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Third-Quarter Slump Hurts Clearwater

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: December 28, 2008

TAMPA - During the quarterfinals of the second annual McDonald's Tampa Hoops Classic on Saturday, Orlando Olympia turned in one of the more-dominating performances of the four-day national tournament.

Olympia, the defending tournament champion, went on a 24-0 run en route to a 65-44 victory over Clearwater.

Olympia (8-2) will face Gainesville in the semifinals Monday at 7:45 at the USF Sun Dome. Cincinnati Princeton, a 79-78 winner over Winter Springs, faces Bartow in the other semifinal at 6 p.m.

Olympia went on a 5-0 run at the end the second quarter and scored 19 unanswered points in the third. Clearwater didn't score again until junior forward Okaro White made two free throws with 28.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

"We played one of the best defensive quarters we've had all season," Olympia coach Mark Griseck said. "Clearwater missed shots they would normally make and I think they got a little cold."

Dexter Fields led Olympia with a game-high 19 points. White and senior center Julien Sargent led the Tornadoes (9-1) with 10 points each.

"Their defense got better on the interior and we got impatient," Clearwater coach Allen Carden said. "We played them an excellent three quarters. It's a shame we fell behind in the third quarter."

Clearwater will play Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson in the fifth-place semifinal Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Sun Dome.

Sickles and Berkeley Prep advanced to Monday's consolation semifinals at the Sun Dome.

Led by senior Johnathan Gray's 36 points, Berkeley moved on to face Tennessee Oak Ridge at 11 a.m..

Sickles, led by senior John Henson's 20 points, 11 rebounds and 13 blocks, will play Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas at 12:45 p.m.

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

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