Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
TAMPA — Chamberlain coach Christopher Snyder won't have to say much to get his team up for Sickles on Friday in the Class 5A, District 9 championship.
If top-seeded Chamberlain's tougher-than-expected 71-59 victory against King on Wednesday doesn't get the Chiefs' attention, Snyder can point out what happened 28 days ago. Chamberlain shot 18 percent in a 26-point loss to Sickles, five-time defending district champion.
"It's going to be a battle," Snyder said. "… We're going to have to be a little more disciplined (than Wednesday)."
Second-seeded Sickles (22-5) advanced easily against Freedom (10-12), using runs of 18-2 and 22-0 for a 72-32 victory.
Chamberlain (21-2) trailed King (10-11) by nine in the second quarter, but the Chiefs tightened their defense. The Lions, who made 10 of their first 22 field-goal attempts, missed 27 of their next 28 shots over the next 14 minutes. Chamberlain, led by Eric Storts' 22 points, rushed to a 21-point lead. A late 3-point shooting display by King's Reshard Brown (32 points) made the final score respectable.
David Cook added 15 points, Reggie Hart 12 and Roderick Hart 10 for Chamberlain.
Sickles shot 54 percent and forced 23 turnovers. Rashawn Rembert led the Gryphons with 27 points. Tim O'Malley added 13 and Daniel Harris 11.