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St. Petersburg boys basketball team bids to return to state semifinals

 
Coach Chris Blackwell put together a challenging schedule.
Coach Chris Blackwell put together a challenging schedule.
Published Jan. 28, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG

After making a surprise run to the state semifinals last season, St. Petersburg High's boys basketball team was poised to make a return trip, possibly even win a title. That optimism stemmed from a young roster that was bringing back every starter.

At least, that is what the players and coaches thought.

In the offseason, the Green Devils lost some significant pieces to that championship puzzle with Pro Wells transferring to Dixie Hollins and David Pierce going to Gibbs.

But the defection of a few players can only mean one thing: the continuation of a dynasty at St. Petersburg, where the names change but everything else remains the same.

So far, the Green Devils have stayed on top in the county with a 16-6 record entering the week. They have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Class 7A, District 10 tournament, which starts next week.

"Not to sound too overconfident, but I thought we would be in this position even with the loss of those players," St. Petersburg coach Chris Blackwell said.

Blackwell has experience compensating for players who leave. Last season, the Green Devils lost two key starters to transfers and had two others who are now playing in college.

St. Petersburg and its young lineup grew up through the playoffs, beating Newsome, Wharton and Oak Ridge — all ranked teams — to advance to its fourth straight region final and make the state semifinals for the second time in the past four seasons.

This season, the Green Devils have relied on Darius Banks and Serrel Smith for the bulk of their scoring.

Banks, a junior and four-star recruit, leads the team with an average of 21 points per game.

Smith, a sophomore, is averaging 16 points per game. He also directs a high-flying offense as a point guard, a position where he has made tremendous strides since taking it over as a freshman last year from Dayon Griffin, now a starter at Louisiana Tech.

"I think I've gotten a lot better," Smith said. "I'm helping to contribute more to the team, score when we need a bucket, make big plays when we need it and help deliver the message out coach sends from the bench onto the floor."

St. Petersburg also benefited from some reinforcements. AJ Ford transferred from Gibbs and has teamed with Glenn Miller to give the Green Devils an imposing frontcourt. Antowine Reid, a senior, has been the team's best player off the bench.

"Antowine has played well enough to earn a scholarship," Blackwell said.

About the only thing Blackwell could not have foreseen is a number of injuries. Ford missed the first month of the season. Travis Bianco, a senior who recently committed to Eckerd College, has been bothered by a groin injury. Ford already has returned to the lineup, and Blackwell said Bianco will be ready for the district tournament.

Because of the talent still on the roster, Blackwell put together a challenging schedule. St. Petersburg played in a national tournament in California that was sponsored by MaxPreps, as well as other tournaments across the state.

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All of the Green Devils' losses have come against nonarea teams.

"(The schedule) brought us close together not just physically but mentally as well," Banks said. "We had to put in our head that we had to grind each play and dig down deep whether it's to get a few rebounds or stopping your man for a few moments."

The payoff, the team hopes, will come with another trip to the state final four.

"We are very motivated, but we learned from last year to take it one game at a time," Banks said. "I think last year we got all the jitters out. I think just making it there was a big step for all of us. But we are very determined to get back, but most importantly, winning it all."

Contact Bob Putnam at bputnam@tampabay.com. Follow @BobbyHomeTeam.