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Highly Touted Tornadoes Surge Past East Lake

Clearwater 68, East Lake 47

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST NEWS

Appearing to float in midair, East Lake guard Dustin McGahee tries to get by Clearwater's Luke Loucks.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: November 28, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - TARPON SPRINGS - Taking full advantage of their own size and Division I-A college talent Tuesday night, Clearwater High swept past host East Lake 68-47 and improved to 2-0 on their highly anticipated 2007-08 season.

Also a Class 5A, District 9 match up, the loss dropped the Eagles to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in league play. Both of Clearwater's victories have come against district foes.

Most likely to be ranked among the state's elite when polls are released, Clearwater never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 25 in the second half.

The Tornadoes were led by two of the biggest names in Pinellas County prep basketball in guard Luke Loucks and center Adam Pegg. Pegg – who is playing his first season with Clearwater after transferring from Palm Harbor University – gives the Tornadoes arguably the most formidable one-two punch of any area team when combined with Loucks' talent in the backcourt.

On an off night with his shot, Loucks still put together a 14-point effort. He did perhaps the most damage though with his precision passing – consistently finding the right man for open looks to the hoop.

Down low, Pegg and teammate Okaro White proved dominant in the paint all night long. The combination of a glaring height advantage and the big men's pure basketball talents left East Lake with little opportunity to win the rebounding battle or get clear looks inside.

The 6 foot 9 center finished with 12 points and White dropped in 11, including a couple two-handed dunks that drew 'oohs and ahhs' from the crowd. Walter Smith added 11 of his own to give Clearwater four double-digit scorers on the night.

Because of the unfavorable discrepancies in size, East Lake and head coach Joe Bloznalis knew they would have to be sharp from outside and keep the ball out of Clearwater's hands.

The first half saw the Eagles pass the ball around the perimeter on offense hoping to find an open Kendall O'Neill or Matt Moore for three-pointers, showing no clear intentions of entering the paint.

Playing a tight zone and rotating well to follow the East Lake ball movement, Clearwater kept the Eagles from getting into a rhythm and hitting their deep shots.

Entering the second half after posting only 14 points on offense and trailing by 13, Bloznalis had his players start to attack the rim as best they could.

He said later that he knew they had to go inside regardless of what was waiting for them in hopes of keeping the Clearwater defense honest.

Though the second half adjustment and an improved shooting effort led to a more productive second half output, the Tornado offense sped up as well.

Pegg and White kept the pressure up on defense and scored many of their points on second opportunity put-backs after misses.

"We knew we weren't going to be able to turn over the ball or keep giving them second chance shots and expect to stay in the game," Bloznalis said after the loss.

"The mistakes added up and we just couldn't overcome."

For East Lake, O'Neill and Moore did begin to heat up in the final 16 minutes, but it was too little, too late. O'Neill posted a game-high 21 points and Moore dropped in 14.

The Eagles hit seven of their three-point attempts overall.

"We play them again in three weeks," Bloznalis said. "So hopefully we'll show some progress by then."

East Lake travels to Seminole High School tonight for their next game before taking on yet another highly acclaimed squad Friday when they visit Pinellas Park.

Clearwater will play host to Boca Ciega tonight for their final game of the week.

SCOREBOARD:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
18 - 9 - 20 - 21 - 68-----Clearwater
7 - 7 - 11 - 22 - 47-----East Lake

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