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Senior Gains Momentum

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: January 28, 2009

PLANT CITY - Getting a senior to change his game midseason was not the easiest thing, but it has been paying off for the Plant City High boys basketball team.

Kenny Adams has taken over a leadership role along with fellow senior Josh Thiebe, helping the Raiders to their improved play of late as the stretch run approaches.

Adams has gone from averaging fewer than 10 points per game to career nights where twice in a week he scored more than 20 points.

The key? Some friendly advice from the head coach.

"He's playing to his strength now," said Raiders coach Dale Chambers on Adams' new approach of driving to the basket. "He's been a player who wants to shoot threes all day. He tells me day in and day out, he can shoot it from outside. But these last three to four games, he has established himself. Good thing he's a highly coachable kid."

Adams hit for 24 points, his career best, in a 71-43 win over East Bay on Jan. 16. On Jan. 21, as Plant City was winning its third straight District 6A-8 game after an 0-6 league start, Adams scored 23 against Riverview.

The Raiders were 6-9 with the winning streak. Plant City, having already lost its two games with rival Durant, was set to take on the district's other frontrunner, Lakeland, for the first time Saturday. Those teams play again Thursday in Polk County.

"It's been a strange schedule for us. We're playing better," said Chambers, who compares his squad to the Durant club of last season, which came on strong late and was "one of those opponents no one wanted to play at the end of the season."

One key to success has been point guard. Chambers has tried several different players at the spot, and the latest to give it a shot, junior Alton Honors, has been handling the duties well.

"He's playing out of position but considering that, Alton's doing a good job," Chambers said. "As of late, we're trying to play faster, but our offense has to play better if we want to win consistently. We're more of a half-court team this year, though we try to play up-tempo, it's probably not our strength."

Thiebe missed three games this year, and his continued return to health should help.

Durant suffered its first district defeat Thursday, 68-58, against ninth-ranked Lakeland.

The Cougars have a pair of big games this week and need to win at least one to maintain a shot at claiming the top seed for the district tournament. On Tuesday, Durant faced Lakeland again, and this Thursday they wrap up district play at Sarasota Riverview.

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