Punch to keep Nature Coast star out

Only the length of Shareka Maner 's suspension must be determined after she hit a player Friday.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published December 19, 2006

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With a pair of talent-laden holiday tournaments on the horizon, Nature Coast is entering the part of its schedule that could help determine whether or not it is a legitimate state title contender.

That type of evaluation might be a little more difficult now, though, as star forward Shareka Maner faces a suspension for striking a Hernando player late in the fourth quarter of the Sharks' 59-24 win Friday night.

The FHSAA will impose a suspension, which could range anywhere from one to six weeks.

The incident occurred while the teams were lining up around the key for a free throw. According to Hernando coach Walt Cermak, Leopards forward April Griffey walked to the sideline with the wind knocked out of her and told the coach she had been punched in the stomach.

Cermak said he did not see the incident, but referees whistled Maner for technical and flagrant fouls and ejected her from the game.

Nature Coast coach Jason Montgomery said his player was "very apologetic" and she was a good kid who "let the circumstances get the best of her."

Both Montgomery and Cermak said the game featured some trash-talking between the teams.

But Montgomery stressed Maner simply suffered a momentary lapse in judgment.

"It's not like her," said Montgomery, who added Maner wrote a letter of apology to Griffey immediately after the game. "She's a very classy kid."

Maner, a sophomore, leads the undefeated Sharks with 11 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She did not play in Nature Coast's win over Central on Monday night and is expected to miss the Sharks' first holiday tournament, regardless of the penalty the FHSAA imposes.