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Hernando tries to stay on roll
By FRANK PASTOR BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando has traversed peaks (a 5-3 start) and valleys (a 12-game losing streak) en route to the Class 3A, District 6 Tournament. As the fifth-seeded Leopards (8-16) travel to Ocala West Port for tonight's opening-round game against No. 4 Crystal River (12-9), coach Pete Lahey would prefer his team stick to more level terrain. Specifically, he would like to see his players keep level heads against the Pirates' press and maintain the level of play they established in season-ending victories over Seven Rivers Christian and South Sumter. The winner advances to Thursday's semifinal against top-seeded Williston, in which it will have the chance to play for a regional playoff berth and a spot in Saturday's district championship game. "This is what your whole season is for, to develop your kids to get to this point," Lahey said. "Now, it's here. We started out decent, went through a big slump for awhile, and now we're back up." Hernando started strong, winning five of its first eight games, including a 48-34 decision Dec. 13 at Crystal River. But the Leopards' quick start was followed by a 12-game skid that culminated with a 36-23 loss to the Pirates on Jan. 23. Hernando recovered with victories over West Port, Seven Rivers Christian and South Sumter in its final four games. "It's just a matter of us doing what we need to do offensively and, right now, the way we're playing, if the girls do what they're supposed to, I think we'll do okay," Lahey said. Hernando seems to go the way of its shots. If they fall, so do the Leopards' opponents. In the first meeting between the teams, Kori Frederick made four of her five 3-pointers in the opening quarter as Hernando jumped out to a 17-9 lead. The teams played evenly through the middle quarters before the Leopards outscored the Pirates 14-8 in the fourth to pull away. Christina Benoay scored all six of her points in the quarter, and Leslie Young had seven of her 16. The Leopards were hampered by illness in the second game, as Benoay did not play and Young, Frederick and Olivia Murray played at less than full strength. Crystal River held Hernando to three field goals in the first half while moving out to an 18-7 lead from which the Leopards could not recover. Lahey said the key to tonight's game will be the ability of Hernando guards Murray, Sophia Gill and Benoay to handle Crystal River's press. "That's been our nemesis all year long," Lahey said. "At times, we handle it well. At other times, we don't. The last few games, we've handled the press halfway decent. If we continue to do that, we can go from there and see what happens." -- Frank Pastor can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com .
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