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Tornadoes Blow Past Dragons

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By LEE DIEKEMPER, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 8, 2008

CLEARWATER - The Clearwater girls basketball team has been one of the state's elite programs since Coach Tom Shaneyfelt took over in 1993. Only once has he fielded a team that had fewer than 20 wins. Eight times his teams have advanced to the state semifinals.

The way the Tornadoes (23-5) played Thursday, they could very well end the season in Lakeland again. Jefferson found out the hard way how solid Clearwater is when the Tornadoes ran away with a 66-27 win in a Class 5A-Region 3 quarterfinal.

Clearwater took over early, jumping out to a 32-10 lead on a 3-pointer by Keona Dixon with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. Jefferson could not recover from the strong start

Shaneyfelt began substituting liberally late in the first quarter, and much of the second half was played by Clearwater's reserves. The visiting Dragons (17-12) were held to six points in the second half.

Despite the Tornadoes losing four starters from a team that played in last season's state championship game, Jefferson coach Tom Mosca said Clearwater is as strong as ever.

"I'm just sorry we didn't play better to give them a little run," Mosca said. "They played like we expected them to play, and we didn't come to play. Sure, they can make a run at the state tournament. They are very, very good."

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