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Sickles Holds On To Beat St. Pete

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By MIKE MOORE, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 10, 2008

TAMPA - They are not neighborhood rivals, but the intense competition between Sickles High and St. Petersburg High continued Saturday night. For the third year in a row, the Gryphons defeated their Pinellas County foes in the championship game of the Class 6A-District 7 boys basketball tournament. Sickles won this round, 55-49. The teams had split two earlier games this season.

In a tough, fast-paced battle played in 1 hour, 15 minutes, the two clubs battled back and forth with neither side leading by more than six points. Only 11 first-half fouls were called and three free throws were made.

The homestanding Gryphons led by 12-10 after one quarter, 29-25 at the half, and the clubs were tied at 38 as the third ended.

Sickles (21-6) had taken a 38-33 lead as the third period neared the end. But Justin Minetts hit a 3-pointer and Allen Wilson added a steal and a layup at the buzzer for the Green Devils (18-8) to leave the teams tied. Minetts then opened the fourth with another 3 to move the Green Devils ahead 41-38. The teams were tied again at 44 before Sickles pulled ahead to stay. A 3-pointer by Kelvin Daniels and another by Jared Johnson gave Sickles a 50-46 lead.

Both teams continually limited their opponents to one shot with tough defensive rebounding.

Sickles did not help its cause at the free-throw line as the home team made only six of 16. St. Petersburg was eight of 12 from the line. Daniels had four 3-pointers for Sickles and ended with 17 points. Jordan Davis added 15 for Sickles. Nicholas Cora added eight for the Gryphons.

The Green Devils were led by Minetts with 11 points. Antwan Carter and Anthony Carter each scored nine for the visitors.

"Each time we play them it comes down to the wire," Sickles coach Renaldo Garcia said. "Their team has no quit in them. We have a young team. Every possession is important in these games."

St. Petersburg coach Chris Blackwell said, "They were better prepared than we were. We are young and need to get over the hump and just folded down the stretch. We are pleased to be moving on to another game, but it is not the way we wanted to advance."

Both teams move on from the six-team district to regional games Thursday. Sickles will play host to District 7 runner-up Plant City, while St. Petersburg will visit District 7 champ Lakeland.

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