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I'm Blessed, Raiders' Hoops Coach Says

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/26/2007 06:16 pm

PLANT CITY - Coming from the basketball hotbed area of Washington, Dale Chambers wasn't sure what to expect when he took over the Plant City High Raiders hoops coaching job.

A few days, and then games with his new team was all it took to make Chambers rest easy.

"I am truly blessed," Chambers said. "With the team and with the town. Besides the talent of these kids, they are easy to coach."

Chambers took over for Gary Meyer, who resigned after three years. He had engineered the program's turnaround. Meyer's longtime assistant, Dave Robbins, is coaching with Chambers.

Four starters return from last year's team, the one that came seconds away from the school's first playoff berth in 14 years.

Talented shooters Rod Henderson and Channing Woodall are back at guard and the other 2006-07 starters, Denzel Drone and Steve Hardnett, are skilled players inside.

Woodall poured in 25 points and Hardnett had 22 in Plant City's season opener, a 69-67 win over Armwood.

"Even the seniors, really they're like freshmen because they've had to learn a new system, new terminology. But for them, it's just been some minor adjustments here and there," Chambers said.

Before the regular season, Chambers showed some impressive pull. He got the Raiders into a preseason tournament at Boca Raton High, where the Raiders lost both games but were competitive against state-ranked Grandview Prep and then against the hosts.

Boca Raton played nationally-ranked Miami Pace to an overtime loss, then the next night against Plant City led by six points through three quarters. Boca then turned it on in the fourth, outscoring Plant City 28-4.

"It was a great atmosphere, and being in that kind of atmosphere is what I'm used to," he said.

Chambers said he has been overwhelmed with the reaction he has received from the community. He organized a movie night and 51 people came out to meet him.

Plant City will host East Bay High in a district game Thursday. Plant City goes to Newsome High on Friday and Riverview High on Monday.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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