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Pirates need grip to grow on

By DAWN REISS
Published January 4, 2007

After taking a break for the holidays, Crystal River coach Jere DeFoor is focused on one thing: cutting down turnovers.

The Pirates (5-9) average roughly 30 a game, and sometimes, DeFoor said, as many as 38 or 40. "We just throw the ball around and travel too much," he said.

DeFoor also wants the Pirates to improve their ball handling and rebounding. With the exception of junior forward Alicia Davis, who averages 10 rebounds a game, DeFoor said the Pirates aren't boxing out well enough.

Crystal River will play its first game since Dec. 18 at Dunnellon Friday night. The Pirates weren't invited to any holiday tournaments, DeFoor said, leading to a three-week gap between games.

"It's been tough trying to get back into the routine of everything," DeFoor said.

911, ALKA-SELTZER AND ANKLE TAPE: Lecanto coach Ron Allan isn't having much luck keeping his team healthy. On a roster of 12, he's down to seven players after injuries and illness have kept the Panthers (7-7) less than 100 percent.

"We're just trying to get healthy," Alan said.

Several players have injured their ankles, like Lexi Angelo, while others, including Angie Acton, Megan Alexander and Megan Dixon, are sick.

As a result, Allan has pulled up two freshmen junior varsity players: guard Stephanie Savory and forward Marie Taylor.

"There's not a whole lot you can do," Allan said.

Instead the Panthers are doing a lot of individual drills, gearing up for an important 7:30 Friday game against North Marion.

"If we can get a win against North Marion, we'll be back on track to the No. 2 seed," Allan said. West Port leads the Class 4A-6 district, followed by North Marion and Lecanto.

MAGIC EIGHT: Three Panthers - Acton (8.6), Angelo (8.2) and Alexander (8.1) - are averaging eight-plus points a game.

TIME OFF: Seven Rivers Christian has not practiced for two weeks and coach Scott Swander said the Warriors are paying the price.

"We're been off too long," Swander said. "We're out of shape right now. I can tell we've eaten too much over the holiday."

Swander said Seven Rivers Christian mandates the teams take 10 days off in a row.

"I could do a holiday tournament but I can't have practices," Swander said. "The girls go away so we just didn't. I don't have a lot of girls, so if one or two go away, if makes it hard when you only have six girls who play."

Seven Rivers Christian (8-3) faces Meadowbrook Academy on the road at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

[Last modified January 3, 2007, 19:49:35]