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Plant City Breaks 15-Year Drought

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Before his team's Class 6A-District 8 boys basketball tournament game Friday, first-year Plant City coach Dale Chambers was told the program hadn't advanced to a district championship game since 1993.

Led by senior guard Channing Woodall's 16 points, however, the Raiders broke a 15-year slump with a 45-41 win against Sarasota Riverview and will face Lakeland in the district championship tonight at Riverview High at 7.

Because the district champ and runner-up advance to regional playoffs, it will also be the first postseason appearance for the program in more than a decade.

"It feels refreshing," Woodall said.

Plant City (15-8) led 42-41 with 1:30 remaining when Woodall stole the ball from a Sarasota Riverview player. The Raiders were able to pass the ball around the perimeter to run the clock, which forced the Rams to foul.

Junior center Denzel Drone sank two free throws with 1:22 remaining to make it 44-41 and Woodall made one of two free throws with 19 seconds left to close out the game.

During the final minute, Plant City forced three turnovers.

"We were fighting to the end," Woodall said. "I told my teammates in the huddle to value every possession."

"We got after it," Chambers said. "It's a huge accomplishment. I thought we beat a team that had been playing really well."

Plant City led 42-35 with three minutes remaining, but allowed the Rams to close the deficit to one point on back-to-back 3-point baskets. After Chambers called a timeout to talk about the team's defense, the Raiders didn't allow another 3-point shot.

"I told them to switch on every screen and don't give up the 3-point shot," Chambers said.

"All season, Chambers stayed on us about playing with intensity," Woodall said.

Drone added 12 points and six rebounds while senior guard Rod Henderson added nine points.

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