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King, Clearwater Play State Semifinal Games Today

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 4, 2009

LAKELAND - It has been 27 years since a Hillsborough County public school boys basketball team won a state title. In 1982, Coach Jimmy Smith led Plant City to a Class 4A championship, defeating Jacksonville Forrest, 73-61.

Only two county public schools have reached the state title game since: Brandon in 1984 and 2000, and Chamberlain in 1990 and 2006.

King will attempt to end that drought this week but must first go through Gainesville in the Class 5A semifinals at 7 tonight at The Lakeland Center.

The Cinderella of the 5A final four bracket, the unranked Lions (23-6) are led by 6-foot-7 senior power forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick. The Georgia Southern-bound standout leads King with 14.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

King coach Sam Lanier, in his sixth season, is the third coach in county history to take two schools to the state tournament. In 1995, he led Bayshore Christian to the Class 1A title game.

Pinellas County teams have been more fortunate in the state tournament, sending five teams to the championship round this decade. Lakewood captured the Class 4A title in 2002 and 2005.

Clearwater, which will face Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer at 4 p.m. today in the other 5A semifinal, is making its first state tournament appearance since 2005. The Tornadoes last won a championship in 1981.

Clearwater is led by 6-8 junior forward Okaro White, who averages 20.6 points per game. White has committed to Florida State University.

Dwyer won back to back 5A titles in 2004 and 2005.

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

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