Gill is shot in arm for Hernando

He didn't have to ask more than once.

After Hernando coach Pete Lahey told Sophia Gill last week that he needed her to become more of a scoring threat, the sophomore guard responded with two of her most productive games of the season.

Gill, who did not score in several games, had a season-high 12 points in a 49-25 victory over Springstead on Friday and seven in a 48-35 loss to West Port on Tuesday.

Gill's emergence gives Hernando (6-16) another outside scoring threat to go with Kori Frederick and Olivia Murray, and it prevents defenses from collapsing on center/forward Leslie Young.

"She's continuing to look for the basket," Lahey said of Gill.

She wasn't the only one. Young had a team-high 14 points, Murray 10, Whitney Griffin 8 and Charleta Williams 5 in the win.

Gill and Murray took care of the ball-handling duties, helping the Leopards reduce their turnovers.

"That was probably one of our better ballgames," Lahey said. "It was the best one we played since we played Williston (a 43-40 loss Jan.17)."

Hernando was less successful against West Port, whose trapping defense made it difficult for the Leopards' shooters to get open.

Hernando was within four points at halftime before being outscored 22-13 in the second half.

Young led the Leopards with 12 points. Frederick had six.

The loss dropped Hernando to 3-7 in Class 3A, District 6, meaning the Leopards likely will enter next week's tournament as the No.5 seed and face Crystal River (5-5) in the opening round.

RESILIENT: Central bounced back from consecutive defeats for the first time this season to avenge an early loss.

After losing back-to-back to Leesburg and Citrus, the Bears (16-4) defeated Academy of the Holy Names 45-40 on Wednesday.

The Jaguars handed Central its first loss of the season, 40-32 on Dec.2.

"It was an important game for us from every standpoint," Bears coach Lori Lessley said.

"You want to enjoy yourselves, gain a little confidence back and put together a good four quarters. So, from all those standpoints, we thought it was important to win," she said.

Sharesa Scott led Central with 14 points. Thalia Tatham had 9, Samantha Downing 7 and Tamara Tatham 6. Four others scored for the Bears.

"One of the things we need is some scoring from the bench, and we really got that," Lessley said. "It was one of our more balanced efforts."

At 5-2 in Class 4A, District 7, Central is competing with Lecanto (5-3) for the second seed in the tournament.

Since Nos.2 and 3 play each other, it appears the Bears and Panthers will meet either way.

Leesburg, which swept Central, has the top seed locked up.

"(Central is) going to be gunning for us because we've knocked them out the last couple of years," Lecanto coach Ron Allan said.

ON TOP: Citrus staked its claim as the best team in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with a convincing 61-34 win over Central on Tuesday.

Katie Steelfox's 19 points paced three 'Canes in double figures.

But don't rule out the Bears just yet.

Central (7-1 conference) can win the GCAC title by beating Citrus (7-1) and Crystal River in its remaining league games.

"I know we can put forth a much better effort," Lessley said. "But take nothing away from Citrus. They are very good."

BY THE NUMBERS: Springstead's Tena Dunn scored 12 points against Hernando, increasing her team-high average to 9.1.

Mallory Freeman had four points. Cara Cagan had three.

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