Schools
Vikings Riding High From Major Upset of Boca Ciega
After pulling off the upset of the season, the Northeast High School boys basketball team hopes to extend its good luck, as region play begins today.
The earth is still rattling on the campus at Northeast High School. It is not from some failed chemistry experiment, but a surprise win by the boys basketball team.
By knocking off state title contender Boca Ciega in the district semifinals, it is Northeast that is still playing and Boca Ciega, which had its sights set on Lakeland and the state tournament, watching games.
"It could have been the biggest upset," Northeast coach Dave Redding said, not quite ready to give the win such a title.
"It was major... major!" Northeast forward Andres Sanchez said. "It was the biggest win of my career.
"So far."
The upset was last week and Redding is hoping his team still isn't on a high from it. The Vikings shouldn't be. They lost to Gibbs in the district title the following evening when Sanchez, the Vikings' star, started off missing his first 11 shots.
"He's never done that before," Redding said.
Northeast will play at Clearwater Thursday night. Normally a state title contender themselves, the Tornadoes are rebuilding so it wouldn't be a total shock if Northeast won.
"We have to do what we can do and look at what they can do well and try to take that away from them," Redding said.
"In a way, I don't want the team to dwell on that win and in a way I do," Sanchez said. "Remember that win gives the team a boost of confidence. We can walk into gyms with our heads high.
"Teams in this area have not had success against Boca Ciega. If we remember the good things about how we won, why can't we do the same against someone else? I told the guys, 'Why can't we be a state title contender?' Boca Ciega was.
"But we can't get ahead of ourselves. We are still in the regions."
