Two Pirate guards score more than all Rebels

By JEREMY WRITT
Published January 25, 2005

GULFPORT - Boca Ciega and Dixie Hollins both relied heavily on their star backcourts but the Pirates shined brighter at home, winning 49-35 for their 10th straight victory.

Tiffany Williams had five rebounds and led Boca Ciega (15-4) with 18 points. Ashley Williams posted a double double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The duo scored as many points as the entire Rebels squad.

"I've never had someone play as hard or practice as hard as she does," Boca Ciega coach William White said of Ashley Williams. "She can create a lot on her own. She has the athletic ability that sometimes she just says, "I'm going to make it happen."'

Vercara Hickerson and Bryttany Gant scored all but six of the Rebels' 35 points.

"If you want to go and build a team, you build it with those two kids" Dixie coach Dave Morgen said. "Great students, great people, great players. I think in terms of versatility, they might be the best two I've seen."

They scored all of Dixie's first-half points. Diana Melcher's two free throws with 1:56 left in the third quarter were the first Rebel points by someone else.

Ashley Williams got hot in the second and fourth quarters when she went on six-point scoring streaks. The second streak gave the Pirates their first double-digit lead and put the game out of reach.

"When you have a really good player and you don't know where she is all the time, you lose," Morgen said.

The dueling backcourt players seemed to be the only ones capable of scoring. The Pirates were to blame for both teams' scoring issues - they could not control their speed on offense and Dixie Hollins never solved their 2-3 zone defense.

The Rebels shot 20 percent (6 of 30) which was only slightly better than Boca Ciega's 18-percent (6 of 34) effort. The Pirates made two field goals in the first quarter but still led 17-15 at halftime thanks to their offensive rebounding.

Both teams recognized their inability to hit outside shots and made concerted efforts to get to the free throw line. Boca Ciega hit 10 free throws in the second half and 14 of 19 total. Dixie made 8 of 9 free throws in the second half to finish 11 of 13 for the game.

Seminole prevails at home

SEMINOLE - A quick, pressing defense and solid guard play helped Seminole defeat a scrappy St. Petersburg team 65-42 Monday night.

After earning a 36-28 halftime lead, Seminole held a 29-14 advantage in the second half to secure the victory.

Seminole (18-2) trailed early 2-0 then went on a 5-0 run and never trailed again. Consistency throughout was key for the Warhawks on offense as guards Chelsea Patterson (22 points) and Allie Fogle (25) beat the Green Devils defense time and again from the outside.

Senior center Jessmayn Sanfilippo was the defensive key, grabbing big rebounds and defending the paint.

St. Petersburg (13-7) struggled in the opening quarter of both halves, scoring nine in the first quarter and five in the third. The Green Devils were led on offense and defense by Kelly Westfield, who scored a team-high 18.

[Last modified January 25, 2005, 01:20:40]