By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor
The boys basketball season features teams on the rise and teams in the rebuilding stages, and all three area teams have some notable games on the schedule.
Strawberry Crest will participate in the Bright House Shootout, at Clearwater High, and the Adidas Holiday Slam, in Miami. Plant City will host Robinson and Durant in the Raider Tip Off Classic today and Friday, respectively. The Raiders also will participate in the George Jenkins X-Mas tournament Dec. 27-28. Durant will open the season Nov. 14, against King, in the Plant City Tip Off Classic.
DURANT
Coach: Trent Tice
Years as head coach at Durant: Entering fourth year
2011-12 overall record: 3-20
2011-12 district record: 0-10
District finish/playoffs: Lost to Alonso in the first round of the Class 8A District 7 tournament
Three key returning players and a newcomer highlight the upcoming season for Durant.
Two of those key players are senior wings Kyle White and Trent Robertson. White was Second Team All-Western Conference in 2011-12, while Robertson is a three-point shooting threat who has honed his skills on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.
Josh King, a 5-10 junior guard, also returns and is primed to have a breakout season, according to Tice, who is entering his fourth year as head coach.
Tice said Dontriel Perry, a standout on Durant’s football team, also will play basketball. Perry is 6-5 junior and will play in the post for the Cougars.
According to Tice, the Cougars have an athletic team that will play fast-paced offense and defense and hopes to improve on a tough season last year. Durant won a district title and made the regional finals two years ago before facing a rebuilding phase last season.
“Hopefully, this will pay off as Durant will now again be an experienced team,” Tice said.
PLANT CITY
Coach: Dale Chambers
Years as head coach at PCHS: Entering sixth season
2011-12 overall record: 11-9
2011-12 district record: 6-5
District finish/playoffs: Tied for third and defeated Brandon in the opening round of the Class 7A District 8 tournament before falling to East Bay
Plant City’s coaching staff are optimistic for the upcoming season, despite only returning one starter.
Senior Dylon Parm is the lone returning starter for the Raiders. The guard averaged nine points per game as a junior. There will be 10 newcomers this year, along with four returning letter-winners. According to Chambers, the team will have plenty of talent moving from junior varsity.
“The key will be to develop chemistry and improve in November and December and gel together come January and February,” Chambers said.
The Raiders are coming off a 11-9 season that saw them finish third in Class 7A District 8 before falling to eventual champion East Bay in the second round of the district tournament. Chambers noted satisfaction this season can be achieved in one of two ways: lowered expectations or an increased level of play by the youthful roster.
“The coaching staff is quite optimistic, because of the competitive nature of practices and the willingness of the players to learn and improve each day,” he said.
STRAWBERRY CREST
Coach: Andre Lewis
Years as head coach at SCHS: Entering fourth year
2011-12 overall record: 17-11
2011-12 district record: 8-2
District finish/playoffs: Lost to Sickles in the Class 6A District 11 finals and lost to Palmetto in first round of regionals
Strawberry Crest is quickly establishing itself as one of the up-and-coming programs in the area.
The Chargers had their first winning season last year in the short history of the program, going 17-11 and qualifying for the regional tournament after finishing as runner-up in the Class 6A District 11 tournament.
Lewis has been with the team since the school opened in 2009 and said his goal is to continue to get better as a team.
“We would like to get to 20 wins and win a district title,” he said.
The Chargers only lost one key player in forward Brandon Channer, who led the team with 17.7 points per game. His younger brother, 5-11 junior guard Malik Channer returns, along with senior guards Devin Diggs and Karel Hamilton. Malik Channer led the team in assists, while Diggs led in blocked shots. Hamilton averaged just under nine points per game last season.
For Lewis, the key to success this season will be based on the play of his defense.