Preps

Team's inability to sink shots is draining Lahey

Hernando coach Pete Lahey is running out of ideas.

His players are executing the offense. They are getting the ball to the right spots. They're taking quality shots.

But they are not putting the ball in the net.

"We're not scoring at all," Lahey said.

It is not one player who's struggling, it's everyone.

It is not that they don't practice shooting, they just don't score.

Wednesday's 55-22 loss to Central, Hernando's sixth straight, marked the second game in a row and the third time in five outings the Leopards (5-9) have scored fewer than 30 points.

They failed to get out of the 20s in a 31-25 loss to Citrus on Dec. 20 and a 40-26 loss to Seven Rivers Christian on Tuesday.

How bad has it gotten?

In Tuesday's defeat, Seven Rivers Christian's Danielle Albury (25 points) scored one fewer point than Hernando's entire team, which shot about 13 percent, according to Lahey.

"It seems like we're just in this dip where, all of a sudden, it hit us and we've got to come out sooner or later," Lahey said. "Hopefully, it's sooner than later."

Part of the problem is a lack of depth.

With only nine players, Hernando has been unable to practice 5-on-5.

The Leopards didn't see a full defense until they played in the Pirate Classic, a preseason tournament at Pasco.

Lahey has put his players through individual drills and 1-on-1 and 4-on-4 situations. But none come close to approximating game conditions.

"That's been the toughest part for us," Lahey said. "At one point, we had 10 (players), then it went back down to nine, so it's tough.

"We're thinking about possibly moving somebody up (from the junior varsity)," he said.

An attitude adjustment, Lahey said, also might help the shooting.

"I think it's like a snowball effect," he said. "You start missing shots, and all of a sudden you don't think you can (make them).

"Somehow, we've got to get a positive attitude about shooting and go from there. They just have to try to have more fun out there while they're shooting."

SPREADING THE WEALTH: Central is 10-2 overall, 5-0 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and 2-1 in Class 4A, District 7.

The Bears received three votes in the most recent state poll, as voted on by the Florida Sportswriters Association.

But if it hopes to carry its momentum into the second half of the season, Central will have to improve its half-court offense.

Dangerous on the break, the Bears have been considerably less effective when forced to slow down.

"When we struggle is in the half-court offense," coach Lori Lessley said. "Still, we're making adjustments and the kids are doing a real good job with those.

"It's just a matter of getting comfortable with all the adjustments that we want to do, because, if our press is not effective, we struggle."

To increase her team's production in the half court, Lessley has stressed moving the ball around.

By increasing their touches, the Bears can get better looks at the basket and keep defenses from keying on point guard Sharesa Scott and 3-point shooter Samantha Downing.

"We can't let defenses just come back in their zone and sit," Lessley said. "We need to move the ball around and realize everybody can be a scorer for us. That's one of the assets we have."

LONG IN THE TOOTH: Central is quick, athletic and deep.

But Lahey sees one more thing that sets the Bears apart from their county opponents: experience.

Eight players, including five starters -- Scott, Downing, Thalia Tatham, Tamara Tatham and Theresa Rivera -- are seniors.

"They were there last year, and they're all back again this year," Lahey said. "That's a big difference.

"This year, I've got no one returning besides (senior center/forward Christina) Benoay, (sophomore guard) Sophie (Gill) and (senior center/forward Whitney) Griffin. They saw limited action, so no starters return."

Sheena Johnson and Kara Bailey would have given the Leopards two returning starters, but Johnson didn't try out and Bailey switched to soccer, Lahey said.

"When you lose kind of a core that started for you the year before, then they go elsewhere or don't even go out, now you're starting all over."

THREE IN ONE: Springstead's 35-26 loss to Lecanto on Tuesday hurt on three fronts, since the game was a conference and district contest. It dropped the Eagles to 5-6 overall, 1-2 in district play and 0-4 in conference competition.

Cara Cagan scored a team-high seven points for Springstead, which fell behind 8-0 in the first quarter. Tena Dunn had five, Jessica Larocco four.

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