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Raiders Will Face Sharks In Tournament Opener

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

Updated: 02/04/2008 07:13 pm

PLANT CITY - A year has passed since perhaps the most frustrating defeat in Plant City boys basketball history. This week the Raiders can eliminate any stains of its memory.

The District 6A-8 tournament is Friday at Riverview High School, and Plant City was expected to have no trouble Tuesday against the host Sharks, who won four games this season, two of them coming against last-place East Bay.

An anticipated matchup with Sarasota Riverview would provide the Raiders with a landmark opportunity. A win would put Plant City into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

Sarasota Riverview was expected to have no trouble with East Bay in its Tuesday first-round match-up. The expected Plant City-Sarasota Riverview semifinal meeting should tip off at 8 p.m. Friday.

"I think our chances are good," Raiders head coach Dale Chambers said. "I think we can beat anyone, but then again we can be beaten too if we don't bring it each and every night."

Plant City split its games with Sarasota Riverview during the regular season, and the teams finished with district records of 8-4. The Rams won the tiebreaker for the second seed because of their better results against Durant, the fourth seed.

Last year, the Raiders had what might have been a slightly tougher opponent, again as the third seed taking on the No. 2. In that case, Sarasota sank two free throws with no time left in regulation, then beat the Raiders in overtime.

That prevented Plant City from making the playoffs; it was the first time the Raiders had won a district tournament contest in more than a decade.

But this year's experience-laden roster seems as though it has the makeup for a postseason push. It will be the last chance for standout senior guards Channing Woodall and Rod Henderson.

Forward Steve Hardnett is also a senior.

None of the Raiders has had the fortune of beating Lakeland the past two seasons, something they hope to have another chance to do. The Raiders would have to advance to the district title game to have the chance to meet the Dreadnaughts.

"I really do feel Lakeland can be beat, but we have to get there first," Chambers said.

Lakeland will play its semifinal at 8 p.m. Friday against the Durant-Sarasota winner.

Friday's winners will play at 7 p.m. Saturday for the district championship. The district winner gets to be at home in the regional quarterfinal, and the runner-up is probably facing a trip to either Sickles or St. Pete High.

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

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