CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Head coach Darian Dublin is understandably excited about what lies ahead for the Clearwater High girls basketball program.

“Because they’re so young and you see them do all the good stuff, as a coach I’m sitting there like man I’ve got them for two more years cause they’re just going to get better and better.”

The Tornadoes have a young but talented team. With just one senior on the roster, Clearwater went 21-4 during the regular season, won the Class 5A, District 10 title and advanced to the 5A state semifinals.

“Just knowing we’ve been thinking of this moment since the first game of the season and to realize when you’re in that position that you just won and now you’re going to Lakeland, it’s a great feeling,” said true freshman point guard Beckham Hockley. “We’ve worked so hard this season and we deserve it.”

“I’m so proud of us,” said sophomore forward Liv Fuller. “We worked really hard all year and I couldn’t have wanted anything more than to go to Lakeland and to actually get to that point is awesome.”

It’s been awhile since Clearwater punched its ticket to Lakeland. The last time was in 2007 when senior standouts Lauren Lee and Brittany Carrannante led the Tornadoes to the 5A state championship game.

This time around, it’s the young players who are paving the way for Clearwater’s deep playoff run. The Tornadoes’ top three scorers are guard Beckham Hockley (14.6 points per game), forward Liv Fuller (13.3) and guard Ace Sturdivant (9.3), all of whom are underclassmen. That trio, along with contributions from veteran players like junior forward Kyleigh Welsh (4.4 blocks per game) and Phillicia Jackson (7.1 rebounds per game), have the Tornadoes back in the state semifinals for the first time in 14 years.

“It was obviously new at the beginning, figuring out how to play with each other but as time went on, we’re all great friends off the court so I think that helped with our chemistry,” said Hockley.

The Tornadoes may be young but what they lack in experience, they make up for in talent and confidence.

“I really think about oh I’m only 16 years old playing against like a senior,” said Fuller. “Like that never comes in my head when I’m playing, to me it’s all about the skill set. I believe I have just as high of a (basketball) IQ as some of these seniors that I play against and I believe that’s all it takes in a game.”

Clearwater girls basketball has a bright future, but after three playoff wins and a final four appearance on the horizon, it looks like the future is now for the Tornadoes.