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Pinellas Park Lights-Out In Romp

Patriots 87, Spongers 47

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: December 9, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - TARPON SPRINGS - It was raining three's at Tarpon Springs High School as the Spongers hosted Class 5A, District 9 frontrunners Pinellas Park for a Friday evening match up.

Both teams accounted for 20 total 3-pointers on the night. Unfortunately for the home team, the still-undefeated Patriots rattled in 14 of those.

Pinellas Park guard Cam Carden led the way for the Patriots (8-0, 4-0) as he put on a show from behind the arc in the first half. Finishing with 23 points, Carden nailed all of his seven long-range jumpers within the first two quarters.

Ten of the Patriots' 14 total three's were hit during their eye-popping 70-point first half.

The game began much like it would finish, with Pinellas Park jumping to a quick 6-0 lead that would soon expand to 25-12.

Along with their honed in shooting, the Patriots' defense swarmed Tarpon ball handlers early and often. A full-court press executed immediately by Pinellas Park kept the pace fast while forcing numerous Sponger turnovers.

After going up 25-12, Carden and the Patriots turned up their sharp-shooting efforts and poured in 19 straight points to close the first quarter owning a commanding 44-12 advantage.

Tarpon (2-6, 0-3) tried to match the Patriots' long-range game with Nick Dublino's touch from outside, but his 15 points on five 3-pointers were not nearly enough to keep up.

Even on the jumpers that would not fall, Pinellas Park benefited from a considerable size differential in the post.

Forwards Jacob Troyli (6-foot-9) and Jesse Woods (6-foot-5) combined for a 23-point night - largely by cashing in on put-backs following offensive rebounds.

Scoring in double-digits along with Carden, Troyli and Woods for Pinellas Park was sophomore Srdjan Jankovic. He added four 3-pointers of his own and ended with 13.

The Patriots may have proved with Friday night's thumping that last week's 6-point, 48-42 squeaker of a win over Dunedin was a mere hiccup on their drive for a district championship.

Before that game with Dunedin, Pinellas Park had won each of its first six games by an average of 36 points and never scored fewer than 74.

The road does not get any smoother for Tarpon Springs this week, as district powerhouses Largo and Clearwater are due up next. Combined record for those two programs: 11-1.

OTHER HAPPENINGS:

Before the varsity squads stepped on the court, the junior varsity boys of Pinellas Park pulled away from Tarpon Springs in the second half for a 61-48 win of their own.

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