Wharton improves to 2-0 (0-0) and swept their SEBA Thanksgiving Classic contests. Wharton's next game is at Sickles on December 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 8pm.
November 28, 2009
Wharton 62, Ridgewood 43
Wharton out scores Ridgewood 58-25 in the final 3 quarters and won their second game, 62-43.
November 27, 2009
Wharton 65, Evans 56 (OT)
Wharton tops Evans-Orlando in a physical back-and-forth battle, 65-56 in overtime.
Junior Xavier Owens scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds and recorded his second double-double of the season. Wharton kicks off the 2009-2010 regular season with a win.
Head coach Tommy Tonelli and his 'Cats never wilted and counteracted a number of Trojan runs with runs of their own to outlast Evans in OT.
Senior Damian Dixon, Junior AJ Astroth and Freshman CJ McGill all hit timely baskets and all answered when their numbers were called to ice the game in overtime with clutch freethrows.
Early on, Wharton traded baskets with Evans as both teams went on mini-runs of 4-6 points but neither team managed to pull away by more than 5 points. However, with the game on the line Wharton managed to break the Trojan press and get to the line when it mattered the most.
Junior Jonathan Torres had the daunting task of defending the Trojans center and power forwards, both easily eclipsed the 6'5'' mark. Torres held his own in an aggressive performance that was cut short when Torres fouled out with just under 4 to play.
An all-around tough defensive minded Wharton performance secured the Wharton win over the uber-athletic Evans squad. Wharton improves to 1-0(0-0) with the win.
Wharton is back in action tomorrow at 6pm against last years regional runner up Ridgewood.
Junior Xavier Owens scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds and recorded his second double-double of the season. Wharton kicks off the 2009-2010 regular season with a win.
Head coach Tommy Tonelli and his 'Cats never wilted and counteracted a number of Trojan runs with runs of their own to outlast Evans in OT.
Senior Damian Dixon, Junior AJ Astroth and Freshman CJ McGill all hit timely baskets and all answered when their numbers were called to ice the game in overtime with clutch freethrows.
Early on, Wharton traded baskets with Evans as both teams went on mini-runs of 4-6 points but neither team managed to pull away by more than 5 points. However, with the game on the line Wharton managed to break the Trojan press and get to the line when it mattered the most.
Junior Jonathan Torres had the daunting task of defending the Trojans center and power forwards, both easily eclipsed the 6'5'' mark. Torres held his own in an aggressive performance that was cut short when Torres fouled out with just under 4 to play.
An all-around tough defensive minded Wharton performance secured the Wharton win over the uber-athletic Evans squad. Wharton improves to 1-0(0-0) with the win.
Wharton is back in action tomorrow at 6pm against last years regional runner up Ridgewood.
November 24, 2009
SEBA Thanksgiving Classic Update
This upcoming weekend Wharton is set to compete in the SEBA Thanksgiving Classic against two very prestigious opponents.
Wharton will face Evans-Orlando at 3:00pm at Berkeley Prep.
Saturday, the game against Ridgewood has been moved up to a 6pm tip-off. the Ridgewood game will also take place at Berkeley Prep.
**THE RIDGEWOOD GAME IS LISTED ON THE SCHEDULE AS A 8PM TIP-OFF, PLEASE ADVISE THE TIME CHANGE TO 6PM**
There will also be no in-game Twitter coverage of the Ridgewood game on Saturday.
November 21, 2009
Preseason: Wharton 67, Wesley Chapel 35
Wharton dominated the battle of the Wildcats from start to finish, 67-35.
Wharton started fast and never looked back by scoring the game's first 22 points. Wharton held a dominating 22-0 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to the above-the-rim play of Xavier Owens and AJ Astroth.
Both Owens and Astroth had dunks that made the audience erupt during Wharton's 22-0 first quarter.
Damian Dixon added 15 points and seemed virtually unstoppable at times. Dixon's points were scored from every spot on the floor whether it was a net-snapping three ball or a defense-slicing drive to the rim.
Astroth led all scorers with 19 thanks to a 8 point 1 minute solo run to start the 3rd quarter.
Owens added 14 and stayed tenacious on the glass with his rebounding performance.
Coach Tommy Tonelli played every single one of his players in the second quarter after the 22-0 start giving some valuable experience to his young bench.
Andrew Jewesak had a strong performance off the bench and Andrew Sharp and Travaris Hammond both shared some time at the point. Clint Cagel scored the first 2 points of his Wharton career and big man Jadarian Green had a strong showing with some strong minutes and a couple of baskets.
Jonathan Torres made his first career varsity start and proved his abilities by securing a handful of offensive and defensive rebounds.
Drake Williams was in attendance for tonight's game. Drake seems to have come out of the surgery fine and was on the team bench for the game.
Wharton will be back in action on Black Friday when they play Evans-Orlando in the SEBA Thanksgiving Classic at 3pm.
Wharton started fast and never looked back by scoring the game's first 22 points. Wharton held a dominating 22-0 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to the above-the-rim play of Xavier Owens and AJ Astroth.
Both Owens and Astroth had dunks that made the audience erupt during Wharton's 22-0 first quarter.
Damian Dixon added 15 points and seemed virtually unstoppable at times. Dixon's points were scored from every spot on the floor whether it was a net-snapping three ball or a defense-slicing drive to the rim.
Astroth led all scorers with 19 thanks to a 8 point 1 minute solo run to start the 3rd quarter.
Owens added 14 and stayed tenacious on the glass with his rebounding performance.
Coach Tommy Tonelli played every single one of his players in the second quarter after the 22-0 start giving some valuable experience to his young bench.
Andrew Jewesak had a strong performance off the bench and Andrew Sharp and Travaris Hammond both shared some time at the point. Clint Cagel scored the first 2 points of his Wharton career and big man Jadarian Green had a strong showing with some strong minutes and a couple of baskets.
Jonathan Torres made his first career varsity start and proved his abilities by securing a handful of offensive and defensive rebounds.
Drake Williams was in attendance for tonight's game. Drake seems to have come out of the surgery fine and was on the team bench for the game.
Wharton will be back in action on Black Friday when they play Evans-Orlando in the SEBA Thanksgiving Classic at 3pm.
November 20, 2009
Alumni Update: Vanzant Featured in Butler's Sports Illustrated Preview
Former Wildcat shooting guard and all-time scoring leader Shawn Vanzant was recently featured in Butler's preview in Sports Illustrated's annual college basketball preview issue.
The caption in the upper left hand corner of the photo reads "Butler's athletic sixth man gave Milwaukee the bum's rush when he delivered a career-high 20 points in their Horizon matchup last January."
Vanzant and his Bulldogs were ranked 14th in SI's preseason rankings.
Vanzant wasn't listed in the projected starting five despite starting every one of Butler's games thus far. Vanzant was listed as a "key reserve."
V-Man and the Bulldogs sit at 2-0 and are headed to Evansville on November 21.
November 19, 2009
Preseason: Wharton 51, Wiregrass 44
Wharton outlasts Wiregrass to restart the Tonelli era with a 51-44 win.
Damian Dixon was cold on the offensive end but made up for it with a tremendous defensive effort with the compliment of Xavier Owens' rebound clinic. Freshman CJ McGill scored a game high 17 points, with 10 coming in the first half.
Despite a cold start, Dixon finished with 13. Owens was a force to be reckoned with pulling in 13 boards and 12 points. Astroth added 6.
Wharton got off to a relatively slow start but Wiregrass kept within striking distance. Wiregrass' defense helped in the cause to keep the game close. Wiregrass accumulated over 10 team blocks and forced double digit turnovers.
Wharton pulled away late in the third quarter and stretched the lead to 12 but after a timeout by the Bulls, Wiregrass responded with an 11-3 run to close out the third and cut their deficit to just 4, 35-31.
Wiregrass cut the deficit to only 1 after a quick 3 to start off the final quarter. The Bulls only led once in the entire game, 7-6 early in the first.
Dixon, Astroth, and Owens all put on the clamps down the stretch and secured the victory.
The 'Cats will square-off against Wesley Chapel at 3:30 this Saturday in the Wharton gymnasium.
Game photos can be found HERE.
November 18, 2009
Drake Williams Life Saved By Teammates, EMTs
This past Saturday, the Wildcats took a blow when junior Drake Williams collapsed and fell to the floor during practice just under a week before the preseason opener against Wiregrass.
Frantically, Coach Tommy Tonelli rushed to the side of Williams where Tonelli discovered Williams to be unconscious and without a pulse. Tonelli signaled the other players to go find help while Tonelli began to try and resuscitate Williams. Teammate Johnathan Torres took over the CPR whole Tonelli ran to get the schools defibrillator. Luckily, players found paramedics who happen to be on campus for the annual Badge Bowl.
Upon arriving, the EMT's used the defibrillator to bring Williams back and ultimately saving his life.
Please put your thoughts and prayers with Drake and his family as he begins his recovery and the long journey back to the basketball court. Contact sports are no longer in his future. Drake was a member of the Wharton football team.
If it wasn't for Coach Tonelli, his Wildcat teammates and the EMTs, Drake's chances would have been minuscule.
The Wildcat Nation thanks you. Get better Drake.
The article in its entirety can be found HERE.
November 17, 2009
2009-2010 Preseason Tip-Off
With less than 48 hours until the first jump ball is tossed kicking off the 2009-2010 preseason, the expectations couldn't be any higher at Wharton.
Although local media outlets tend to forget about the boys in navy-blue and white, TBC.net is here all season long to give the Wildcats the coverage they deserve.
If you can't make it out Thursday night, or to any other game be sure to follow @thebluecrew on Twitter.com for live, in-game updates for up-to-the-minute scores and plays all season long. There is no registration required but if you wish to follow the Twitter feed, signing up takes just a few minutes and is completely free. Just direct your laptop, computer or mobile phone's browser to www.twitter.com/thebluecrew to view the live updates.
To the rest of the Wildcat Nation that will be in attendance this Thursday night... Wharton is hosting this year's edition of the Wildcat Preseason Classic. Tip-off is schedule for 7:30 against a newly-adopted rival, Wiregrass Ranch. Be sure to come loud, come proud and TBC.net will see you there!
Although local media outlets tend to forget about the boys in navy-blue and white, TBC.net is here all season long to give the Wildcats the coverage they deserve.
If you can't make it out Thursday night, or to any other game be sure to follow @thebluecrew on Twitter.com for live, in-game updates for up-to-the-minute scores and plays all season long. There is no registration required but if you wish to follow the Twitter feed, signing up takes just a few minutes and is completely free. Just direct your laptop, computer or mobile phone's browser to www.twitter.com/thebluecrew to view the live updates.
To the rest of the Wildcat Nation that will be in attendance this Thursday night... Wharton is hosting this year's edition of the Wildcat Preseason Classic. Tip-off is schedule for 7:30 against a newly-adopted rival, Wiregrass Ranch. Be sure to come loud, come proud and TBC.net will see you there!
November 9, 2009
2009-2010 Poster Coming Soon!!!
TBC.net is proud to announce the creation of the inaugural Wharton Wildcats varsity basketball poster!
The poster contains the entire schedule and will be placed up around the school as well as around New Tampa in hopes to get the area even more excited about the up-and-coming season and future of Wharton basketball.
If you would like a copy of the poster please contact TBC.net at jdl@thebluecrew.net. The posters will most likely be available by next week's preseason opener.
The season is just over a week away so get yours while they last!!!
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