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Orlando Evans Ends Plant City's Run

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2008

APOPKA - For the first 16 minutes of the Plant City boys basketball team's Class 6A-Region 2 final against Orlando Evans, it seemed destiny was on its side.

The Raiders trailed by only three and their full-court press was being executed to perfection.

In the final 16 minutes, however, the tables turned. Evans could do no wrong, and the spark Plant City had started to fade.

In the end, Evans pulled away with a 70-52 victory Saturday to advance to Class 6A state tournament in Lakeland.

Evans (24-7) will face Lauderdale Lakes Anderson (29-1), which defeated Lantana Santaluces 52-50, Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

The region final - played at Apopka Wekiva High because Evans' gym was too small - was the farthest Plant City had gone in more than 15 years.

"We just didn't play our best game," first-year Plant City coach Wardell Chambers said. "They were great counterpunchers. Everything we threw at them, they had an answer for."

"Their shots were falling and ours weren't," Plant City senior guard Channing Woodall said.

Evans outscored Plant City 40-25 in the second half. Four players scored in double figures for the Trojans, led by Kedrie Taylor's 19.

Woodall led the Raiders with 19 points. Senior forward Steve Hardnett added 16 points before fouling out late.

"They came out and got an early lead on us," Hardnett said.

Being able to break Plant City's full-court press in the second half led to the Trojans' success.

"They did a good job of not letting us trap them," Chambers said. "You have to give credit to the other team. They took some shots they shouldn't have taken with the lead, and they hit them."

"They were being patience in holding the ball," Woodall said.

After the game, Chambers told his players how proud they had made him.

"I told them you can find a lot of great things in which we accomplished," he said. "People are very proud of what we accomplished. They've really come a long way."

"It was kind of hard with having a new coach," Hardnett said, "but towards the end of the season, we bought into his system."

Evans led 52-43 with 4:26 remaining in the fourth quarter and went on a 12-2 run in the next three minutes to lead 64-45 with 1:34 left. During that run, Kevin Hardin scored six points.

"Their guards were the key to the game," Chambers said.

The Raiders return only one starter from this year's team in junior forward Josh Thiebe, who scored eight points.

"This gives Coach Chambers a good start for next year," Hardnett said.

Reporter Nick Williams can

be reached at (813) 865-4848

or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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