Fort Myers vs Rutherford (Panama City)
Date: Friday, March 5, 2010, 2:30 PM
Location: The Lakeland Center (Get driving directions on right of this page)
Fort Myers Green Wave
- Record: 26-5 (District 4A-11 Champions, Region 3 Champions)
- Head Coach: Scott Guttery
- Rankings: #1 in SWFL by SWFL Hoops, #2 in 4A by Floridahoops.com, #1 in 4A by FSWA/FABC
- Key Players: G Evin Graham (6-foot-3, 170, Jr.); F Colin Henry (6-foot-4, 195, Sr.); G/F Matt Yance (6-foot-4, 185, Jr.); G Terran McClendon (6-foot, 165, Sr.); F/G Tyler Manning (6-foot-4, 170, Sr.)
- Regional Quarterfinals: Defeated Golden Gate at home 63-59
- Regional Semifinals: Defeated Naples at home 71-39
- Regional Finals: Defeated St Pete Lakewood on the road 79-65
Rutherford Rams
- Record: 21-9 (District 4A-2 Runner-Up, Region 1 Champions)
- Head Coach: Rhondie Ross
- Rankings: Unranked
- Key Players: G John Wade (16 ppg, 9 rpg); F Stefon Barfield (13 ppg, 12 rpg); G Kieran Williamson (8 ppg, 3 apg); G Malcolm Owens (10 ppg); G Donte Marriott; Deonte Williamson (7 ppg, 3 rpg)
- Regional Quarterfinals: Defeated Tampa Jesuit at home 51-29
- Regional Semifinals: Defeated Tampa Blake on the road 79-66
- Regional Finals: Defeated Creekside (St Johns) on the road 55-49
Preview:
- Fort Myers is where they wanted to be and where a few publications, including SWFL Hoops and Floridahoops.com, thought they would be from the beginning of this season, in the Final Four for the first time since 2003. As a team they put in countless hours this past offseason working out, playing tons of games, and totally dedicating themselves to getting to this point. However, their work is not done and their goals do not end with just making it to Lakeland. Being ranked in the tops of the 4A rankings pretty much all season long, and with the other top couple teams going down already, there are many who believe they have as good a shot as any to take home a state title, which would be the first for a Southwest Florida school since Sarasota Booker did it in 2006. Led by a very balanced attack all season long, the Green Wave have gotten steady statistical and non-statiscal contributions regularly from as many as 8 guys. Junior point guard and Division 1 level recruit, 6'3 Evin Graham, has led the team in scoring this year and came up huge in the Regional Final against Lakewood. Graham scored 25 points in the monumental win, albeit about as quietly as a guy can do so, to go along with 9 rebounds and 3 steals. 6'5 junior wing Matt Yance continued to be clutch as well, scoring 16 points, as they were just two of the 5 guys for the Wave to score in double figures. Seniors 6'4 WF Colin Henry (11 points, 11 rebounds), 6'7 F Josue Celestin (12 points), and 6'1 PG Terran "Buddy" McClendon (10 points) were all just as big in the win. McClendon, as he has done all season, guarded Lakewood's best perimeter scorer, LaDarius Barnes, and held the guard to just 10 points, including just 2 in the second half. Barnes had scored 39 points in the Regional Semifinal and so McClendon and his teammates ability to shut him down was possibly the biggest key to getting the win. As for Rutherford, this is just the second trip to Lakeland for Rutherford in school history, and the first since 1994. From what we gathered, the Rams will look to push the pace, have good depth, and will use a solid group of guards that all can knock down the occassional outside shot, but are led by John Wade. Wade was the leading scorer in all but one of the game stories we came across, including 18 points in the Regional Final win over Creekside, and is averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds per game on the season. Rutherford will also look to get solid contribution from forward Stefon Barfield, who is averaging 13 points and 12 rebounds per game this year. Barfield can face up and take his man on the drive but is also is big factor on the boards. He had 13 points in the Regional Final win over Creekside, and had team-high 13 points and 12 rebounds in the big Regional Semifinal upset win over Tallahassee Godby. Fort Myers may indeed be a slight favorite in this game according to a few sources, but with Rutherford's win over the Region 1 favorite, Godby, and the fact they've advanced to this point despite playing their last 5 games on the road, they are no doubt a team not to be taken lightly. No matter who the opponent at this point of the season, they got their for a reason and when it comes to the playoffs anything can happen. So if you can sneak away from work early on Friday to make the 2:30 pm tipoff time at the Lakeland Center, the trip is anywhere from 2-4 hours depending where you're coming from in SWFL and will be well worth the gas! Congratulations and good luck to all of the Fort Myers players, coaches, parents, and fans.
Prediction:
- Fort Myers (+3)
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