Wildcats head to quarterfinals on a hot streak

The Wharton Wildcats are 26-1 in boys basketball. They have a school-record 24-game winning streak. It doesn't sound like a team that needs to prove anything.

But Wharton will enter the state playoffs with steely-eyed determination.

"We just grind it out, find a way to get it done,'' Wildcats coach Tommy Tonelli said. "We just keep winning, even though it might not look pretty all the time.

"We don't even think about our record or having a winning streak. At this time of the year, the only thing that matters is your next game. That's all we're thinking about.''

So Wharton pushes on, looking forward to Thursday night's home clash against the Sarasota Riverview Rams (15-11) in the region quarterfinals. The Wildcats need three victories to reach the state Final Four in Lakeland - and a program milestone.

Wharton's best-ever finish was a 2007 region final loss at a Lake Howell team that featured future Florida Gators Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons.

"One thing we've learned is there definitely needs to be a sense of urgency with everything you do - every practice, every game, every possession,'' said Tonelli, who became Wharton's inaugural coach in 1997-98 and worked there 10 seasons. He left in 2007 to become assistant coach at the University of South Florida, his alma mater, then returned to Wharton this season.

Tonelli said he had high expectations.

But 26-1?

A 24-game winning streak?

"Your mentality is to win every game, but realistically, you can't project what we've been able to do,'' Tonelli said. "We've got a great group and they bought in quickly to how we want to approach things.

"We've been tested a number of times, but we have the belief that we can get it done.''

Wharton's loss occurred on Dec. 1 - a 55-48 decision against Sickles, a defeat that was avenged later in the season. Tonelli said Wharton's turning points happened in two comeback victories - rallying from nine points down in the fourth quarter against St. Petersburg, then erasing a 13-point deficit with five minutes remaining against Blake.

"I think we all came together during the summer and we've been able to build upon that,'' said Damian Dixon, a 6-foot-1 guard who is Wharton's only senior starter. "We have a great record, but it seems like we're still flying under the radar.

"To be honest, the record doesn't mean much right now. It's like we're starting over - zero-and-zero. It's all in the past. We've set ourselves up for this point. Now it's about what we accomplish in the future.''

Dixon is Wharton's best player, but he is ably supported by 6-5 junior A.J. Astroth, 6-4 junior Xavier Owens and 6-2 junior Jonathan Torres.

The most intriguing member of the lineup is point guard C.J. McGill, a 5-8 freshman.

"He's 5-8 - when he's standing on two phone books,'' Tonelli said, laughing.

McGill, an unflappable left-hander, runs Wharton's offense with veteran poise.

"People doubt me and people doubt our team, too,'' said McGill, 15. "I understand what it's like to walk into the gym and have people think you're not that good.

"But with all we've accomplished, I think we've proven we belong with all the good teams around here. All I want for this team is a shot at winning the state championship. I believe we can go really, really far.''

Wharton's previous school record for consecutive victories occurred in 2006-07, when Shawn Vanzant, now at Butler University, was the senior star. The Wildcats' 21-game streak ended with the region final defeat at Lake Howell - one victory short of Lakeland.

"I like our guys because they know their roles, they know the strengths and weaknesses,'' Tonelli said. "It's a team that really plays together. I like our future. We've got four returning starters, five of the top eight are back and our JV team was 10-2.

"But all we're concentrating on at this point is what happens now. You win your district, you get in this position and it's a great opportunity to make some special memories. If you come up short now, there's such finality. It ends quick and it ends hard. I think our guys want to keep playing.''