LECANTO - Before a sparse, quiet crowd Tuesday night, Eli Jackson's coaching career got off to a good start.
The social studies teacher turned basketball coach won his first game, watching his Citrus squad stifle Seven Rivers Christian 53-34.
Jackson said his debut went well, except for the first three minutes, when the Warriors (1-1) jumped to a 6-3 lead.
During timeouts and dead balls, the new coach could be heard instructing players on offensive techniques. While he says he might lower his voice in Game 2, Jackson blames Seven Rivers' acoustics.
"It makes you sound meaner," he said. "It echoes."
Still, Jackson didn't have much to be upset about. After the Warriors' game-opening burst, the Hurricanes (1-0) scored 21 straight, capped by Ashly Duval's layup almost three minutes into the second quarter.
Citrus relied mostly on long-rage shooting, sinking six 3-pointers, including three from Ashley Hoglund and two from Krystal Boardman. Hoglund led Citrus with 13 points.
"We have some shooters," Jackson said. "Some of them know they have the green light."
But Jackson said he wants to see the Hurricanes move the ball inside more, especially against teams more skilled than Seven Rivers, which lost Lacey Lyons, its best player last season. Lyons transferred to Crystal River.
"We've been trying to beg, borrow and steal them to pass the ball into the post," Jackson said.
He'll have a chance to focus on the inside game today at practice, which he calls the most fulfilling part of coaching.
And though he's proud of his players, Jackson said he is glad they hardly celebrated win No. 1, which came against a rebuilding team.
"It's nice to see there's no hooting and hollering like it was an upset win," he said.
