GULFPORT - After losing to Seminole by 10 points in the Hooters Holiday Shootout title game last week, Boca Ciega coach William White hoped the outcome would be different in Wednesday's rematch.
After all, the Pirates were at home and the game counted toward seeding for next month's Class 5A, District 10 tournament.
But the game turned out similar to the first.
Boca Ciega again squandered a first-quarter lead, allowing the Warhawks to rally for a 51-44 victory.
"We seem to jump ahead and then we can't find a way to hold on," White said. "Seminole has a lot of weapons and you can only extend yourself so far trying to stop them."
Trailing 11-4, the Warhawks' comeback was sparked by Courtney Gresikowski, who came off the bench to hit her first three field goals. That helped Seminole go on an 8-0 run and end the first quarter with a 12-11 lead.
"I thought Courtney coming through with those shots gave us some momentum," coach Dave Swanson said. "She was averaging less than two points a game before that and really gave (Boca Ciega) somebody to think about the rest of the way."
Using its speed on defense, Seminole (12-2) neutralized Boca Ciega's height advantage and built a 23-15 lead at halftime.
But in the second half, the Warhawks had trouble standing up to the pounding in the paint by the Pirates' Alison Lester, Whitney Newton and Shawnte Speights. With those three occupying the middle, Villamarie Binalay and Dominique Forte hit three 3-pointers to help Boca Ciega (7-5) chip away at the lead and tie it at 36 early in the fourth quarter.
Seminole, though, regained control as Alli Fogle scored eight of her 13 down the stretch and forced the Pirates to play from behind. Boca Ciega's chances of catching up were hurt when Binalay fouled out with three minutes left.
Forced to foul, the Pirates watched as Chelsea Patterson (14 points) and Carrie Conley (six points) each hit a pair of free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.
