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CLASS 2A: Melbourne Central Catholic's fast start and defensive pressure overwhelm Marauders.
By JOHN SCHWARB, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 26, 2003
CLEARWATER -- This step on the playoff road is usually a mere formality for Melbourne Central Catholic. Tuesday, it was again.
Behind hot shooting and tenacious defense, the Hustlers built an early lead and coasted at Clearwater Central Catholic, winning 46-29 in the region semifinal. MCC advances to its third consecutive region final and is one step closer to defending its state title.
Though at home, CCC clearly appeared tentative early and perhaps even shell-shocked by their opponents' fast start. Three minutes in, Hustlers guard Leigh Pauley hit her second 3-pointer, a rattler that bounced off of the rim, the backboard, then the rim again before falling. MCC led 8-0.
As the second quarter wore on, a run of Marauder turnovers began to add up on the scoreboard, like when Jen Musgrove picked off a pass and drove in for a layup with 2:41 left. MCC led 25-6.
"Their defense is tenacious ... you can't simulate that in practice," CCC coach Gary Platt said. "They were in the passing lanes and the turnovers killed us.
"It may have been a case of nerves, it was the first time for our girls in this situation."
MCC coach Candee Terry said her scouting report was to shut down Marauders point guard K.C. Ann Gavin, and the Hustlers (25-7) did so flawlessly. Gavin's first points came with 20 seconds left in the third quarter and she finished with six.
Tiffany Avril, CCC's leading scorer all season, led again but with just nine points as MCC held its eighth consecutive opponent under 30.
The Marauders (23-7) mounted a charge in the fourth, but even after an 11-1 run they still trailed 41-27 and MCC let them get no closer in the final three minutes.
Hustlers senior guard Elizabeth Sorenson drew plenty of attention from the CCC defense after a 30-point outburst in the region quarterfinal and scored only nine points. But teammates picked up the slack as Pauley hit for 11 and Musgrove a game-high 13.