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Berkeley Prep Defends Title

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By MATTHEW PARKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 10, 2008

TAMPA - Defending district champion Berkeley Prep got a big night from Archie Barnes, who led all scorers with 35 points, as the Buccaneers downed St. Petersburg Catholic for another Class 3A-District 11 title.

"Barnes did it from everywhere. He was on fire behind the arc and got the toughness points inside as well. He's playing great basketball at the time where it matters the most. He's really put up some numbers the last three weeks. His senior leadership has been something here down the stretch, and hopefully that will continue," Berkeley coach Bobby Reinhardt said.

The Buccaneers took advantage of the cold-shooting Barons and limited them to seven first-quarter points. Christian Reintgen scored eight of the Bucs' 15 first-quarter points, helping establish a lead the Buccaneers never relinquished.

Scoring points off turnovers was the key to their quick start.

Barnes' 15 points, three steals and two rebounds in the first half staved off the Barons, who cut the Berkeley lead to six going into halftime.

"We kept the intensity up, and we did get some steals and were able to get easy baskets from that. We wanted to keep the game up-tempo and transition as much as we could. I thought our offensive performance was the result of the defense," Reinhardt said.

Tracy Parks was the leading scorer for the Barons, and his effort kept them within reach of the Buccaneers until Barnes took over in the second half. Parks finished with 21 points, with 12 coming from beyond the arc.

Barnes scored 20 second-half points, including the first nine points of the fourth quarter. His two big three-point shots in that half effectively cut off the Barons' attempts at a comeback. Berkeley finished with 27 points from the 3-point line, with Barnes and Jonathan Gray making the majority of the shots from distance.

"Anytime you shoot the ball from perimeter as well as they did, they are going to be hard to beat," St. Pete Catholic coach Mike Moran said.

Berkeley Prep will host a regional quarterfinal Thursday against the winner of the Fort Myers Dunbar-Fort Myers Bishop Verot game. St. Pete Catholic will travel to play the loser of that match.

"We are going to keep our head in it for the rest of the regionals and all the way to state. That's where our minds are set," Barnes said.

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