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Plant To Play Tampa Catholic

By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 23, 2008

TAMPA - After easy semifinal wins Monday, two of Hillsborough County's premier girls basketball teams will meet in tonight's final of the Craig Keeler Memorial Christmas Tournament.

Sophomore Ganice Macho, who scored a game-high 21 points, led Plant to a 54-37 win against Sarasota Christian, while junior Colette Eule's 19 paced Tampa Catholic in its 74-33 victory against Chamberlain.

Both teams enter tonight's championship on winning streaks. Host TC (13-1) has won nine straight games, while Plant (10-1) has won its past seven. Each team's lone loss came against Jefferson.

For the Panthers, it was a chance for redemption after they blew a double-digit halftime lead last year and lost to Sarasota Christian in a Christmas tournament in Sarasota.

Almost a year to the day of that defeat, the Panthers again had a double-digit lead (26-12) at the break. But there would be no disappointing finish this time as it opened the second half on a 16-2 run to widen its lead to 42-14 midway through the third.

"I didn't need any John Wooden speeches at half," Panthers coach Carrie Mahon said. "I just had to remind them of last year."

Mahon was pleased to see Plant play with a purpose for an entire game.

"We needed a game like that," she said. "We hadn't brought 32 minutes of desire and focus with us before. I knew it was in them. I'm just glad and proud to see it finally come out."

Junior Michelle Taylor finished with 13 points for the Panthers.

Tampa Catholic had little trouble with Chamberlain. The Crusaders led 40-13 at the half and upped their lead to 60-24 late in the third.

Freshman Micah Kroll and Sarah Brennan joined Eule in double figures, scoring 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Every Tampa Catholic player scored at least three points.

"All eight of our players are contributing," said TC coach Nancy Kroll, who quickly turned her attention to Plant. "I'm really looking forward to playing Plant. It should be a really good game."

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