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Playing around

By DAWN REISS and BRIAN SUMERS
Published December 13, 2005

THE GAME: West Port at Lecanto, tonight, 7:30.

THE SCOOP: The Wolf Pack (5-1) comes to Citrus County for its first Class 4A, District-6 boys game of the season. West Port is led by senior guard Dominic McDonald, who averages 19 points; sophomore point guard Donte Villard (10 points) and junior Chris Bennett (10 points, 9 rebounds). They've been to the sweet 16 the past two years and are athletic and quick. The Pack loves to pressure the ball and get points in transition through their full-court press.

What makes Lecanto tough?

"Their half-court defense begs you to shoot from the perimeter to cut down on dribble penetration," third-year West Port coach Lyle Livengood said. "They shoot the heck out of the ball and are a very sound team."

Senior guard Mychal Nichols leads the Panthers with a 15-point average. He's followed by seniors Richard Chaney (13 points, 5 rebounds), Eddie Buckley (13 points, 4 rebounds) and Ryan Blakeslee (9 points, 2 rebounds) and junior center Greg Simerly (4 points, 4 rebounds).

The Panthers (5-1, 2-0 in district) have used man-to-man defense and pressing to help contain opponents.

THE SCOOP: It's time for the Crystal River girls team to learn how good it is. Sure, the Pirates are 7-0, but they've played a fairly weak schedule. They will have another likely cupcake tonight in Dunnellon, but then things will start to get interesting.

Crystal River will play Marion County heavyweight West Port on Friday in a game with likely district ramifications. Former Pirates player Jessica Krick transferred to West Port for her senior season, and she has let her old teammates know they're in for a tough match. Crystal River's Bridget Broussard says she's expecting a quick and talented team but promises she's not scared. "I don't fear any teams," Broussard said.

Entering the contest, Citrus had outscored its previous four opponents 410-229, with senior forward Walt Howard averaging 25 points. Crystal River held Howard to 16 - six of which came from the free-throw line. But it wasn't just him. Only three other players - Mark Xenophon (8 points), Cory Harnig (7) and Nick Delguidice (4) - scored all night.

Citrus (3-2, 2-1 in Class 4A, District 6) contained J.C. Livingston, who recorded only four points; just as much as the Pirates took care of Howard.

The 45-36 Crystal River win seems unbelievable, especially if one considers the 20-15 halftime score.

Three-pointers killed the Hurricanes. The night before, they had shot almost 50 percent from the arc, making 10 of 21 in a 64-53 victory over Hernando, only to connect on 1 of 20-something Friday and shoot just 28 percent from the field.

"Then we go to Crystal River and we couldn't buy one," Citrus coach Tom Densmore said. "I kept thinking any minute these things are going to drop."

Densmore said the 'Canes should have stopped shooting them at some point.

"But it's like in baseball when you've got someone batting .600 and he strikes out. You want to keep giving him chance after chance to fight through it," the coach said.

This week, Densmore said, the Hurricanes are going to work on alternative ways of scoring.

"Normally, if you hold a team to 45 points you win," he said. "But for heaven sakes, we've got to shoot better than that."

Citrus will have its chance soon.

THE ANSWER: Crystal River at Citrus, Monday, 7 p.m.

LAY-UP DRILL

Roger Jones' 18 points against Citrus, coupled with Steve D'Amico's eight, were all scored in the fourth quarter and helped Crystal River reach .500 at 3-3 overall.

As the Lecanto girls (5-4) gear up for Nature Coast Tech, it's good to look at Sasha Rodriguez. She comes off the bench and has scored 17 points twice this season - against Belleview and Hernando - to give the Panthers a new option.

Lecanto lost a nailbiter, 52-51, to West Port last week and after the North Marion game was postponed won 63-41 against Belleview. In that match-up, Melissa Foraker scored 21 points in limited action. Her performance is no surprise to coach Ron Allan. Last

year, before Foraker broke her ankle after Christmas, she logged 36 against Leesburg.

"In total points, she only had four less points than our leader (Tiffany Wright) despite playing in eight less games," Allan said.

For all its talent, the Seven Rivers Christian boys team lacks height. Just about every player is under 6-foot.

So when the Warriors (5-2) met St.John Lutheran on Friday night and noticed their opponent started three players taller than 6-5, they might have been a little intimidated.

St.John, capitalizing on its interior presence, began with a 15-4 run. But Seven Rivers soon realized it was as talented and fought back, losing just 45-41.

When the teams play again Jan.20, coach Jim Ervin says there could be a different outcome.

"I think we'll get off to a better start next time," he said. "But they're the team to beat. We played them for the district title the last two years."

IN THE PAINT

TODAY'S GAMES: Boys - Westport at Lecanto, 7:30 p.m.; Crystal River at Dunnellon, 7 . Girls - Dunnellon at Crystal River, 7 p.m.

COMING UP

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES: Boys - Belleview at Citrus, 7:30 p.m. Girls - Citrus at Belleview, 7:30 p.m.; Lecanto at Nature Coast Tech, 7:30.

THURSDAY'S GAMES: Boys - First Academy of Leesburg at Seven Rivers Christian, 7 p.m. Girls - First Academy of Leesburg at Seven Rivers, 5:30 p.m.; Crystal River at West Port, 7.

FRIDAY'S GAMES: Boys - Dunnellon at Citrus, 7 p.m.; West Port at Crystal River, 7. Girls - Citrus at Dunnellon, 7 p.m.; Lecanto at Nature Coast, 7:30; Lecanto at Father Lopez Tournament.

MONDAY'S GAMES: Boys - Crystal River at Citrus, 7 p.m. Girls - Citrus at Crystal River, 7.

[Last modified December 13, 2005, 01:30:24]