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Preps

Toughness edge enough for Durant

CLASS 5A: The 3-pointers don't fall. However, the Cougars find a way to eliminate New Smyrna Beach 47-35.

By BRANDON WRIGHT
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 26, 2003

BRANDON -- Conventional wisdom suggests a basketball team consist of a center, two guards and two forwards.

Don't tell that to Durant.

The Cougars, employing a small lineup, utilized their quickness in breezing by New Smyrna Beach 47-35, advancing to Saturday's region final at home against Deltona Pine Ridge, which beat Haines City 71-43.

"We start five guards, and that's not a secret," Durant coach Jeff Shotwell said. "We're normally a finesse team, and we were a little sloppy. But we're moving on."

Although Durant, a team built on precise passing and perimeter shooting, wasn't sharp, Shotwell said its inner toughness was the difference.

"I was a little surprised by our toughness," Shotwell said. "I'm so proud of our kids. They really gutted it out. It's all about survival at this point."

New Smyrna Beach coach Ray Ridenour said he had a different opinion of the game.

"We just played like dogs," he said. "That was the worst we've played. We played terrible."

Durant, No. 9 in the state poll, made only two 3-pointers but shot 25 free throws (making 17) compared with the Barracudas' eight.

"We average five 3-pointers a game, but we could never get that going," Shotwell said. "It wasn't a pretty win, but that kind of impresses me, too, that we can win that way."

Durant led the entire game, and the Barracudas did not get closer than three points.

Shay Mackey recorded a double double (20 points and 11 rebounds) for Durant, and Danielle Herndon had 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Cougars, despite being undersized, outrebounded the Barracudas 34-23. New Smyrna Beach forward Kalee Smith was held to 11 points and four rebounds.

"Post players have given us a problem all year long," Shotwell said. "Herndon did a great job on (Smith). "Normally, post players come to Durant and get five or six more points than their average."

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