Packers battle back

By DOUG KATES
Published February 5, 2006

DUNEDIN - Largo coach Dee Feazell insists she never gets worried when her girls are playing hard on the basketball court.

In the championship game Saturday night, there were plenty of opportunities for the coach to panic, but she says she didn't.

Instead, her confidence remained and her Packers turned some tense moments into a 60-56 come-from-behind victory celebration.

"These kids have so much heart," Feazell said. "They work hard and I knew it was going to pay off."

Largo opened the game shooting 3-for-3 from the field and taking an 8-0 lead, but then missed its next seven shots and fell behind 10-8. Clearwater moved ahead 14-10 after the first period and held a 35-22 advantage at halftime.

At one point in the half, things were going so badly for the Packers, Feazell called a timeout after the opposition missed two consecutive shots. They were easy, open shots, however, and the coach knew her defense needed some adjustments.

The third quarter was a whole new game. Senior co-captain Alexis Henry connected on three clutch 3-point shots and teammates Courtney Bell and Tashyra Feazell also hit from long distance.

The Packers regained their lead 46-45 at the end of the period and remained ahead nearly four minutes into the final period. With 4:12 to play, the Tornadoes retied the game at 52 and with 2:46 to play the score was 54-54.

In the closing minute, however, Henry added her fourth 3-pointer and Bell connected inside. It was enough to hold on and head to regionals with a 23-1 record.

Henry finished with a game-high 18 points. She said she wasn't nervous taking 3-point shots trailing in a title game.

"If it was open, I took it," she said. "You have to make your choice. When you're a captain, you have to step up."

Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt said he liked the way his team was playing defense for most of the night, but Largo's eight 3-pointers were a big difference.

The Tornadoes are also headed to regionals with a 22-5 record.

"They came a long way," Shaneyfelt said. "I'm very proud of what they did all year."

CLEARWATER - A few secrets about Lakeside Christian, district champs and postseason-bound for the first time in 11 years after a 53-20 route of Oldsmar Christian. They're really young. They make free throws. And if they have to, they can press.

"I don't really want people to know that much about us," said seventh-year coach Will Grenelle after the running-clock victory at home Saturday night. "We do some things a whole lot better than we do some other things."

With five grade-schoolers, two sophomores, a freshman and a junior, the Lions (15-4) allowed just one basket, by the Eagles' Amy Decker (4 points), in the game's first 10 minutes. They also forced turnovers with a tenacious press that led to a 15-2 first-quarter lead. After Becky Grenelle converted nine of 12 free-throw attempts in the second quarter alongside Lauren Dugan's 10 points, Lakeside led at halftime 34-10.

"We knew they were going to press and that they were fast," said Eagles coach Bobby Bache. "Then we got into foul trouble and what can you do?"

Oldsmar had 18 fouls at the half.

Dugan finished with a game-high 22 points. Grenelle had 16 points from the line for 20 total. Emilee Sexton led the Eagles (10-5) with 10 points. Kate Stairs added 4 points for Oldsmar (10-5).

- ERIC MUSKATEVC, Times staff writer

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