Enjoy.
January 27, 2010
In Case You Missed It...
In case you did not have the pleasure of attending last Friday night's game against Freedom, here are two plays that the Wildcat nation will never forget. Unfortunately, neither will Freedom.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
January 26, 2010
Wharton 77, King 65
Wharton ties school record with 21 straight wins, survive Lions despite poor performance.
AJ Astroth finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 1 block.
King jumped out to a 9-0 lead early in the first quarter, holding Wharton without a field goal until the 3:16 mark.
King out worked the Wildcats on the offensive glass, getting easy second chance buckets. The Lions also managed to make a handful of difficult shots early in their possessions and capitalized on a few well contested jump shots.
Wharton managed to trim the deficit by way of free throws, taking the ball at King possession after possession and slowly clawing their way back.
Xavier Owens' acrobatic lay up knotted the game at 18 with 4:51 to play in the second.
Owens finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds. He also had 5 assists.
Wharton and King would continue to trade blows until the Wildcats took their first lead of the night on an Astroth lay up complimentary of an Owens steal and Damian Dixon dish.
Wharton scored the games next 10 points and never looked back.
King would threaten late in the fourth when the Lions managed to cut the Wharton lead to 11 but could not manage to get any closer.
Wharton improves to 23-1 and has won its last 21 contests. The Wildcats will have a chance to rewrite the record books next Thursday on Senior Night against Gaither.
For the complete game log please visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
AJ Astroth finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 1 block.
King jumped out to a 9-0 lead early in the first quarter, holding Wharton without a field goal until the 3:16 mark.
King out worked the Wildcats on the offensive glass, getting easy second chance buckets. The Lions also managed to make a handful of difficult shots early in their possessions and capitalized on a few well contested jump shots.
Wharton managed to trim the deficit by way of free throws, taking the ball at King possession after possession and slowly clawing their way back.
Xavier Owens' acrobatic lay up knotted the game at 18 with 4:51 to play in the second.
Owens finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds. He also had 5 assists.
Wharton and King would continue to trade blows until the Wildcats took their first lead of the night on an Astroth lay up complimentary of an Owens steal and Damian Dixon dish.
Wharton scored the games next 10 points and never looked back.
King would threaten late in the fourth when the Lions managed to cut the Wharton lead to 11 but could not manage to get any closer.
Wharton improves to 23-1 and has won its last 21 contests. The Wildcats will have a chance to rewrite the record books next Thursday on Senior Night against Gaither.
For the complete game log please visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
Wildcats Return Home, Host Lions
The Wharton Wildcats will play their first home game since Jan. 6 tonight against the King Lions.
Wharton has two regular season games left and will look to stay hot heading into the district tournament.
The Wildcats, owners of one of the state's longest winning streaks, will look for their 21st consecutive victory which would tie the school record.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8pm.
Go 'Cats.
January 22, 2010
Wharton 66, Freedom 46
Wharton dominates Freedom 66-46, picks up 20th straight win.
The Wharton Wildcats cruised away from the Freedom Patriots early and never looked back. Juniors AJ Astroth and Xavier Owens both had big nights full of big plays. Astroth led all scorers with 20 points and Owens added 17. Owens' pair of dunks on the night brought the crowd to their feet.
It would be an injustice to label just one play or moment as the spark that ignited the Wharton attack. Senior Damian Dixon let his game speak all night. The aggressive shooting guard was all over the floor all night long. His ability to score is something he proves night after night but tonight Dixon racked up countless assists, steals and blocks. The performance was easily the most complete of his career.
Freshman CJ McGill continues to quietly emerge as a scoring threat. The young spark plug has always had the ability to get to the rim or distribute the basketball, but McGill continues to light it up when his number is called from behind the arc. His evolution will be monumental to Wharton's final few weeks of play.
Wharton pounced on the Patriots early, scoring the game's first seven points.
Jafar Mascoll started for the second consecutive game and continues to make his presences felt on the glass.
Both schools packed the house and the atmosphere was electric all night long. The Blue Crew represented like it was 2007. Mr. Rebenstorf, a teacher at Wharton, came dressed in black and sported a monster-like mask while holding a "R.I.P. Freedom" sign in the shape of a tombstone. Chanting all game long, practicing some of the traditional gestures and most importantly exciting the players, the Blue Crew were a sight to see... and hear.
Wharton improves to 22-1 and will hope to keep the train rolling next week when they return home for the first time in almost three weeks when they host the King Lions.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
The Wharton Wildcats cruised away from the Freedom Patriots early and never looked back. Juniors AJ Astroth and Xavier Owens both had big nights full of big plays. Astroth led all scorers with 20 points and Owens added 17. Owens' pair of dunks on the night brought the crowd to their feet.
It would be an injustice to label just one play or moment as the spark that ignited the Wharton attack. Senior Damian Dixon let his game speak all night. The aggressive shooting guard was all over the floor all night long. His ability to score is something he proves night after night but tonight Dixon racked up countless assists, steals and blocks. The performance was easily the most complete of his career.
Freshman CJ McGill continues to quietly emerge as a scoring threat. The young spark plug has always had the ability to get to the rim or distribute the basketball, but McGill continues to light it up when his number is called from behind the arc. His evolution will be monumental to Wharton's final few weeks of play.
Wharton pounced on the Patriots early, scoring the game's first seven points.
Jafar Mascoll started for the second consecutive game and continues to make his presences felt on the glass.
Both schools packed the house and the atmosphere was electric all night long. The Blue Crew represented like it was 2007. Mr. Rebenstorf, a teacher at Wharton, came dressed in black and sported a monster-like mask while holding a "R.I.P. Freedom" sign in the shape of a tombstone. Chanting all game long, practicing some of the traditional gestures and most importantly exciting the players, the Blue Crew were a sight to see... and hear.
Wharton improves to 22-1 and will hope to keep the train rolling next week when they return home for the first time in almost three weeks when they host the King Lions.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
'Cats-Pats: Rivals To Meet Tonight
The Wharton Wildcats will head down Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to face rival Freedom.Wharton has dominated the rivalry since the two started meeting when Freedom opened early in the 2000's. Freedom's lone victory in the serious was an overtime victory at Wharton High School in front of a rowdy crowd.
Because of the schools' proximity to one another, this game always brings a high-energy atmosphere to the table. Both crowds are loud, proud and rowdy. The Patriots have been having another sub-par season and will surely look to tonight's game as a revival tool. In other words, beating Wharton tonight would deem this season a success.
The 'Cat signal will be shining in the night's sky in hopes to draw the rowdy, rambunctious Blue Crew members that opposing teams have come to fear. Tip-off is set for 8pm after the Lady 'Cats and Lady 'Pats do battle.
Be there...
January 21, 2010
Wildcats Getting Ink
Below are two articles written by the Tampa Tribune's Prep Sports writer Nick Williams. Wharton has been turning heads all year long and has the county's complete attention with the district and state playoffs right around the corner. Both articles, in their entirety, are posted below.
By NICK WILLIAMS
nwilliams@tampatrib.com
Published: January 21, 2010
VALRICO - The Wharton boys basketball team narrowly escaped an upset with a 68-61 win against Bloomingdale on Wednesday, but still secured the top seed in Class 6A-District 8, ending the regular season with a 7-0 district record.
It marked the second time Wharton has gone undefeated in district play.
Juniors AJ Astroth and Xavier Owens led the Wildcats (21-1, 7-0) with 18 points apiece while Damian Dixon and CJ McGill each added 13 points.
Wharton led by as much as 22 points late in the third quarter until Bloomingdale (10-9, 3-3) outscored the Wildcats 30-16 to close within 67-59 with 1:16 remaining. Wharton led 33-17 at the half.
"I give (Bloomingdale) all the credit," Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli said. "They never stopped playing. They played harder, smarter and tougher. I give them all the credit for fighting back."
Senior guard Tim Coffey led the Bulls with 19 points while sophomore Ryan Bethoney had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
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Wharton captures top seedBy NICK WILLIAMS
nwilliams@tampatrib.com
Published: January 21, 2010
VALRICO - The Wharton boys basketball team narrowly escaped an upset with a 68-61 win against Bloomingdale on Wednesday, but still secured the top seed in Class 6A-District 8, ending the regular season with a 7-0 district record.
It marked the second time Wharton has gone undefeated in district play.
Juniors AJ Astroth and Xavier Owens led the Wildcats (21-1, 7-0) with 18 points apiece while Damian Dixon and CJ McGill each added 13 points.
Wharton led by as much as 22 points late in the third quarter until Bloomingdale (10-9, 3-3) outscored the Wildcats 30-16 to close within 67-59 with 1:16 remaining. Wharton led 33-17 at the half.
"I give (Bloomingdale) all the credit," Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli said. "They never stopped playing. They played harder, smarter and tougher. I give them all the credit for fighting back."
Senior guard Tim Coffey led the Bulls with 19 points while sophomore Ryan Bethoney had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
LINK TO ARTICLE
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Wharton dribbles back to top
By NICK WILLIAMS
nwilliams@tampatrib.com
Published: January 20, 2010
Updated: 01/20/2010 11:26 am
TAMPA - If someone had told Wharton boys varsity basketball coach Tommy Tonelli before the season his team would have the best record in Hillsborough County by January, he'd probably disagree.
Yet, his Wildcats entered the second half of the season 16-1 and won its first two games after the holiday break to emerge as Tampa's No. 1 team.
"What's special (about this team) is they find a way to get it done during the course of a game," Tonelli said. "It's not always a thing of beauty. It's not always a masterpiece. When the going gets tough, they claw their way back."
Considering the way the season started, Wharton's success can be seen as a miracle.
On Nov. 14, one of the players, junior Drake Williams, fell to the ground during a drill. Tonelli discovered Williams wasn't breathing and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ordered some players to look for school staff to help.
Fortunately, Tampa Fire Rescue paramedics were on campus and administered a defibrillator shock and CPR. Williams was taken to University Hospital, where doctors concluded he has a rare heart condition that causes "sudden cardiac death."
Weeks later in December, Wharton won the Berkeley Prep Invitational and the Alonso Holiday Tournament. The Wildcats faced some of the Bay area's top teams in the Berkeley Invitational, defeating two previously undefeated teams in St. Petersburg and Sickles to win the championship. Wharton defeated Countryside (Clearwater), one of the top teams in Pinellas County, in the Alonso Holiday Tournament championship, 62-57.
"They're a fun group to coach," Tonelli said. "They're a pretty cohesive group."
When the first state poll was released, Wharton debuted at No. 6 in Class 6A. The Wildcats, who finished 14-14 and missed the playoffs last season, have been led by a high-scoring trio, all of whom are averaging double digit points per game.
Senior guard Damian Dixon leads the team with 18.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Junior guard/forward AJ Astroth adds 15.7 points and 3.4 assists while junior forward Xavier Owens is averaging 14.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
"It's pretty exciting to have that record, but it didn't come easy," Dixon said. "We had to put in a lot of work. We have to stay humble."
"One game it may be Damian, or one game it might be Xavier or AJ," Tonelli said. "I don't know who teams concentrate on when they play us. If they try to close down our guards, it seems Xavier has the ability to get going."
The program has yet to reach the state tournament, but advanced to the elite eight round in 2007.
"We've shown we're a strong team," Dixon said.
"They have a team-oriented mind set," Tonelli said. "They know their roles."
Wharton dribbles back to top
By NICK WILLIAMS
nwilliams@tampatrib.com
Published: January 20, 2010
Updated: 01/20/2010 11:26 am
TAMPA - If someone had told Wharton boys varsity basketball coach Tommy Tonelli before the season his team would have the best record in Hillsborough County by January, he'd probably disagree.
Yet, his Wildcats entered the second half of the season 16-1 and won its first two games after the holiday break to emerge as Tampa's No. 1 team.
"What's special (about this team) is they find a way to get it done during the course of a game," Tonelli said. "It's not always a thing of beauty. It's not always a masterpiece. When the going gets tough, they claw their way back."
Considering the way the season started, Wharton's success can be seen as a miracle.
On Nov. 14, one of the players, junior Drake Williams, fell to the ground during a drill. Tonelli discovered Williams wasn't breathing and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ordered some players to look for school staff to help.
Fortunately, Tampa Fire Rescue paramedics were on campus and administered a defibrillator shock and CPR. Williams was taken to University Hospital, where doctors concluded he has a rare heart condition that causes "sudden cardiac death."
Weeks later in December, Wharton won the Berkeley Prep Invitational and the Alonso Holiday Tournament. The Wildcats faced some of the Bay area's top teams in the Berkeley Invitational, defeating two previously undefeated teams in St. Petersburg and Sickles to win the championship. Wharton defeated Countryside (Clearwater), one of the top teams in Pinellas County, in the Alonso Holiday Tournament championship, 62-57.
"They're a fun group to coach," Tonelli said. "They're a pretty cohesive group."
When the first state poll was released, Wharton debuted at No. 6 in Class 6A. The Wildcats, who finished 14-14 and missed the playoffs last season, have been led by a high-scoring trio, all of whom are averaging double digit points per game.
Senior guard Damian Dixon leads the team with 18.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Junior guard/forward AJ Astroth adds 15.7 points and 3.4 assists while junior forward Xavier Owens is averaging 14.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
"It's pretty exciting to have that record, but it didn't come easy," Dixon said. "We had to put in a lot of work. We have to stay humble."
"One game it may be Damian, or one game it might be Xavier or AJ," Tonelli said. "I don't know who teams concentrate on when they play us. If they try to close down our guards, it seems Xavier has the ability to get going."
The program has yet to reach the state tournament, but advanced to the elite eight round in 2007.
"We've shown we're a strong team," Dixon said.
"They have a team-oriented mind set," Tonelli said. "They know their roles."
January 20, 2010
Wharton 68, Bloomingdale 61
The Wharton Wildcats remain perfect in district play, top Bulls 68-61.
Junior AJ Astroth lead the way offensively for Wharton, scoring 19 points.
Wharton held Bloomingdale to just three points in the first period. The stout Wildcat defense caused turnover after turnover. A majority of Wharton's baskets were via easy looks generated by the steals.
Wharton frustrated the Bulls early and often.
Junior Jafar Mascoll started his first career game tonight. The junior made his presence known with a pair of rebounds and took a charge to help spark the early Wharton run.
Bloomingdale managed to put together a string of possession in the second to make the score
33-17 at halftime.
Junior Xavier Owens demonstrated his athletic ability early in the third when he put back a missed three-point attempt with a two handed jam that brought the bench to their feet.
Bloomingdale managed to trim the Wharton lead to 14 after back to back scores making the score 43-29. Wharton would score the next eight points to push the lead back to 21.
Freshman CJ McGill was the hot hand behind the arc, connecting with four 3-point shots. McGill finished with 13.
The Bulls finished the quarter on a 4-0 run after consecutive Wildcat turnovers to make it 54-37 at the end of the third quarter.
Bloomingdale continued to work the ball down low, managing a quick bucket and three pointer to kick off the fourth. The Wharton 21-point lead was down to just 12 with well over seven minutes left to play.
Bloomingdale would continue to threaten for the remainder of the game but could not cut the lead to single digits until there was 1:10 left to play. A pair of Bloomingdale free throws cut the deficit to eight.
Unable to force a turnover on the ensuing possession, the Bulls opted to intentionally foul. Bloomingdale would cut it to seven before the final buzzer.
Wharton improves to 21-1 and cemented the perfect district record of 8-0 with the win. Wharton will travel a couple miles down the Bruce B Downs to face rival Freedom Friday night.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
Junior AJ Astroth lead the way offensively for Wharton, scoring 19 points.
Wharton held Bloomingdale to just three points in the first period. The stout Wildcat defense caused turnover after turnover. A majority of Wharton's baskets were via easy looks generated by the steals.
Wharton frustrated the Bulls early and often.
Junior Jafar Mascoll started his first career game tonight. The junior made his presence known with a pair of rebounds and took a charge to help spark the early Wharton run.
Bloomingdale managed to put together a string of possession in the second to make the score
33-17 at halftime.
Junior Xavier Owens demonstrated his athletic ability early in the third when he put back a missed three-point attempt with a two handed jam that brought the bench to their feet.
Bloomingdale managed to trim the Wharton lead to 14 after back to back scores making the score 43-29. Wharton would score the next eight points to push the lead back to 21.
Freshman CJ McGill was the hot hand behind the arc, connecting with four 3-point shots. McGill finished with 13.
The Bulls finished the quarter on a 4-0 run after consecutive Wildcat turnovers to make it 54-37 at the end of the third quarter.
Bloomingdale continued to work the ball down low, managing a quick bucket and three pointer to kick off the fourth. The Wharton 21-point lead was down to just 12 with well over seven minutes left to play.
Bloomingdale would continue to threaten for the remainder of the game but could not cut the lead to single digits until there was 1:10 left to play. A pair of Bloomingdale free throws cut the deficit to eight.
Unable to force a turnover on the ensuing possession, the Bulls opted to intentionally foul. Bloomingdale would cut it to seven before the final buzzer.
Wharton improves to 21-1 and cemented the perfect district record of 8-0 with the win. Wharton will travel a couple miles down the Bruce B Downs to face rival Freedom Friday night.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
January 15, 2010
Wharton 75, Spoto 59
Wharton shows no sign of rust after week-long rest as they blow out Spoto 75-59.
AJ Astroth exploded with a game high 28 points and Xavier Owens added 21 in the effort.
The Wildcats exploded with 46 first half points and held Spoto to just 29. With a week's long rest during final week, Wharton was out to prove that rust wasn't an option.
Spoto came out fired up, throwing alley-oops in warm ups. From the opening tip, it was all Wharton. CJ McGill ignited the run with high energy defense and finished on his easy looks on the other end.
Wharton jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead and never looked back. Spoto threatened early in the fourth but never managed to close within striking distance. Spoto cut the lead to 8, but couldn't get any closer.
Wharton improves to 20-1 and will conclude district play at Bloomingdale next week.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
The Wildcats exploded with 46 first half points and held Spoto to just 29. With a week's long rest during final week, Wharton was out to prove that rust wasn't an option.
Spoto came out fired up, throwing alley-oops in warm ups. From the opening tip, it was all Wharton. CJ McGill ignited the run with high energy defense and finished on his easy looks on the other end.
Wharton jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead and never looked back. Spoto threatened early in the fourth but never managed to close within striking distance. Spoto cut the lead to 8, but couldn't get any closer.
Wharton improves to 20-1 and will conclude district play at Bloomingdale next week.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
Please Advise: Game Location Changed!
Tonight's contest between Wharton and Spoto will take place at Giunta Middle School. The game will NOT be held at Spoto High School. The address to the new location is below. Please advise the location change.
Giunta Middle School
4202 South Falkenburg Rd
Riverview FL 33569
1/2 mile north of SPOTO HS
January 8, 2010
Wharton 55, Alonso 41
Wharton clinched the top-seed in the district after a dominating performance against the Ravens, 55-41.
AJ Astroth, Damian Dixon and Xavier Owens lead the way as the Wildcats cemented the regular season district title. Although there is no playoff spot given to the regular season champion, the path to the district championship game will be a little easier for Wharton.
Wharton held Alonso to just two first quarter points and held the Ravens to just 11 in the first half.
Alonso was able to close some of the gap after coach Tommy Tonelli cleared the bench early in the fourth quarter.
Alonso's lone chance to get possibly get back into the game came after an Wildcat implosion of five consecutive turnovers during the middle of the third quarter.
Wharton improves to 19-1 (7-0). The Wildcats will have a week off before traveling to Spoto next Friday.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
AJ Astroth, Damian Dixon and Xavier Owens lead the way as the Wildcats cemented the regular season district title. Although there is no playoff spot given to the regular season champion, the path to the district championship game will be a little easier for Wharton.
Wharton held Alonso to just two first quarter points and held the Ravens to just 11 in the first half.
Alonso was able to close some of the gap after coach Tommy Tonelli cleared the bench early in the fourth quarter.
Alonso's lone chance to get possibly get back into the game came after an Wildcat implosion of five consecutive turnovers during the middle of the third quarter.
Wharton improves to 19-1 (7-0). The Wildcats will have a week off before traveling to Spoto next Friday.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
Four Game Road Trip Begins Tonight
The Wharton Wildcats will kick off a 4-game road stretch tonight when they travel to Alonso High School to take on the Ravens.
Sitting at 6-0 in district play, tonight will be a key game for tournament seeding. Wharton can clinch the first seed with a win.
Be safe in traveling to Alonso and see you there!
January 6, 2010
Wharton 57, Newsome 41
Wharton out scores Newsome 39-15 in the second half to surge past the Wolves 57-41.
Junior Xavier Owens scored 23 points and out muscled the Wolves front court during the second half run. Senior Damian Dixon dropped 16 in the effort.
Early in the game, Wharton struggled from the field and continued to rush shots early in possessions. Newsome was the aggressor and the scoreboard reflected such.
However, after the Wildcats re-took the court for the second half, the first half was nothing more than a bad memory.
Wharton out hustled, out played and simply overpowered the Wolves from the start of the third quarter until the final buzzer sounded.
The 8-point lead Newsome managed to accumulate at the end of the second quarter disappeared in a matter of minutes. Wharton jumped out to a quick 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 1 in less than two minutes. Tough defense forced turnovers and lead to easy buckets on the other end.
After a few lead changes, Wharton grabbed control of the game and Newsome never recovered. The frustration on the Newsome players' faces said it all.
Wharton improves to 18-1 and will be back in action this Friday night when they travel to Alonso High School to take on the Ravens.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
BRIGHTHOUSE NETWORK COVERAGE OF THE GAME:
SECOND CLIP IN THE VIDEO (CLICK HERE)
Junior Xavier Owens scored 23 points and out muscled the Wolves front court during the second half run. Senior Damian Dixon dropped 16 in the effort.
Early in the game, Wharton struggled from the field and continued to rush shots early in possessions. Newsome was the aggressor and the scoreboard reflected such.
However, after the Wildcats re-took the court for the second half, the first half was nothing more than a bad memory.
Wharton out hustled, out played and simply overpowered the Wolves from the start of the third quarter until the final buzzer sounded.
The 8-point lead Newsome managed to accumulate at the end of the second quarter disappeared in a matter of minutes. Wharton jumped out to a quick 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 1 in less than two minutes. Tough defense forced turnovers and lead to easy buckets on the other end.
After a few lead changes, Wharton grabbed control of the game and Newsome never recovered. The frustration on the Newsome players' faces said it all.
Wharton improves to 18-1 and will be back in action this Friday night when they travel to Alonso High School to take on the Ravens.
For the complete game log visit www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
BRIGHTHOUSE NETWORK COVERAGE OF THE GAME:
SECOND CLIP IN THE VIDEO (CLICK HERE)
January 5, 2010
Wharton 43, Plant 39
After back-to-back-to-back turnovers on fast breaks where Wharton held a number advantage but managed no points, senior Damian Dixon had seen enough.
With the game still in question early in the fourth quarter, Dixon burst down the middle of the court to disrupt a Plant pass off an inbound. Dixon deflected the ball up-court and finished the transition lay-up to give the Wildcats a demanding 38-31 lead with just under four minutes to play.
The senior lead the Wharton scorers with 19 points. Junior Xavier Owens struggled around the basket all night but managed to add 12 points of his own.
Junior AJ Astroth limped off the court late in the third quarter after a loose ball scuffle. Astroth seemed to be favoring his left ankle and did not return.
Wharton gained control of the sloppy game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Down two possessions with 20 seconds remaining, Frazier was fouled on a three-point shot attempt but could only find the basket on 2 of his 3 free throws. The Wharton lead remained at 4.
The ensuing inbound ended up in Panther hands by way of an errant Wharton pass, the Plant center was fouled on his shot attempt but couldn't sink either free throws.
Panther sophomore Michael Frazier led all scorers with 22 points.
Wharton improves to 17-1 and takes a commanding district lead with a record of 6-0. Tomorrow night the 15-game winning streak will be on the line when the Newsome Wolves travel to New Tampa. Newsome's last trip to Wharton was a nail-biting visit where the Wolves managed to escape with an overtime win.
Complete game log can be found at www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
With the game still in question early in the fourth quarter, Dixon burst down the middle of the court to disrupt a Plant pass off an inbound. Dixon deflected the ball up-court and finished the transition lay-up to give the Wildcats a demanding 38-31 lead with just under four minutes to play.
The senior lead the Wharton scorers with 19 points. Junior Xavier Owens struggled around the basket all night but managed to add 12 points of his own.
Junior AJ Astroth limped off the court late in the third quarter after a loose ball scuffle. Astroth seemed to be favoring his left ankle and did not return.
Wharton gained control of the sloppy game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Down two possessions with 20 seconds remaining, Frazier was fouled on a three-point shot attempt but could only find the basket on 2 of his 3 free throws. The Wharton lead remained at 4.
The ensuing inbound ended up in Panther hands by way of an errant Wharton pass, the Plant center was fouled on his shot attempt but couldn't sink either free throws.
Panther sophomore Michael Frazier led all scorers with 22 points.
Wharton improves to 17-1 and takes a commanding district lead with a record of 6-0. Tomorrow night the 15-game winning streak will be on the line when the Newsome Wolves travel to New Tampa. Newsome's last trip to Wharton was a nail-biting visit where the Wolves managed to escape with an overtime win.
Complete game log can be found at www.twitter.com/thebluecrew.
January 3, 2010
Mid-Season Report
The halfway point of the 2009-2010 campaign has arrived and here is the mid-season breakdown of the Wharton Wildcats basketball team...
What we know: The Wildcats own a remarkable 16-1 record and have yet to be defeated at home and in district play. The lone loss to Sickles was avenged when the rematch was held as the Berkley Prep Holiday Tournament championship game. Wharton is in the driver's seat in regards to district seeding and potential playoff positions.
What we don't know: Can the Wildcats continue to grow as a team and eliminate the slow starts that have almost doomed them in contests against lesser competition? Can Wharton continue to run the table in district play and secure the school's fourth district championship and return to the regional playoffs after the school's absence in the 2008 season?
Coaching: With Coach Tommy Tonelli back at the helm, coaching has never been a questionable trait. His coaching skills have been his calling card since the school opened 11 years ago. Most notably Coach T's ability to coach through adversity was demonstrated in Wharton's tremendous comeback against an uber-athletic Blake squad on the road. Facing a double digit deficit in the fourth quarter, Coach T continued to run his style of offense and defense despite the struggles his team had been experiencing in the first three quarters. Down the stretch, Blake's zone defense was no match for the play-calling and Wharton calmly cut down the Yellow Jacket's lead until overtaking in late in the fourth. Up 3-points with 16 seconds to play, Tonelli wisely used the fouls left to give to impede Blake's chances at any easy or open looks to tie the game. After consecutive fouls, Blake's best opportunity was a 30-foot desperation heave that failed to strike any part of the basket and Wharton's comeback was cemented.
Personnel: Wharton's ability to score points is something that can be easily proven by checking the box scores of their contests, but what makes them such a powerful offensive team is how well the players mesh with one another. Senior Damian Dixon has emerged as the team's leader. In times of need Dixon carries the team mentally. Whether it's scoring, passing or just leading by example, Dixon's ability to play is a strong reason why the Wildcats are 16-1. Junior AJ Astroth has quickly demonstrated his ability to score at will. His perimeter shooting has caught fire in recent weeks and he has always had a mid-range game second to none. When he uses his wherewithal and skills to attack the basket, he becomes the total offensive package and a nightmare for opponents. Junior forward Xavier Owens epiphany in understanding his athletic ability has evolved the big man into a rebound machine. X has already demonstrated his leaping abilities on fast break opportunities but his growing confidence and tenacity has been illustrated numerous times this season when he victimizes opponents with rim-rattling dunks and man-child rebounds.
Biggest surprise thus far: Freshman CJ McGill's success may be aided by a very talented and experienced trio of scorers, but the bottom line is that the frosh can play. The MVP of a preseason camp up in Ocala, FL has blossomed into a lightning-fast point guard that has torched opposing defenders to the rim for easy layups. More notably, McGill's confidence in attacking the basket fearlessly has proven the young man's ability to score and to lead despite what his graduation date may read.
Biggest disappointment thus far: Although they are slowly growing, the Blue Crew has only made a slim number of appearances through the halfway mark of the season. At times the Blue Crew has managed to frustrate opposing players and coaches into calling unwanted timeouts and rebuttals but if there is any hopes of returning to the riot-like atmosphere demonstrated during the 2007 season it has to occur soon. The Blue Crew will have two consecutive chances to kick off the new year when Plant and Newsome both travel to the jungle. Newsome and Wharton have an unsung rivalry generated through message board banter and maybe even a hint of jealousy in regards to the amount of local media coverage the Wildcats have generated with their immediate rise back to prominence.
Final thought: Local newspapers, national sports websites and opposing teams continue to respect Wharton's first-half run with coverage and well-earned rankings but this young team needs to realize that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Reading press clippings and complacency can ruin a team's opportunity to hang banners. The talent and coaching is in place to make a run for a district title. If the team continues to be aggressive and does the right things on and off the court anything is possible.
What we know: The Wildcats own a remarkable 16-1 record and have yet to be defeated at home and in district play. The lone loss to Sickles was avenged when the rematch was held as the Berkley Prep Holiday Tournament championship game. Wharton is in the driver's seat in regards to district seeding and potential playoff positions.
What we don't know: Can the Wildcats continue to grow as a team and eliminate the slow starts that have almost doomed them in contests against lesser competition? Can Wharton continue to run the table in district play and secure the school's fourth district championship and return to the regional playoffs after the school's absence in the 2008 season?
Coaching: With Coach Tommy Tonelli back at the helm, coaching has never been a questionable trait. His coaching skills have been his calling card since the school opened 11 years ago. Most notably Coach T's ability to coach through adversity was demonstrated in Wharton's tremendous comeback against an uber-athletic Blake squad on the road. Facing a double digit deficit in the fourth quarter, Coach T continued to run his style of offense and defense despite the struggles his team had been experiencing in the first three quarters. Down the stretch, Blake's zone defense was no match for the play-calling and Wharton calmly cut down the Yellow Jacket's lead until overtaking in late in the fourth. Up 3-points with 16 seconds to play, Tonelli wisely used the fouls left to give to impede Blake's chances at any easy or open looks to tie the game. After consecutive fouls, Blake's best opportunity was a 30-foot desperation heave that failed to strike any part of the basket and Wharton's comeback was cemented.
Personnel: Wharton's ability to score points is something that can be easily proven by checking the box scores of their contests, but what makes them such a powerful offensive team is how well the players mesh with one another. Senior Damian Dixon has emerged as the team's leader. In times of need Dixon carries the team mentally. Whether it's scoring, passing or just leading by example, Dixon's ability to play is a strong reason why the Wildcats are 16-1. Junior AJ Astroth has quickly demonstrated his ability to score at will. His perimeter shooting has caught fire in recent weeks and he has always had a mid-range game second to none. When he uses his wherewithal and skills to attack the basket, he becomes the total offensive package and a nightmare for opponents. Junior forward Xavier Owens epiphany in understanding his athletic ability has evolved the big man into a rebound machine. X has already demonstrated his leaping abilities on fast break opportunities but his growing confidence and tenacity has been illustrated numerous times this season when he victimizes opponents with rim-rattling dunks and man-child rebounds.
Biggest surprise thus far: Freshman CJ McGill's success may be aided by a very talented and experienced trio of scorers, but the bottom line is that the frosh can play. The MVP of a preseason camp up in Ocala, FL has blossomed into a lightning-fast point guard that has torched opposing defenders to the rim for easy layups. More notably, McGill's confidence in attacking the basket fearlessly has proven the young man's ability to score and to lead despite what his graduation date may read.
Biggest disappointment thus far: Although they are slowly growing, the Blue Crew has only made a slim number of appearances through the halfway mark of the season. At times the Blue Crew has managed to frustrate opposing players and coaches into calling unwanted timeouts and rebuttals but if there is any hopes of returning to the riot-like atmosphere demonstrated during the 2007 season it has to occur soon. The Blue Crew will have two consecutive chances to kick off the new year when Plant and Newsome both travel to the jungle. Newsome and Wharton have an unsung rivalry generated through message board banter and maybe even a hint of jealousy in regards to the amount of local media coverage the Wildcats have generated with their immediate rise back to prominence.
Final thought: Local newspapers, national sports websites and opposing teams continue to respect Wharton's first-half run with coverage and well-earned rankings but this young team needs to realize that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Reading press clippings and complacency can ruin a team's opportunity to hang banners. The talent and coaching is in place to make a run for a district title. If the team continues to be aggressive and does the right things on and off the court anything is possible.
January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
Another year is in the books and the Wharton Wildcats are off to their second best start in school history.
With only one loss to 16 wins, Wharton is primed for a strong January and is the heavy favorite for the 6A District 8 championship at this point in the season.
From TBC.net and the rest of the Wildcat Nation, have a safe and happy holiday season. May your time be spent with your loved ones and your families.
Wharton will kick off the new year this coming Tuesday when Michael Frazier and the Plant Panthers look to spoil the 'Cats first contest of 2010. After the district matchup with the Panthers, Wharton will play host to a Newsome Wolves team jostling for county-wide respect. The Wildcats will close the week with a journey to Alonso High School to take on the Ravens.
With only one loss to 16 wins, Wharton is primed for a strong January and is the heavy favorite for the 6A District 8 championship at this point in the season.
From TBC.net and the rest of the Wildcat Nation, have a safe and happy holiday season. May your time be spent with your loved ones and your families.
Wharton will kick off the new year this coming Tuesday when Michael Frazier and the Plant Panthers look to spoil the 'Cats first contest of 2010. After the district matchup with the Panthers, Wharton will play host to a Newsome Wolves team jostling for county-wide respect. The Wildcats will close the week with a journey to Alonso High School to take on the Ravens.
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