Clearwater High Boys Advance to 5A-11 Regional Final With Win Over East Lake

For part of Wednesday night’s regional semifinal game between Clearwater High and host East Lake, the outcome hung in the balance, with both teams trading baskets and neither club able to distance itself from the other.

And then the second quarter began.

Sparked by seniors Jon Hogan and Joey Nungester, Clearwater (20-7) used a 17-7 run in the second quarter to turn a tight game into 35-23 halftime lead, and the Tornadoes poured it on in the second half to advance to the district final game Friday night against Tarpon Springs.

“I thought we were very tentative coming out,” Clearwater coach Allen Carden said after the win. “I know we got to play much better on Friday than what we played tonight…or we’ll get beat.”

Following the break, things only got worse for East Lake (11-11). The Tornadoes worked the boards and pounded the ball inside, with Hogan (21pts, 11 rebs) and Nungester (19 pts, 6 rebs) doing most of the damage.

With the Eagles’ three point attack faltering, they didn’t have enough offense to counter the Tornadoes' physical play. Blake Grimm (14 pts) and Ricky Strawter (12 pts) led East Lake in scoring.

“We just pounded the glass hard both on offense and defense, and then we started taking the ball to the hole… every time we executed, we got inside and scored,” Carden said.

Clearwater led by 20 points after three quarters and at least that much for most of the fourth, prompting Carden to empty his bench to prepare for Friday’s match against the Spongers.

Tarpon beat Seminole, 66-40 in the early semifinal game. The Spongers and Tornadoes split the season series, with each team winning one game.

“If we come to play, we’ll beat them by 15,” Nungester said after the game.  “But if we’re not ready, it’ll be a good game.”