Lancers win again

By JEREMY RASMUSSEN
Published February 13, 2005

TAMPA - Cambridge topped Keswick Christian 60-51 on Saturday in a battle of teams with scrappy, smothering defenses.

The win gave the Lancers (26-1, No. 2 in Class A) their fourth consecutive district title, and seniors Evie Compton and Andrea McAdoo played no small part.

The Lancers broke Keswick's full-court pressure early as McAdoo scored 10 in the first quarter, all on layups as her team sprinted to a 20-8 lead. McAdoo finished with a game-high 18 points along with seven rebounds.

When the Crusaders (20-8) dropped back to a half-court man-to-man defense, though, the Cambridge attack appeared to bog down, allowing Keswick to claw its way back. Chelsea Wozniak sparked the Crusaders off the bench with eight points in the second quarter and finished with 10.

Keswick had 4-0 runs to start and end the third quarter, as Compton sat out with foul trouble. Kate Carl's steal and layup with two seconds left pulled the Crusaders within 41-36.

When Compton returned in the fourth quarter, she quickly hit a pair of 3-pointers to give the Lancers a 10-point lead again before fouling out with 12 points.

Led by freshman Caitlin DeBoer, Cambridge hit 7 of 9 free throws down the stretch. Meanwhile, Keswick went 0-for-3 at the line in the fourth quarter and hit only 9-of-22 in the game.

Lancers coach Karim Norha pointed to his senior leadership as the big factor in the win, but was complimentary of the Crusaders' aggressive play.

"(Keswick) is a blue-collar team that works awfully hard to win," Norha said. "They have no Division I players. They're just a solid, fundamental team. That's what high school basketball is all about."

Keswick coach Karrmayne King said that she hoped to face Cambridge again in the region final.

"The biggest difference is that (Cambridge) is older and more physical, and we have a very young team," King said.

Lakeland Christian defeated Berkeley Prep 46-38 to capture the district title at McKeel Academy in Lakeland.

Berkeley Prep's Becky Wieclaw provided the majority of the offense, pouring in a game-high 24 points. No other Buccaneer reached double figures.

- TIMES STAFF

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]