Offense abandons Alonso vs. Mitchell

With shooters on both sides cold, defense helps the Mustangs to the title.

By ROD GIPSON
Published February 5, 2006

TAMPA - With the district championship at stake and plenty of pride on the line, neither Mitchell nor Alonso could explain their sudden offensive lapses. And while both teams admittedly are better shooting squads, their missed shots brought another aspect into play in the district final - defense.

With the teams scoring just a combined 29 points in the second half, Mitchell made just enough shots and pulled down enough rebounds to hold off Alonso 39-29 and claim the championship. "We didn't shoot well at all," Mitchell coach Stephanie Koslin said. "We're a better shooting team than that but we were able to hit some at the end and pull it out."

Early on, it appeared the Mustangs (23-4) offense was proficient as usual, quickly jumping to a seven-point advantage in the first quarter. But after a Lisette Perez 3-pointer and three more points from Margaret Escourse, Alonso grabbed a 16-15 lead with 2:55 left in the first half, the Ravens' first lead since 2-0.

But Mitchell answered, using a Taylor Lunin 3-pointer to eventually take a 22-16 halftime lead. But from that point, a shooting cold front set in. While Mitchell managed just six points in the third, Alonso's output was even less - three points. But both teams stepped up their defensive efforts.

Halfway through the fourth, the offenses seemed to thaw out. Alonso (15-9) received two 3s from Perez to twice pull to within six. But when the Ravens needed their shots to fall the most, they didn't. Alonso managed to get plenty of shots, but missed from the field and especially the free-throw line, shooting just 7-for-25 from the line.

Mitchell pulled down most of those missed Alonso shots late in the game, overcoming its own missed shots.

"The free-throw line really hurt us," Alonso coach Kelly Joyner said. "We just didn't shoot well and we couldn't make shots from the line. We feel like had we made those free throws, this championship could have been ours."

RIVERVIEW - With feisty full-court defense and an explosive scorer, Sarasota Riverview routed Riverview 57-42 to win its fourth straight championship.

The Sharks (20-3) struggled all game to get good looks at the basket and turned the ball over regularly. They also failed to capitalize at the free throw line, making only 9-of-23.

After shaving a big first-half deficit to 10 at halftime, Riverview missed 10 of 11 shots in the third quarter and managed only three points. Sarasota then pulled away for good and led by as much as 21 in the fourth quarter.

"We've been playing defense very well lately," Sarasota Riverview coach Butch Wade said. "Tonight was no different."

Senior guard Lovella Cannon scored a game-high 23 points for the winners, 17 of which came in the first half.

She was accurate too, hitting 10 of 15 attempts from the floor.

"She's a special player and she showed excellent senior leadership," Wade said.

Teammate Shannon Washington scored 16 points and made 8 of 10 from the free throw line.

Riverview forwards Ashley Milian and Olawayomi Akintola were both in double figures, scoring 14 and 11, respectively.

The game was physical throughout. A total of 41 fouls were called and late in the game, Washington and Milian were involved in a minor altercation in which they exchanged shoves. No technicals were assessed.

- JOHN CALKINS, Times correspondent

[Last modified February 5, 2006, 01:23:11]