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Tampa Prep Rolls To Crown

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By SCOTT PURKS, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 10, 2008

TAMPA - The scenario was the same as the first two times Tampa Prep and Calvary Christian played: Late in the third quarter the Terrapins held a 20-point lead.

The first two times Calvary stormed back, not only cutting the gap to single digits, but nearly pulling off the victory before losing by one and nine points.

"But this time," Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon said of Saturday night's Class 2A-District 9 final, "I think we finally had it in our heads that we weren't going to give them another chance."

This time, the Terrapins - led largely by slashing forward David Waller, who finished with a game-high 29 points and 17 rebounds - kept the cushion and coasted in for a 67-45 victory.

"There was a sense of purpose tonight," Fenlon said. "It's the playoffs. We stepped it up."

Tampa Prep (22-2) applied pressure throughout the first half, spreading Calvary's defense to the perimeter thanks to the 3-point shooting of Jake Haslam (three 3-pointers) and Jamal Cherry (two 3-pointers).

Coupled with a relentless man-to-man defense, Tampa Prep went into halftime with a 35-11 lead.

Perhaps the worst news for Calvary was that with its defense concerned with Tampa Prep's outside shooters, Waller had room to roam, often catching passes near the foul line and cutting uncontested to the basket.

In one stretch during the second half, Waller scored 10 consecutive points.

"When Haslam and Cherry and our guys shoot well from the outside, it opens up things for David, and in that situation he's tough to defend," Fenlon said.

"Truly, not many people can defend Waller in that situation."

Tampa Prep will host Winter Haven All Saints' in the regional semifinals Thursday night.

Calvary Christian will travel to Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic.

Fenlon said he's not looking past All Saints' but added he wouldn't be surprised if his team and Calvary meet up for a fourth time this year, which will happen if both win in the next round.

"Calvary has a lot of talent, and they play hard," Fenlon said.

"We're never going to sell them short."

Saturday, Calvary's leading scorers, Emmanuel Delgado (12 points) and Mike Sweetser (10), didn't seem to find their rhythm until late in the third quarter, when it was pretty much too late.

For Tampa Prep, Haslam and Cherry were their team's second- and third-highest scorers with 15 and 12 points respectively.

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