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Townsend Helps Bulls Top Panthers

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: December 19, 2008

TAMPA - Bloomingdale senior forward Callum Townsend scored 18 of his game-high 28 points in the first half to lead the Bulls boys to a 72-54 victory against Plant in the Outback Invitational at Berkeley Prep on Thursday.

Bloomingdale (8-1) will face Orlando First Academy in the tournament semifinals tonight at 6.

Plant trailed by double digits, with the score 24-14 with 7:17 remaining in the second quarter.

"We were excited and ready to be tested," Bloomingdale coach Josh Chapin said. "Anytime you play Plant and senior guard Sheldon Cooley, you have to be excited. We did a good job of limiting them to one shot, and we didn't let them get offensive rebounds. We used our size to our advantage."

Senior forward Sean Rooks added 19 points and six rebounds, while senior forward Joe Raga finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

"We were here to make a statement," said Townsend, who also had nine rebounds and three steals. "We want to show people Bloomingdale isn't playing around. We pulled ahead and they couldn't stay with us."
Freshman guard Michael Frazier led Plant (5-1) with 22 points.

"Their size and strength bothered us a lot," Plant coach Mike Phillips said. "We got out of what we do best, and that's man-to-man defense."

Berkeley Prep defeated Calvary Christian 74-28 behind Johnathan Gray's 17 points to advance to the semifinals, where they will play Ridgewood tonight at 7:30.

CITY OF TAMPA: The seventh annual City of Tampa boys basketball tournament will be held at Tampa Prep on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Teams scheduled to compete are Blake, Chamberlain, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Robinson, Plant, Tampa Catholic and defending champion Tampa Prep. Games are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. each day. The championship game is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

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

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