ON THE ROAD - It’s game night for Tampa Catholic in St. Pete.

The Crusaders are a well-oiled machine and enjoy the challenge of playing against good opponents like the St. Pete Green Devils. Playing a tough team on the road is nothing new for head coach Don Dziagwa and T-C. In fact, it’s become quite normal. That’s because currently, the Crusaders don’t have a home.

The Crusaders are practicing at Sligh Middle School in Tampa. It’s one of a few different gyms they’ve had to use this season. And to top it off, they’ve only got eight players due to injuries.

“You know eight actually makes it a little bit tougher, defensively, in regards to stuff,” said Dziagwa. “You don’t have five guys stopping the ball you only have four guys stopping the ball. Really we can run our stuff with four guys we don’t really need five guys.”

Tampa Catholic’s roster may not be deep in numbers, but it is in talent. Which is why the Crusaders used their situation to their benefit by building a schedule that took them all over the country to play some of the best high school teams.

“Win or lose there’s maybe only been 3 or 4 games where it’ s been less than ten points,” Dziagwa said. “We either get beat by double digits or we win by double digits.”

“We’ve been traveling out of state playing harder teams, national teams actually,” said junior shooting guard Karmello Branch. “It just made us a better team and we became stronger.”

The tough schedule helps T-C to be ready for this part of the season – the playoffs. But their eyes are also on something bigger – when they can finally return home to their brand new, state-of-the-art field house. Former Crusader, and current Atlanta Hawk, Kevin Knox donated $2 million and the facility will bear his name.

“The gym is where everything happens at Tampa Catholic, so I thought this would be something great for the school,” said Knox in a video released by Tampa Catholic. “Giving back is a great feeling to feel and I know a lot of people that give back can have that same feeling.”

“When you’re talking about $2 million you’re talking substantial,” said Dziagwa, who coached Kevin at TC. “He obviously felt great about his career at Tampa Catholic and that makes me feel great as a coach, too.”

So on nights like this, when T-C is on someone else’s court they know it won’t be long until their journey will end and they’ll be home for good.