Panthers fight on

Lecanto survives a tough battle against Clay to reach the region semifinals for the third time.

By DAWN REISS
Published February 17, 2006

LECANTO - Senior guard Mychal Nichols proudly pumped a fake WWE heavyweight belt into the air as the crowd hoisted him and his teammate Eddie Buckley on fans' shoulders.

For the third time in Lecanto's history the Panthers are head to the region semifinals with a 57-48 win against Green Cove Springs Clay.

But it wasn't without a fight, on and off the court.

An intense and passionate game erupted with four technical fouls and a bleacher fight afterwards when female Lecanto athletes charged into the visitors' area and tried to rip down signs fans had posted. Police and school officials broke up a pushing match and tried to disperse the crowd.

After Clay (19-8) scored the opening bucket, Lecanto went on a 10-0 run, churning out 19 points in the first quarter to the Blue Devils' 13. Nichols and Buckley led the charge, each scoring six.

Helped by its ability to platoon and reset with an entirely new lineup, Lecanto (22-4) capitalized on its small size and quickness by pressing and scoring 3-pointers on rested legs. Drastically different, Clay's five starters were all 6-feet or better, led by senior center 6-foot-8, 270-pound Blake Elrod, who picked up a quick first technical halfway into the first quarter.

Clay coach Gary Gartin said it was "huge" to lose Elrod.

"I kept trying to control him throughout the game," Gartin said. "but he lost his composure."

Elrod re-entered in the second, and helped Clay take a lead by scoring eight of his 10 points with a presence inside coupled with a Clarence Hampshire hoop and senior forward 6-foot-5 Wanick Cime's free throw, which gave the Blue Devils a 30-28 lead at halftime.

"We told our guys at halftime, keep pushing the issue, make them play fast," Lecanto coach Chris Nichols said. "I think they survived the first run, they survived one in the second, but that third one, they had nothing for it."

That run led to a 10-point lead after three.

With 6:38 left in the fourth quarter, Elrod earned his second technical, later followed by a Mychal Nichols technical for taunting Clay's bench.

"It was a heated deal," Chris Nichols said. "It happens. The kids were hot, it was an emotional ball game, it's going to happen."

[Last modified February 17, 2006, 02:15:35]