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Basketball Notes: Berkeley-Tampa Prep Renew Rivalry

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2009

Last year, the first meeting of the season between the Tampa Prep and Berkeley Prep basketball teams was one for the record books.

Both teams entered the contest ranked No.1 in the state polls, with Tampa Prep on top in Class 2A and Berkeley 3A. In addition, it was the fifth annual Headmasters' Challenge, a winter sports tournament between the rival schools, and Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon was striving for his 500th career win.

Tampa Prep won, 65-61, on its home floor.

On Saturday, two of the area's top teams will meet once again, this time at 2:30 p.m. at Berkeley.

The Terrapins (14-0), ranked No. 2 in the latest 2A poll, are coming off consecutive tournament championships, winning the City of Tampa and Keswick Holiday tournaments. Berkeley Prep (10-4), ranked sixth in 3A, went 2-2 in the second annual McDonald's Tampa Hoops Classic over the holiday break and faced some of the top teams in the nation.

"It's always big, regardless of what the teams are doing," Berkeley Prep coach Bobby Reinhart said. "They're undefeated and we've had a pretty big year so far. You have two solid programs going after it."

"Although some of the kids are the same, the dynamic is totally different this year," Fenlon said. "They're coming off a tournament where they played stiff competition and we won a couple of tournaments. It would be hard to match the hype from last year. The stars have to be aligned for something like that to happen (again)."

Senior guard Johnathan Gray leads the Buccaneers with 18.4 points per game while senior forward Austin Suarez adds 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. Junior guard Jamal Cherry leads the Terrapins with 15.8 points while junior forward Jay Bowie adds 15.1 points and 11.5 rebounds.

FORMER COACH TRYING NEW HAND

Last March, Mark Hermann decided to walk away from the game of basketball. After leading Brandon to the Class 5A state final four, Hermann retired from coaching, ending a 27-year career.

Now, he's trying a new endeavor.

Hermann has been busy promoting his athletic clothing line, Shut Em Down. At first, it was used by Brandon players, but Hermann wanted to venture out.

"We've been around for eight months now and we're starting to generate some business," he said. "We have some teams wearing our stuff. The University of Tampa men's basketball team has ordered some practice gear, a team in Naples and some teams in Georgia."

The clothing line, manufactured by a company in Los Angeles, was also worn by college and pro players in the Tampa Bay Pro Am League this past summer.

"My goal is to outfit as many high school and AAU teams as I can, get my product on some travel teams," he said. "My goal has always been to get someone from Nike or And 1 to see a team wearing it and want to buy it. I've gotten over 70 emails from coaching interested in the product."

To view the Hermann's clothing line, visit www.shutemdownsports.com.

FEATURED PLAYER

ANDRE SMITH

BLAKE

Sophomore, Guard

ABOUT SMITH: Smith, the nephew of Blake head coach Winston Davis, is the highest scoring point guard in Hillsborough County and is leading the Yellow Jackets with 17.3 points and 3.2 assists per game.

BOYS BASKETBALL TOP TEAMS

1. SICKLES (11-4) -- Gryphons, ranked No. 5 in the latest 6A state poll, went 2-2 in McDonald's Tampa Hoops Classic and remain undefeated in district play.

2. TAMPA PREP (14-0) -- Terrapins moved up to No. 2 in the 2A state poll and face its biggest challenge of the season in Berkeley Prep on Saturday.

3. BERKELEY PREP (10-4) -- Buccaneers, ranked sixth in the latest 3A poll, went 2-2 in the McDonald's Tampa Hoops Classic and face rival Tampa Prep on Saturday.

4. KING (6-6) -- Lions should be 10-2, but had to forfeit the first four games due to an ineligible player.

5. BLOOMINGDALE (12-3) -- Bulls lost to King, 62-58, on Wednesday and the severity of Callum Townsend's knee injury is uncertain.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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