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Basketball: Times' all-Pinellas County teams

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Boys player of the year
G Dallas Moore, Sr., Boca Ciega

Why we picked him: No one has grown more in height or stature in the past four years. After starting out as an undersized outside shooter, Moore morphed into an all-around scoring threat, especially after growing 4 inches before his junior year. This season, the 5-foot-11 guard put it all together, averaging a county-best 27 points and leading the Pirates to the playoffs as runnerup in a brutal district that included Gibbs and Lakewood. It wasn’t just the district games that were tough. Boca Ciega also played several playoff teams in the regular season, including Berkeley Prep, Mitchell, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and Tampa Prep. In his final game — a loss to eventual state champion Jesuit — Moore finished with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Moore ended his career with 1,958 points.

Most impressive accomplishment: In the Class 5A, District 12 semifinals, a game Boca Ciega needed to win to make the playoffs, Moore took up the scoring slack from Michael Clark, who was out with an ankle injury. Moore tied a career high with 42 points to lead the Pirates to a win. Spartans coach Anthony Lawrence summed up why his team lost afterward: “Too much Dallas Moore.”

Did you know? Moore’s favorite show growing up was SpongeBob SquarePants. He said he has watched every show and had a stuffed SpongeBob when he was a kid.

Future plans: Moore has already signed with North Florida. He said he will skip AAU this offseason and work out on his own before enrolling on June 22.

First team
G Dayon Griffin, Jr., St. Petersburg: Green Devils’ go-to guy averaged 14 points, six assists, four rebounds.

G Donavan Hale, So., Largo: Averaged 19 points and seven rebounds, and led the Packers to the Class 6A region final.

G Anthony Lawrence Jr., So., Lakewood: Averaged 21 points, nine rebounds, four blocks in breakout year for Spartans.

G Darnell Lovett, Sr., Countryside: Younger brother of Florida guard Michael Frazier averaged nearly 20 points.

G Noah Weller, Sr., Seminole: His all-around play offset the loss of Justin Hollis and helped the Warhawks make playoffs a second straight season.

Second team
G Demontrae Adams, Sr., St. Petersburg
G Barry Brown, So., Gibbs
G Matt Cassity, Sr., Seminole
F Michael Clark, Jr., Boca Ciega
G Shaq Speights, Jr., Gibbs

Honorable mention
Admiral Farragut: Will Anderson, Ibrahima Camara; Boca Ciega: DJ White; Canterbury: Hunter Coia, Kyle Shealy; Clearwater: Rasim Avmet, Cody Carden; Clearwater Central Catholic: Ben Kieler, Gary Wintermeier; Countryside: Jared Siminski; Dunedin: Alan Kolundzic; East Lake: George Campbell, Brady Grimm, Kyle Mogged; Gibbs: Daniel Davis, Darrel Fuller; Indian Rocks Christian: Spencer Adkinson, Ryan Ferguson, Hunter Hyland, Eddie Moralobo; Lakeside Christian: Logan Bates,  Caleb Coffman; Lakewood: Jared Gregory, Shabazz Waller; Largo: Juwan Brown, Jonathan Crawford, Reggie Moore; Northeast: Keith Harrington, Auggie Sanchez; Northside Christian: Joe Chapman, Jonny Scott, Ryan Wilkerson; Osceola: Freeman Hinson; Palm Harbor University: Joe Pigozzo; Pinellas Park: Brandon Jones, Nick Preradovic; Seminole: Emmitt Jorgensen, Jarron King; St. Petersburg: Terrell Burney; St. Petersburg Catholic: Mike Fridella, Ryan Green, Kevin O’Donnell; Shorecrest: Jay Joyer, Johnny Koenig, Henry Murphy; Tarpon Springs: JT Aguilar

Coach of the year
Phil Price, Largo: After Largo finished 7-19 last season, the Packers’ first losing season in 16 years, Price guided a young team to one of the county’s greatest turnarounds. Largo went on a tear in the second half of the season, beating state semifinalist Wharton, as well as playoff teams like Boca Ciega, Seminole and St. Petersburg. The run continued in the playoffs as the Packers reached the region final for the first time since 1998. Largo mounted a furious rally but lost 66-64 in the region final to Winter Haven.

Girls player of the Year
G/F Tianah Alvarado, Sr., Lakewood

Why we picked her: There were some questions about Alvarado before the season. Would she be able to return to form after a knee injury cut her junior year short? Would she be able to handle her role as the team’s main scoring threat? Yes and yes. She played her senior season as if she had never left the court. Alvarado averaged 19.5 points and four steals per game and led the Spartans to a third straight state semifinal appearance. Against Tallahassee Rickards in the Class 5A semis, she scored 20 points. Despite foul trouble against Fort Lauderdale Dillard in a state championship loss, she scored 13. With fellow senior scoring threat Kasey Drayton out for the year, Alvarado was the main player teams had to stop — and they rarely succeeded. “I just like to score,’’ Alvarado said. “Some people aren’t like that. I’m the shooter. That’s the role I have.”

Most impressive accomplishment: During Lakewood’s run through the playoffs, Alvarado averaged 22 points. “She really picked up her game," Lakewood coach Necole Tunsil said. “We needed her to score and that’s what she did.”

Did you know? Alvarado’s sister is Taye’lor Trotter, who played on Lakewood’s 2011 state championship team and is now at Palm Beach State College.

Future plans: Alvarado plans to attend Seton Hall University on a basketball scholarship. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” Alvarado said. “It’s the end of another chapter. Now it’s time for college. I get to move on to bigger and better things.”

First team
G Alexis Ungro, Sr., Lakewood: Battled through injuries most of the season, but still averaged 10.4 points, 3.2 assists and four steals. “Without Lex, we don’t win,” Tunsil said.

C Jordan Berenbaum, Jr., St. Petersburg: Averaged 13.7 points and 7.4 rebounds for Class 7A-10 district champ. Came up big in the district final against Clearwater with 18 points.

F Kadejah Saunders, Sr., Tarpon Springs: Averaged 19 points and 10 assists, and was MVP of the Pinellas County senior all-star game.

G Meagan Thomas, Jr., Dixie Hollins: As the Rebels’ main scoring threat, Thomas averaged 24.3 points and made 37 percent of her 3-pointers despite facing double teams most nights.

G Niaya White, Fr., Boca Ciega: Burst onto the scene with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game; stepped up when Destiny Brown missed games due to injury.

Second team
G Carley Plentovich, Fr., Calvary Christian
F Tyra Bolden, Sr., Clearwater
C Siyana Allen, Fr., Lakewood
G Savannah Plentovich, Fr., Calvary Christian
F Destiny Brown, Sr., Boca Ciega

Honorable mention
Boca Ciega: Kenya Joseph, Kayleigh Shannon, Zoi Thompson; Calvary Christian: Rachel Mostert, Caroline Andreassen; Canterbury: Kelsey Hill; Clearwater: Keyaira Herring, Maddie Rubino, Aja Jenkins, Alex Alford; Countryside: Ivey Green, Andrea Petrovic; East Lake: Emily Dine, Amber Jennings, Jazmine Vaval; Gibbs: Bria Bostick, Shelbria Murphy; Indian Rocks Christian: Rachel Boyette, Autumn Frost, Brooke Morten, Caroline Shelton; Lakewood: Sydney Heyward, Clemmeisha Flowers, Deja Swinton; Northeast: Aspen Hedges, Laura Fizell, Madison Schmidt, Northside Christian: Heather Percival, Saje Schlatterer, Haley Gossard; Osceola: Katie Horan, Diane Oganesova; Palm Harbor University: Megan Ingram, Kaylin Ingram, Jamie Appelt, Chardonay Aldrich; St. Petersburg: Angel Brown, Michael Everhart, Simone Wilson; St. Petersburg Catholic: Olivia Keegan, Seminole: Jessica Stephens; Tarpon Springs: Yasmine Morris, Zoe Lekakis

Coach of the year
Brooke Sibert, Calvary Christian. The Warriors had never won a district tournament game before Sibert arrived three years ago. This season, Calvary Christian went all the way to the Class 3A state semifinal. The Warriors won 25 games and dominated their district.

Compiled by staff writers Bob Putnam and Rodney Page


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