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'27' Is Magic Number For Tampa Prep

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

TAMPA - Throughout the Tampa Prep gymnasium, boys basketball locker room and team bus this week, one could find the number "27" posted everywhere.

The number is to remind the boys basketball team to focus on win No. 27, which would put the Terrapins in the Class 2A state championship game on Saturday.

"When we hand out scouting reports, we always put the number of the games that if we win, that'll be the number we have," Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon said. "I never want the kids thinking too far along. If we don't get to 27, we can't get to 28. I know it's simple but you know what, it works for us."

Today at 10 a.m. at The Lakeland Center, Tampa Prep (26-4) will go for win No. 27 against West Palm Beach Summit Christian in the 2A state semifinals.

The Terrapins, ranked sixth in the 2A state poll, are making their fifth state tournament appearance and second in the past three years. In 1997 and 1999, the Terrapins lost in the state championship game. In 2007, they lost in overtime to Port. St. Joe in the state semifinals.

"That (loss), it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth," said junior Jamal Cherry, who played on the 2007 team. "We definitely want to go out there and change the end result."

"It'll be nice to be the first team in school history to win a state championship in basketball," said junior Jay Bowie, who transferred to Prep from Middleton last summer.

Bowie, a 6-foot-5 post player, leads the team with 14.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, while Cherry, a 6-4 guard, adds 14.5 points and 2.6 assists per game. Senior guard Jake Haslam is the third-leading scorer with 10.6 points per game.

"We definitely have a balanced offense," Cherry said. "Anyone of our guys, on any night, can step up hit the game-winning shot."

Summit Christian (27-4) is led by 6-4 sophomore forward Jean Prophete, who is averaging 19.3 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. The Fighting Saints reached the 2A state semis in 2007, falling to eventual state champion Arlington Country Day.

"They're very athletic," Fenlon said. "They remind me a lot of teams we've played when we've been there before. They're in your face defenders and they put a lot pressure on you."

In his team's last four state appearances, Fenlon said the Terrapins have been out-hustled.

"We have to set the tone, not have the tone set for us," Fenlon said. "We've been very fortunate over the last month to be the one who sets the tone and we've had good results with that."

"We got here because of defense," Cherry said. "We've stepped it up this year. It has created a lot of things for us."

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

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