant.

With the victory, Durant improved to 3-1 on the season. The Cougars started with a good road win over Newsome, then played a tournament at Tampa Prep, where it beat Bayshore Christian 68-37 then lost to the hosts 59-51.

Durant's girls also won their first meeting with Plant City, 51-45 on Dec. 2. Five Cougars, Rachel Peterson, Eryka Williams, Taylor Broadnax, Janae Lancaster and Ashley Nelson, scored at least seven points each. Quet Shaw had 17 and Tekeyah Clark added 15 for the Raiders.

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