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Crusaders Focus On Winning As A Team

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

After a successful regular season, Tampa Catholic looks to make a statement when it hosts next week's Class 3A-District 11 tournament.

The Crusaders (19-6, 7-3) will be the No. 3 seed after losing a coin toss with the Academy of the Holy Names (16-8, 7-3). TC and AHN are on the same side of the bracket and could face each other in the semifinals with a berth in the region tournament at stake.

The Crusaders and Jaguars split their two meetings this season, with each winning on their home court.

While always demanding improvement, TC coach Nancy Kroll is confident her team has what it takes to go on a successful postseason run.

"Our team is close to being where we need to be," she said. "We know that we can win the big games. We beat Spruce Creek to win the Keeler Memorial Tournament. We beat state-ranked teams Hollywood Christian and Nature Coast in the Indian Rocks Christian Tournament. Confidence is such a huge factor for us."

TC is led by sophomore Colette Eule (15.6 points per game), sophomore Sarah Brennan (12.6), senior Michelle Gingras (10.7) and junior Katelyn Bruns (8.5).

"Our point distribution is good. We have seven players capable of double figures every night," Kroll said. "When a team consistently has four or more players in double figures, they are tough to beat."

Brennan leads the team in rebounds (6.5 per game), while Gingras is tops in assists (6.6) and steals (3.6).

Despite needing to do a better job on the offensive boards, Kroll believes a simple formula is all that is needed to advance to the region tournament.

"For us to do well in district, we need to continue to be an unselfish team and take care of the basketball," she said. "Teamwork is the way out of district."

BIG CHIEFS: Chamberlain senior Sierra Crawley and junior Arrena Houston aren't just going through the motions as the regular season wraps up for the 8-13 Chiefs.

In a recent five-game stretch, Houston averaged 23.6 points per game while Crawley averaged 18, helping Chamberlain win three of the five games.

"Sierra and Arrena have been the catalysts in the end-of-the-season improvement that the Lady Chiefs have experienced," Chamberlain coach Jim Martin said. "They seem to feed off of each other and score baskets in a hurry and in bunches with defensive steals on the perimeter. They are a strong backcourt duo that work extremely well together."

For the season, Houston and Crawley are averaging 14.7 and 13.5 points per game, respectively.

MOORER MILESTONE: Seffner Christian's Jenny Moorer scored her 1,000th career point in Tuesday's win against Hernando Christian. She finished the game with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The 5-foot-10 junior has recorded a double-double in every game this season. Moorer averages 18.9 points and a county-best 15 rebounds per game.

Gregg Becnel

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