Warder becomes No. 1 at Hudson

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 18, 2001

Better later than never.

After early-season struggles and an injured ankle that hobbled her and forced her to miss a game, Nicole Warder set the career scoring record at Hudson on Tuesday in a 54-18 win over River Ridge.

Warder canned a three-pointer with 1:57 remaining to finish the game with 20 points and 1,166 for her career. The previous record was 1,164.

"Nicole was on a mission," said Hudson coach Doreen Grote, whose team improved to 11-4. Unlike earlier this season when Warder had an exceptionally good game and unexpectedly reached the 1,000-point milestone on the road, she was able to get this mark at home.

Barely.

Eager to get her out of the game considering it was a rout, Grote waited impatiently for her star to score the record-setting points.

But Warder uncharacteristically struggled at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, making just 4 of 9 tries. "She was getting mad at herself," Grote said.

But the coach wanted her to get the record at home, and since the Cobras' next game is on the road, she stuck with her.

Finally, Grote decided Warder would play until the two-minute mark and told her time was running out.

"I said you have 47 seconds to make it happen or it's not going to," Grote said. "The next time down the floor she had a fast break and shot a three. Nothing but net."

It was Warder's third straight game with 20 or more points. She's the Cobras' leading scorer.

Knights' top scorer out with leg injury

River Ridge got a rematch with Hudson on Tuesday night hoping to avenge an early-season loss, but there was no match without leading scorer Theresa Harris.

Harris suffered a leg injury last Friday in a 36-27 win over Zephyrhills and sat on the bench with her leg in an air-cast. She is expected to miss at least a week and could be out for the season.

Harris was averaging 10.7 points per game and was the team's top free-throw shooter at 77 percent.

BEST BET

WHO: Hudson at Pasco

WHAT: Girls soccer

WHEN: 8 p.m.

THE SKINNY: No, the fact that this game is our best bet is not a sign that the Armageddon is near. Instead, it's a sign that these are the county's most improved teams. The Pirates are 8-8-2 and tied River Ridge -- River Ridge! -- last week. Could the Pirates be a Class 2A, District 8 contender? Maybe. It depends on what they did last night against Zephyrhills. But a win answers our question affirmatively. This game should feature two of the best keepers in the county. Hudson's Jessica Borrello has earned the praises of opposing coaches for her aggressive style, and Pasco's Shelly Grayling is allowing just 1.88 goals a game (who remembers when 10-0 losses were the norm in Dade City?). Borrello will have the tougher job tonight because Pasco has some offensive pop in Kayla Bresch (7 goals, 4 assists) and Amanda Newsome (6 goals, 5 assists). Alicia Doane leads Hudson with 10 goals.

THANKS

All eight boys basketball teams played Tuesday night, and six of the girls teams were in action. We know that because each game was reported in the newspaper the next day thanks to coaches calling in box scores. That's 100 percent perfection. That's impressive. Thanks.

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