TAMPA — It wasn't exactly the way Wiregrass Ranch's boys basketball team wanted to start against Sickles in the SEBA Classic at Berkeley Prep on Saturday.

Not in the way it played, but what they played in.

When the Bulls arrived for the first game at the Tampa-area school, they realized their uniforms were still back in Wesley Chapel, so they were forced to wear Berkeley's junior varsity uniforms.

By halftime, when their regular uniforms arrived, the Bulls faced a 33-18 deficit. Either way, though, the Gryphons were just too much to handle as the Bulls fell 68-36.

"We got used to playing in (the uniforms), so I don't think that was the issue," said 6-foot-9 senior center Eric Williams, who led the Bulls with 17 points. "We haven't seen guys as athletic as they are up in our area so it took a lot out of us. I just have to take away from this game the mind-set that I need to step up and take over games, especially when we really need it."

Sickles neutralized Williams for the most part in establishing pressure defense, which prevented Wiregrass Ranch's guards from getting the center the ball. The Gryphons scored in bunches, led by 6-foot-3 junior forward Rashawn Rembert, who had a career-high 39 points.

In the other game involving a North Suncoast team, Ridgewood began its night against Wharton stronger than it did Friday, when Sickles took a 22-0 lead. The Rams scored the first 10 points of the game against the Wildcats, but the Rams' lack of depth caught up to them in a 62-43 loss.

"We have to rely too much on (Charles) Jones and (Jake) Rauh," Ridgewood coach Gary Anders said. "We're going to have to have some other players do their best to get into the rotation this year. But overall, I'm pleased with the way we came out and played tonight."

The Rams led 17-8 after the first quarter, but Wharton turned up its pressure defense in the second quarter and led 26-22 by halftime. The Wildcats outscored the Rams 20-4 in the third quarter to seal the game.

Jones paced the Rams with 20 points.

Berkeley Prep sophomore guard Nelson Agholor had 21 points to lead the Buccaneers to a 54-38 victory over Brandon.

Chris Girandola, Times correspondent