Upset Loss to Pinellas Park Proves Northeast Boy Hoops Squad Has Work Ahead

Football has a famous cliché about "any given Sunday," meaning there really isn't such a thing as an upset each week.

Dave Redding would like to apply that to basketball as well.

The Northeast boys basketball coach believes that in the district the Vikings play in, that any team can beat a district foe, and that it's not surprising if a home loss should happen.

That took place this week when Pinellas Park, a team Northeast handled somewhat easily on the road earlier this season, returned the favor by beating Northeast on the Vikings home court, 60-56.

"Bad luck, bad timing, they finished the deal and we didn't," Redding said of the loss. “In our district, all five teams can beat each other any given night."

Redding was right. The Vikings led most of the game until the time when Northeast needed control of the game the most: the final moments.

"I thought for 28 minutes we played real well," Redding said. "I was happy until the last three or four minutes."

It seemed Pinellas Park's defense finally wore down Northeast. Pinellas Park used a zone defense for most of the game. It prevented the Vikings, who were holding the lead, from running away with the game.

In the fourth quarter, Pinellas Park coach Jon Cabino switched to a man-to-man defense and it seemed to throw the Vikings into confusion, which allowed Pinellas Park to get a few late turnovers and convert the turnovers into points.

“Their defense came out to play in the fourth quarter and we just didn’t finish the game,” Redding said.

Redding wasn't all doom and gloom though. While naturally disappointed with the loss, Redding was convinced just a few easy adjustments can be made in order for the Vikings to return to their winning ways.

"We have not, as a team, made free throws over the last several games," Redding said. "That has hurt us. That started against [Boca Ciega] and it hurt us tonight."