Catching up
Here's the scoop on a trio of former Citrus County basketball stars.
By KELLIE DIXON
Published March 4, 2007
Drew Zimbro, G, Jacksonville
At Lecanto, Drew Zimbro was known for his shot. Heck, he had nine 3-pointers in his varsity debut and recorded back-to-back 35-point games.
But at Jacksonville, the 6-foot-3 freshman guard hit the weight room. Suddenly, the sweet swish of success was replaced by an annoying clanging noise for almost two months.
Zimbro admitted he was concerned initially.
My shot "was my ticket," Zimbro said. "And we started lifting weights, and I couldn't raise my arms for two weeks. I was scared at first, but then I got used to (my strength)."
It was just another adjustment for Zimbro, a guard on the Dolphins' 15-14 team. Campbell upset third-seeded Jacksonville 90-85 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun tournament.
Zimbro played 12 minutes in seven regular-season games for the Dolphins, scored four points and had three rebounds.
Riding back with the team from the tournament Friday, Zimbro talked about lifting weights, improving his overall game, adjusting to the quicker college pace and settling into his major - physical education. Zimbro wants to be a basketball coach. A lot of that has to do with his high school coaches.
When things aren't going right and his hard work doesn't seem to be paying off, Zimbro remembers the words of his high school coaches. Zimbro recalled: "Their big thing was just the harder you work, the easier it gets."
Walter Howard, F, Citadel
The 6-foot-6 freshman played in six games for 30 minutes this year. Howard, a former standout at Citrus, scored seven points and had six rebounds for the 7-23 Citadel this season. The Citadel was knocked out of the first round of the Southern Conference tournament on Wednesday.
Lacey Lyons, G-F, Coastal Carolina
The 5-foot-11 former Crystal River standout wasn't expecting big minutes as a freshman. But after spending every day in practice defending the team's best player, Alisha Dill, and after making the most of her game-time opportunities, Lyons found a niche as a key reserve.
She has played every game for the Chanticleers, which were 17-10 prior to Saturday's game at Charleston Southern. She was averaging 7.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Defending Dill early on was even more frustrating because Lyons had to learn how to play man-to-man defense. In high school, her team stuck with zone.
At first, Dill "made me feel like I was really bad because she beat me all the time," Lyons said. 'I understand now that it's only going to make me better. ... I noticed in games I do a lot better job."
Coastal Carolina tips off Thursday in the Big South Tournament, and Lyons' focus isn't changing.
"I'll just get in there and play defense and get rebounds," Lyons said. "I don't have a problem with my role."