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Preps

Freedom earns a region berth

CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 9: The first-year Patriots rally past Tampa Catholic, while top seed Robinson crushes Osceola.

By EMILY NIPPS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 15, 2003

TAMPA -- Tampa Catholic turned an embarrassing two-point performance in the first quarter into a dogfight by the third. Freedom (7-12) let a huge lead in the first half slip away within minutes, which was enough to put the young Patriots in a funk.

In the end, it came down to the explosive play of one Freedom freshman, Briana Nelson, who all but owned the Patriots' turnaround as they beat the Crusaders 56-49 in the district semifinals Friday night.

With the Crusaders (6-16) leading by 10 and six minutes on the clock, Nelson scored 13 of her 18 points with a combination of steals, layups and jumpers. She also went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in the final minute. "I felt like it was my time," Nelson said. "I just played the way I wanted to play."

Freshman teammate Tandra Faulkner also added to the Patriots' win with 15 points. Tampa Catholic was led by freshman Kimberly Busche's 21 and Ashley Correa's 15.

The teams split their regular-season meetings, which all but promised a close game Friday. "It's very exciting," Nelson said. "To be a first-year school and be one game away from regionals, it feels so great."

Freedom secured a berth in the region quarterfinals with its win over Tampa Catholic, but to win a district title, the Patriots will have to do so against a team that went undefeated in 3A-9.

Robinson routed Osceola 74-27 in the earlier semifinal. Knights coach Herman Valdes said he wondered whether the district playoffs would prepare his team for the next round. The Knights (17-10) outscored the Warriors 22-1 in the first quarter, and though Osceola (0-18) picked up speed in the second half, it was never a contest. Robinson's players were bigger and faster, and they passed and shot the ball with ease.

Robinson's Tiffany Sawney led all scorers with 20 and Johnessa Griffin had 17 and eight rebounds.

Diane Barnes and Ivona Juhas each scored eight for the Warriors.

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