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North Pinellas Hoop Squads Struggling

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: December 22, 2007

It's no secret where the best Pinellas County boy's basketball is being played this year.

With the likes of Lakewood, Clearwater and Pinellas Park, to name a few, north-county teams have struggled to keep pace with their high-flying south- and central-county counterparts loaded with next-level talent.

What is the explanation? Experience.

A lot can be said for having a solid core of senior leadership in high school athletics, and it is running thin in the North.

COUNTRYSIDE (4-5)

Perhaps finding the most success through the season's first half is Countryside High – the only North Pinellas team not in Class 5A, District 9 competition.

Headed by a first-year coach, Myron Huey, the Cougars have managed to stay in the middle of the Class 6A, District 9 pack.

C.J. Moody is the team's lone senior starter and has provided Countryside with the majority of its nightly offense, averaging more than 17 points per game.

With Moody's physical presence in the post, the Cougars have received relatively steady back-court play from junior guards Dustin Callan and Tucker Pollard.

Callan is the team's primary long-range threat and Pollard has assumed most of the duties at point guard.

Representing perhaps the north county's best shot at making legitimate noise in their district, Countryside has shown signs of promise but lack consistency on offense right now.

DUNEDIN (2-9)

Dunedin is also led by a first-year coach this season. Jeff McCann replaced Josh Walker this summer and took the reigns of a team that has gone 17-32 the past two years.

He inherited a roster with a decent number of upperclassmen, but the Falcons are still adjusting to McCann's system of intense defensive pressure and a transition offense.

Though mired in an eight-game losing streak, a glance at the Falcon's results shows a brighter outlook. Dunedin took Boca Ciega, undefeated Pinellas Park and Largo to the wire, proving an ability to compete.

Making a name for himself so far has been sophomore point guard Jahuar El-Amin. The underclassman is leading the team in scoring and gives the Falcons' promise for the future.

PALM HARBOR (2-7)

Further north, another sophomore floor general is drawing attention, in Palm Harbor. Using his exceptional ball-handling skills and speed, Palm Harbor University's Kevin McKellar has the ability to keep his team in games and is slowly developing a dangerous outside shot.

McKellar is one of three regular sophomore starters on a Hurricane roster that has only two seniors. His stepped-up performance has helped ease the pain of losing dominant center Adam Pegg to district rival Clearwater when the big man transferred after last season.

Palm Harbor also holds one of the county's best pure shooters in Sam Purdy, who, when setting his feet, is deadly from beyond the arc.

Similar to Countryside and Dunedin, consistency problems have hampered this young Palm Harbor lineup throughout the season, making it difficult to predict which Hurricane team is going to show up.

TARPON SPRINGS (3-7)

After getting off to a promising 2-0 start, the Spongers' lack of a standout performer has resulted in wins being hard to come by.

Junior Nick Dublino gives Tarpon a legit 3-point threat and point guard Ray Hartsfield is leading the team in scoring but is the only Sponger averaging in double-figures.

Limited depth from the bench has put head coach Steve Plummer in a tough position again this year, leading to struggles getting the ball in the hoop.

EAST LAKE (2-8)

The Eagles are a team that lives and dies by the outside shot. Typically outsized in the post, East Lake Head Coach Joe Bloznalis knows his perimeter offense needs to be on point to win.

The Eagles do possess two able-bodied gunners in Kendall O'Neill and Matt Moore – one and two in scoring, respectively – but they alone have not been enough to produce victories.

The deep shots and deficiencies in height down low do not equate to a high number of offensive rebounds and second chance shots. Therefore, if the first one does not fall, the Eagles typically do not score.

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