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Hudson has realistic viewpointBy JOHN C. COTEY © St. Petersburg Times, published February 15, 2001 HUDSON -- Doreen Grote is refreshingly realistic when assessing her team's playoff possibilities. The Cobras could win tonight. They probably won't win in the next round. And the final four is out of the question. "We have no illusions about going to state," Grote said. "We've accomplished a lot of our goals this season. Winning or losing, what matters is that we give our best effort. I don't think anyone will be shedding any tears when we lose (our last game). "We won the district championship for what we think is the first time in school history. Everything else is icing on the cake." The Cobras dip their fingers in that icing tonight when they host North Marion (14-12) tonight in a Class 4A, Region 2 quarterfinal, looking for nothing more than to build on one of the most successful seasons in school history. That also was the case last season, when the Cobras finished as the district runner-up and had to travel to Winter Haven. In one of the uglier episodes in school history, the Blue Devils defeated the Cobras 87-25. Grote hopes for a different result this year. "That was frustrating," she said. "We prefer not to remember that one." Hudson is 18-6, finished second in the Sunshine Athletic Conference and beat Pasco for the 4A-8 district championship last week. Along the way, Nicole Warder became the school's all-time leading scorer, freshman Jen Barrett played like one of the county's rising stars, and the supporting cast, including Alison Baker, Tarah Marinelli and Lauren Bislick, got better as the season went on. Grote is insistent that none of that gets lost no matter the playoff outcome. But that does not mean she will not be coaching her team to win tonight. "We think tonight is a realistic win for us," she said. The Cobras have played some of their best ball since the Christmas break. After losing their last three games of 2000, they won eight consecutive games and finished with an 11-2 run, including two district playoff wins. Bislick and Baker, the two inside players, have made the transition from volleyball -- where they helped lead the Cobras to the final four -- and after slow starts have played well during the final month. Barrett is averaging double-figure points and has allowed Warder to shift from the point to off guard, her natural position. Even little-used Sarah Swing came up with some big minutes in the district tournament. "Everyone has improved," Grote said. Still, the team's success hinges on Warder, the sharpshooting playmaker who has carried the Cobras this season. She set a slew of season and career records during her time at Hudson but would like to help the team set a milestone, too: first playoff win. "I look at this as another chance to excel with the team," Warder said. "I've had a lot of individual milestones this year, but to get a regional playoff win in the first round ... that would be great for the team." Want to go? WHAT: Class 4A, Region 2 quarterfinals WHO: North Marion vs. Hudson WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. at Hudson THE SKINNY: If the Cobras beat North Marion, it would be one of their biggest wins ever. The Colts lost to Hernando 55-49 in the 4A-7 district final last week and their physical brand of basketball is in contrast to the finesse style Hudson prefers.
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