SWFL 2008-09 FINAL TEAM RANKINGS
End of Season - (as of 3/12/2009)
 
Well, the 2008-09 season has come to an end but we think it was definitely on a good note.  The Southwest Florida area was well represented in five of the six division in the state with a Regional Finalists in 1A-5A, with the only one missing being class 6A where there were only two local teams within the class, somewhat lowering the odds a bit!  We also had two local teams, Bradenton Christian and Bishop Verot, reach the state Final Four in their respective classifications.  The toughest part for us in putting together our end of the season team rankings was the parity that existed in SWFL basketball throughout the season.  As soon as you get high on a team, they lose. And as soon as you think a team is falling aside, they win a big one or a couple good games in a row.  Well, the final rankings are evident of that for sure, as there are as many as 5 teams that may have a legitimate argument to be the #1 team for this past season.  Let's run down their arguments for the fun of it.  Venice could argue that they have the most wins and least amount of losses of any area team, they faced the toughest opponent in the Regional Final of any other local team to make the Elite 8 in Clearwater who was 5A's #1 team and reached the state final eventually, and they boast a win over #5 Sarasota Christian.  Riverview can argue that they held the SWFL Hoops' #1 spot for the longest period of time this season of any team, they play in the largest classification and still got 23 wins, and were eliminated by a team with the 3rd best player in the country as well as a potential future division 1 point guard.  Bradenton Christian would argue that they were one of only two local teams to reach the state Final Four, they beat #5 Sarasota Christian in the Regional Semifinal on the road, have the second highest win total of any local team, and that they defeated all of the local bigger schools they faced this season including Manatee, Palmetto, and Charlotte, which actually beat Venice once.  Bishop Verot has a valid argument as well despite having the most losses of the 5 in question.  Verot can argue they reached the state Final Four, they beat 3A Regional Finalist Williston, only lost by 3 to eventual Class 6A state champion Coral Reef, and were minutes away from beating another 6A state semifinalist in Winter Park.  Sarasota Christian is last to get in on the debate but have just as good of a case.  The Blazers would argue that they beat Bradenton Christian 2 of 4 times, beat Venice once on a neutral court, and defeated a solid North Port team on the road, albeit with an injured Shaun Noriega.  So you see our dilemma?  So without further bantering....the #1 spot goes to...(insert sounds of drum roll here).... the Venice Indians.  Of all of the teams we saw this season, contrary to how popular their slow down style may be to some racing fans, they may have the most complete team of any.  They were able to hold a Clearwater team to only 47 points when they were putting up well over 70 coming in.  They showed that when needed they could score, notching 13 games with more than 60 points and 5 games with more than 70.  They won games with discipline, patience, and by making free throws in the fourth quarter better than any team in the area.  However, like we pointed out, with the top 5 teams there could be should shuffling around up or down and maybe we could have even had a five way tie for #1!  But that would have been the cowardly way to do it so agree with us or not, here are SWFL Hoops' 2008-09 Final Team Rankings. Enjoy!

Read more info below on all the teams and feel free to give us your take and/or version of the rankings on our Message board.  Thank you to all the schools, coaches, and players for a tremendous and exciting season!  Without the time, dedication, effort, and focus all of the players and coaches have put in we would have nothing interesting to talk about or report so keep it up and good luck this offseason and during the 2009-10 season!

1) Venice Indians
  • Record: 27-4 (District 5A-12 Champions, 5A Region 3 Finalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #2
  • Head Coach: Steve Cavallaro
  • Key Players: G/F Trey Burton (6-foot-3, 220, Jr.); G Justin Grant (6-foot-1, 185, Jr.); G Kyle Jutras (5-foot-10, 175, Sr.);
  • Recent Games: Clearwater 47, Venice 35 (5A-Region 3 Final); Venice 35, Boca Ciega 33 (5A-Region 3 Semifinal); Venice 57, Lakewood 40 (5A-Region 3 Quarterfinal); Venice 43, North Port 39 (District 5A-12 Championship); Venice 57, Charlotte 48 (District 5A-12 Semifinal); Venice 63, Bayshore 23 (District 5A-12 Quarterfinal); Venice 50, Sarasota Christian 37 (Suncoast Cup Champ.); Sarasota Christian 50, Venice 45 (Suncoast Cup Pool Play)
  • Notes: The Indians already had locked up the best season in school history before the Regional playoffs started having won the most games ever and winning the first district title in 36 years.  However, they went on to thrill their supporters even more with a convincing Regional Quarterfinal victory over perennial state powerhouse St. Pete Lakewood 57-40.  Venice then used a last second buzzer beating jumper by senior guard Kyle Jutras to get past district 5A-11 Champion Boca Ciega and advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.  In the Regional Final however the journey would end at the hands of 5A's top ranked team but not without a fight.  The Indians were down by only 1 as late as the fourth quarter before falling 47-35 on the road.  Although their style is meant to get a total team effort, they were led by juniors Justin Grant, who led the team in scoring, and Trey Burton.  They also got some big performances from Jutras and sophomore Clay Burton.  Venice only graduates two players from this year's team, Jutras and fellow senior Anthoncy Hackett, but will also lose junior Trey Burton for next season as he will graduate early, in December, so that he can join the University of Florida football earlier and get a head start on learning the ropes as the "future face of Florida football" as Gator head coach was rumored to have called him in the past.  Burton is one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Florida, and potentially the nation in the class of 2010. 
2) Sarasota Riverview Rams
  • Record: 23-6 (District 6A-8 Runner-Up)
  • Previous Ranking: #1
  • Head Coach: James Ward
  • Key Players: G Derek Robbins (6-foot-2, 185, Sr.); F Matt Conway (6-foot-6, 200, Sr.); G John Bowers (5-foot-11, 175, Sr.); G Mike Peipert ( 5-foot-10, 180, Sr.); F Kyle Kragel (6-foot-5, 195, Jr.); F Austin Baker (6-foot-7, 195, Sr.)
  • Recent Games: Tampa Sickles 66, Riverview 40 (6A-Region 2 Quarterfinal); Lakeland 60, Riverview 44 (District 6A-8 Championship); Riverview 69, Tampa Durant 53 (District 6A-8 Semifinal); Riverview 78, East Bay 55 (District 6A-8 Quarterfinal); Feb.6 - Riverview 55, Booker 38; Feb. 4 - Riverview 73, Southeast 32; Feb. 2 - Riverview 55, Palmetto 39
  • Notes: Riverview went into the season with high hopes and high expectations having a solid nucleus of seniors returning as well as welcoming incoming transfer, 6'7 senior forward Matt Conway.  They were upset last year in the district tournament despite having the #2 seed, and were out to avenge that early exit with a good run in 2008-09.  They were one the two most consistent teams in all of Southwest Florida this season holding the SWFL Hoops' #1 ranking for the longest period of time, which is a compliment to the senior leadership they had.  However, entering the district tournament this year as the #3 seed they knew an early exit again would make it all for not.  They matched up with Tampa Durant in the semifinal round, and going in Durant had won both meetings during the regular season.  The Rams though played what coach Ward referred to as probably the team's best all-around game of the year and they advanced to the district final to face #1 seed Lakeland with a 69-53 win.  In the final, as good as they had been in the previous game, they were just about as off in this one.  The duo of Richie Edwards and Quentin Everett were just too much for Riverview and they settled for Runner-up with a 60-44 loss.  The Regional playoffs though was the next step and their next opponent, Tampa Sickles, boasted the 3rd best player in the country in senior John Henson (headed to North Carolia).  Well, Henson and Sickles was just too much for the Rams and they lost a tough one 66-40 in the last game for 9 Riverview seniors.  They were led all year by Conway, and fellow seniors Derek Robbins and John Bowers, who were the team's first, second, and third leading scorers respectively.  A couple other key guys worth pointing out for the deep team is seniors Mike Peipert and Austin Baker, as well as junior forward Kyle Kragel.  Baker and Peipert weren't necessarily guys who were putting up big stats but they just did their jobs very well.  Kragel was a guy that wasn't counted on very much this season to score or even be a big time rebounder, but with the lost of Conway and Baker he will need to step up big going into his senior year.  He has a ton of upside and should step into the role of leader very well.
3) Bradenton Christian School Panthers
  • Record: 25-6 (District 1A-12 Runner-Up, 1A Region 3 Champions, Class 1A State Semifinalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #5
  • Head Coach: David Magley Sr.
  • Key Players: G Jordan Negrin (5-foot-8, 155, Jr.); F Michael Frey  (6-foot-4, 185, Jr.); F Spence Purnell (6-foot-3, 200, Sr.); G JoJo Wood (5-foot-9, 170, Sr.); G Jonothan Negrin (5-foot-6, 145, Jr.); G Daniel Magley (6-foot-2, 170, Soph)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: The Panthers may not take our final #1 spot but they definitely take the spot as the team that was most fun to watch.  It's a promise that if you go to a Bradenton Christian game and turn away for a second or two to tell a friend something, you may have just missed the Panthers scoring a few baskets.  They are almost always undersized, and outmatched in terms of what most people consider athleticism, but what they lack there they make for with speed, effort, and high basketball IQ's.  This year they made their second straight trip the class 1A final four and fourth in six years but were again denied access to the championship game, losing a tough one 71-63 to Grandview Prep who was making their 3rd straight final four appearance.  In a season that saw their district rival Sarasota Christian give a lot more resistance than usual, coach Magley made sure to keep as tough a schedule as possible playing all of the larger Bradenton area schools, winning all of them, and by adding teams such as Charlotte to the intinerary, which they won that game as well.  They're five of the six losses came to teams ranked no lower than 4th in their respective classes including a loss to class 5A #1 Clearwater in a game in which they actually outscored the Tornadoes 18-5 in the first quarter before junior forward Michael Frey went down with an injury and Clearwater's size was then just too much to handle. The Panthers went about 6 deep in their rotation consistently all year and each guy that saw major minutes contributed equally.  Actually, they had an unheard of 5 guys averaging double figures, all between 10 and 13 points a game, while junior guard Jon Negrin almost made it 6 guys averaging just under 10 a game.  BCS loses only two seniors to graduation but they will be big losses with JoJo Wood and Spence Purnell being two of those top 5 scorers, and Purnell the team's second leading rebounder.  Purnell has accepted an invited walk-on spot with Stetson Unversity's basketball team for next year.  BCS returns Frey, Jon Negrin, junior Jordan Negrin, and sophomore Daniel Magley and that should allow them to remain on the winning path but they will need one of their underclassmen big guys who didn't see a ton of time this year to step up if they're going to make it back to Lakeland in 2009-10
4) Sarasota Christian
  • Record: 22-6 (District 1A-12 Champions, 1A Region 3 Semifinalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #2
  • Head Coach: Phil Helmuth
  • Key Players: F Mark DuBois (6-foot-6, 200, Sr); G Andre Helmuth (5-foot-11, 180, Sr.); G Chase Miller (6-foot, 175, Jr); F Tate Anderson (6-foot-5, 185, Jr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: The Blazers started the season with high expectations but not many people outside of their fan base and a few sportswriters really knew much about them.  However, when you can put 6'6, 6'6, and 6'5 on the floor together with solid guards, well, you got a good shot at being pretty good.  Their best player, 6'6 Mark DuBois, carried them through many games with his scoring and rebounding ability.  But DuBois was not all they had.  Senior guard Andre Helmuth and junior guard Chase Miller both had their share of outbursts, including Helmuth's 30 point, 7 made three pointer effort in one game this year.  Sarasota Christian got over the hump finally this year as well, defeating district rival Bradenton Christian for the first time in a number of years, while also picking up wins versus top 5A teams Venice and North Port, and a inconsistent but talented Lakewood Ranch team.  However, in the end they were unable to get the most important win over Bradenton Christian.  The last one.  In Regional Semifinal, and their fourth match-up of the season the Blazers fell short of most likely reaching the first Final Four in school history with the eventual Regional Final opponent not usually being much of a threat to the winner of the BCS vs SCS game.  BC road the coat tails of junior Michael Frey's fourth quarter performance and SCS got into early and often foul trouble which wound up being the decidind factor as they could not apply the pressure defensively in the fourth needed to stop Frey.  The Blazers lose nearly 10 seniors to graduation including DuBois, Tate Anderson, and Helmuth but will return Miller and junior forward Trevor Talkie.  Don't expect them to be world beaters next season but under coach Phil Helmuth they should be just fine. 
5) Bishop Verot Vikings (Fort Myers)
  • Record: 23-9 (District 3A-12 Champions, 3A Region 3 Champions, Class 3A State Semifinalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #6
  • Head Coach: Matt Herting
  • Key Players: G Brennen Melvin (6-foot-4, 195, Sr.); F Etienne Effenberg (6-foot-6, 215, Sr.); G Jacquard Hagan (5-foot-11, 165, Jr.); PG Bobby Thomas (5-foot-11, 160, Jr.); G/F Abner Sandoval (6-foot-3, 175, Jr.); G Nate Howard (6-foot-4, 175, Soph.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Bishop Verot was one of the most highly regarded SWFL teams a season ago with 2 division 1 signees and tons of height, but got ousted early in the state tournament anyway.  Fast forward to this season and they go in not as highly regarded, a lot smaller, and only have 1 player who could possibly go division 1 but its still up in the air, however, they proceed to play world beaters as a cohesive group and reach the Class 3A Final Four for the first time in school history.  Who would have thunk it right?  Well, they did what they always do and played a tough regular season schedule with some success such as a win over 3A Regional Finalist Williston, a close loss to eventual 6A State Champ Coral Reef, and were a few minutes from pulling out a win against another 6A Final Four team in Winter Park.  In the Final Four though the Vikings ran into arguably the best player in the state regardless of class and #2 rated junior in the country, Brandon Knight, and him and his teammates took Verot apart after a strong first quarter.  Seniors Brennen Melvin, Etienne Effenberg, and Jesse Kane played solid all year with Effenberg averaging around 20 per game and Melvin averaging 16 points, almost 10 rebounds, and nearly 5 assists per contest as well.  Kane had his biggest contribution when he knocked down two HUGE free throws to seal the Regional Semifinal win over a very good Berkeley Prep team who was ranked #4 in the state.  Junior guards Jacquard Hagan and Bobby Thomas both played tough all year giving the Vikings speed, quickness, and solid shooting from the perimeter.  With the loss now of the three big seniors, Verot will look to Hagan and Thomas as well as junior Abner Sandoval and sophomore Nate Howard to step into big roles next year.  No one should put any pressure on them to make a repeat trip to Lakeland, but with some changes to their style of play by coach Herting and improvement in the offseason by the underclassmen, look for them to still be very competitive next season and possibly very fun to watch.  They will have to have a more uptempo style of play without much size so the old slow it down and throw it in offense with Effenberg will probably get tossed or given a shot of adrenaline in 2009-10. 
6) Fort Myers Green Wave
  • Record: 20-9 (District 5A-15 Champions)
  • Previous Ranking: #4
  • Head Coach: Scott Guttery
  • Key Players: G Evin Graham (6-foot-2, 155, Soph.); F Colin Henry (6-foot-4, 195, Jr.); G/F Matt Yance (6-foot-4, 185, Soph.); G Terran McClendon (6-foot, 165, Jr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
7) Community School of Naples Seahawks
  • Record: 23-5 (District 2A-12 Champions, 2A Region 3 Finalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #10
  • Head Coach: Greg Donahue
  • Key Players: G Mitch Woods (6-foot-4, 190, Jr.); G Kent Coyne (6-foot-4, 180, Soph.); G/F Max McCabe (6-foot-5, 160, Sr.); F Danny Fleming (6-foot-5, 200, Jr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
8) Barron Collier Cougars (Naples)
  • Record: 18-9 (District 5A-15 Semifinalists)
  • Previous Ranking: #9
  • Head Coach: Carlos Clark
  • Key Players: F Jason Humphrey (6-foot-5, 190, Sr.); G Brian Landers (6-foot-2, 175, Sr.); PG Jesus Gonzalez (5-foot-10, 165, Sr.); G Deion Clark (6-foot-1, 160, Frosh); G David Phillips (6-foot-1, 175, Soph.); G Diego Sanchez (5-foot-9, Jr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
9) Lely Trojans (Naples)
  • Record: 19-8 (District 4A-12 Champions, 4A Region 3 Finalists)
  • Previous Ranking: NR
  • Head Coach: Don Stewart
  • Key Players: F Parker Ayers (6-foot-6, Sr.); G Zach Hornsby (6-foot-4, 160, Jr.); G Christian Tateo (5-foot-10, Jr.); F Darren Heatherly (6-foot-2, Sr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
10) Ida Baker Bulldogs (Cape Coral)
  • Record: 18-11 (District 5A-15 Runner-Up)
  • Previous Ranking: #11
  • Head Coach: Greg Coleman, Jr.
  • Key Players: F John Skinner (6-foot-5, 200, Sr.); F Zach Campbell (6-foot-6, 185, Sr.); PG Xavier Battle (5-foot-11, 160, Sr.); G Gabe Rodriguez (5-foot-10, 150, Sr.); G Ron Ward (5-foot-11, 180, Sr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
11) Dunbar Tigers (Fort Myers)
  • Record: 14-11 (District 3A-12 Runner-Up)
  • Previous Ranking: #7
  • Head Coach: Andre McGill
  • Key Players: WF David Paulk (6-foot-5, 200, Jr.); G Darius Perkins (6-foot-2 1/2, 180, Soph.); G/F Melvin German (6-foot-4, 190, Sr.); F/C John Florveus (6-foot-10, 210, Sr.); G Joel German (5-foot-11, 175, Jr.); G Troy Simmons (6-foot, 175, Jr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!
12) Lehigh Lightning
  • Record: 19-6
  • Previous Ranking: #8
  • Head Coach: Mark Morehead
  • Key Players: F Leon Davis (6-foot-4, 180, Sr.); G Jamaris Brown (5-foot-7, Soph.); G Kendris Mathews (5-foot-11, Sr.); G Sharod Morse (5-foot-11, Sr.)
  • Recent Games:
  • Notes: Coming Soon!

Others of Note: North Port (15-13), Cape Coral (17-8), Braden River (16-8), Golden Gate (14-14), Charlotte (13-13), Manatee (16-10), Lemon Bay (16-11), Palmetto Ridge (13-13), Seacrest Country Day (14-11)
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RANKINGS BY CLASS
Class of 2009 Top 10
1. Shaun Noriega, 6'4", SG, North Port
2. Joel Vander Pol, 6'11", PF, Evan. Christian
3. Brennen Melvin, 6'4", SG, Bishop Verot
4. Matt Conway, 6'7", SF, Sarasota Riverview
5. Mark DuBois, 6'6", F, Sarasota Christian
6. John Skinner, 6'4", SF, Ida Baker
7. Brian Landers, 6'2", SG, Barron Collier
8. Etienne Effenberg, 6'6", PF, Bishop Verot
9. Anthony Ruth, 6'4", G, Desoto
10. Jason Humphrey, 6'5", F, Barron Collier

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Who Should Be #1?
Venice
Riverview
Bradenton Christian
Bishop Verot
Sarasota Christian