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TC-Jesuit Basketball Always Draws Big Crowd

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By NICK WILLIAMS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

TAMPA - Every year, the annual Tampa Catholic-Jesuit boys basketball games draw a capacity crowd of alumni, students, parents and basketball fans. This year will be no different, as a sellout crowd is expected to attend the first of two meetings this season tonight at Tampa Catholic at 7:30.

The game will also be broadcast live on Catch 47.

For the players, it is one of the highlights of their prep careers.

"I'm looking forward to it," said TC senior forward James Didden, who leads the Crusaders (7-6) with 15.4 points per game. "The drum line is going, when you run in you hear cheers from over here and boos from over there. I love it."

"You definitely play your hardest in this game," said Jesuit senior guard Jake Seymour, who leads the Tigers (8-4) with 18.8 points per game. "It does bring out the best in you."

For the coaches, who have 38 years of varsity experience between them, the rivalry game never gets old.

"It's a great atmosphere for the kids, but it's just as great for the coaches," TC coach Don Dziagwa said. "It's a lot more fun to coach with fans in the stands and the lights and the cameras are on."

"It makes you want to prepare hard," said Jesuit coach Neal Goldman, who is in his 21st year as coach. "You want your team to be at its best."

Jesuit recently won its own invitational tournament, defeating Hudson in the championship led by Seymour's 21 points. Seymour, who has decided to play for Division III Washington University, was named the tournament MVP. Tampa Catholic recently competed in the Vero Beach Holiday Hoopla in Vero Beach, where the team finished 2-1.

The Crusaders won the first meeting last year in overtime, while the Tigers won the second in their home gym. Goldman guesses the all-time series stands at 50-48 in favor of Jesuit. The players said losing to their bitter rival is always hard to swallow.

"It's like losing a state championship," said Jesuit senior center Philip Smith, who also played on the football team that beat TC this past season. "After we lost last year, this kid from Jesuit invited me into a Facebook group called 'Jesuit owns TC,'" Didden said. "I kept it for motivation."

For one player in particular, his alliance is somewhat torn. Tampa Catholic's 6-foot-7 senior center Alex Doyle, who has offers from the University of Chicago and Air Force, transferred to TC from Jesuit his junior year.

"I'll probably have the crowd against me, calling me a traitor and whatnot," said Doyle, laughing. "It'll be tough."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com. To view photos and video highlights of tonight's game, visit TBO.com Keyword: Preps.

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