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Terrapins, Bucs Ready For Second Showdown

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

When Tampa Prep and Berkeley Prep met during the fifth annual Headmasters' Challenge on Jan. 12, it was the biggest boys basketball game of the season. The storyline couldn't have been written any better, as both teams were ranked No. 1 in the state polls, Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon was hoping to get his 500th coaching victory and it being the last event of the all-day athletic challenge between the rival schools. The Terrapins (19-1) won 65-61.

Tonight at Berkeley Prep, the rivals will square off in a regular-season finale that will be aired live on Catch 47

"We're looking forward to it," Berkeley Prep coach Bobby Reinhart said. "It's a great way to close the regular season. You'll have two quality teams going at it."

"Every game we play against them is a big game," Fenlon said. "It comes to a point where to stop adding all the other things. It's just a big game."

Tampa Prep senior forward David Waller, selected as Hillsborough County's Class 2A Player of the Year by the coaches, leads the Terrapins with 19.1 points per game. Junior guard/forward Johnathan Gray leads the Bucs with 17.3 points per game while senior guard Zak Kazanski, the county's 3A Player of the Year, adds 12.7 points per game.

"It'll be fun regardless," Reinhart said. "It's an awesome experience for the kids. Hopefully we'll come out on top so we can watch the game over and over again."

Miles down Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa Catholic and Jesuit will be playing its rematch from Jan. 4 at Jesuit. The Tigers won the first meeting, 54-50 led by senior guard Jake Seymour's game-high 22 points.

WHO IS KING OF THE COUNTY?: Last season, Wharton undoubtedly was the best team in Hillsborough County. The Wildcats, led by former guard and Butler freshman Shawn Vanzant, went undefeated against county teams while playing in the toughest district in the county.

This year, however, it's been uncertain. Four teams have been No. 1 in the Tribune poll and have all lost to programs with a worse record.

"I think it'll all be said and done three weeks from now when we see who's left," Brandon coach Mark Hermann said. "I've been in this county for 20 years and I've never seen a season like this. There is no dominant team."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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