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Boys basketball: Tampa Catholic 90, LaBelle 61

 
Published Feb. 17, 2016

TAMPA — Tampa Catholic's high-flying act continued tearing through the region playoffs Tuesday night, leaving visiting LaBelle looking a bit stunned.

Final score of the Class 4A region semifinal: Tampa Catholic 90, LaBelle 61.

As in last week's region quarterfinal, which TC won 87-30 against Fort Myers Bishop Verot, the Crusaders got off to a quick start on Tuesday — particularly forward Kevin Knox, who scored the game's first 12 points.

After the first quarter, TC led 26-6 and at the half the lead was 45-22. It wasn't quite as devastating as the 24-0 lead the Crusaders' put up against Bishop Verot … but still.

"I never thought we would have won these games by this much," Tampa Catholic coach Don Dziagwa said. "I'm pleased, but the truth is, I do think we can play better. That's what I told the guys after tonight's game."

Dziagwa said he believed the Crusaders (25-4) looked pretty sharp in the opening minutes, but once they got a big early lead complacency may have crept in.

"I think that's human nature," Dziagwa said. "Moving forward we need to keep up that intensity."

TC moves on to host Saturday's game against West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy, which defeated Cardinal Newmann 57-46.

On paper it appears Oxbridge, which doesn't have a player taller than 6-foot-4, might have some matchup issues with TC's taller lineup, especially the 6-foot-8 Knox, who finished with a game-high 37 points against LaBelle.

TC also features 6-foot-5 Thomas Dziagwa, who chipped in 25 with seven 3-pointers, and 6-foot-5 forward Jessy St. Marc, who had 15 rebounds against LaBelle.