Saturday, February 18, 2012

Yellow Jacket Depth Stings NCT, December 27, 2008

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO Nature Coast's Alexis Helfand tries to shoot over the Leesburg defense during Saturday morning's game at South Lake High. 
By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR. | Hernando Today
Published: December 27, 2008 

GROVELAND --Through one quarter, it appeared Nature Coast Technical might put together a surprise to open the Florida Citrus Shootout at Groveland-South Lake High.

The Lady Sharks met Leesburg Saturday morning, facing a Yellow Jacket squad that reached the state semifinals last season, in the opener of the holiday tournament.

Nature Coast stormed out in front early, but couldn't overcome Leesburg's superior depth and athleticism, getting outplayed over the final three quarters in a 53-43 defeat.

"They're just so much deeper than we are. They wore us down," Nature Coast Head Coach Travis Lamle said. "I kind of thought they'd press us more than they did. Their size and athleticism killed us. They dominated on the glass.

"We started out so well, I thought we'd be able to do more stuff against them than we did. It was the most physical game we've played all year. We don't see that anywhere else we go. But that's why we come to these things."

By the end of the first quarter, Leesburg (11-2) had played nine players, compared to eight by Nature Coast (10-4).

Four players scored in double figures for the Yellow Jackets: Waneta Carlisle (14), Ashley Lanier (12), Baylie Bridges (10) and Jaleesa Blue (10). 

Only the starting forward tandem of Alexis Helfand (14) and Alyssa Joens (10) duplicated that for the Lady Sharks, though guard Jenn Marshall had nine.

The team's leading scorer, Shareka Maner, had a quiet day with four points and four rebounds, though she blocked three shots. Point guard Crystal Anthony also posted just four points along with four assists and three steals.

On the glass, Leesburg won the rebounding battle 34-26, led by Blue's 12 and Latoya Foster's seven. Helfand paced Nature Coast with seven boards.

Hot start

Helfand scored eight points in the opening period as the Lady Sharks officially held a 19-17 lead.
When the first quarter ended, the scoreboard originally had Nature Coast with 21 points, but the official scorekeeper did not credit a basket to Marshall, leaving her with five points in the period.

The disagreement on the score proved meaningless, as the Yellow Jackets doubled up the Lady Sharks in each of the next two quarters.

They took a 29-25 advantage into halftime and went up 39-25 on Blue's second three-pointer of the quarter. She scored all of her points in the third and all but two of her team's in the period.

A fast break lay-up by Lanier made it 51-35 with 3:27 left to play, giving Leesburg its biggest lead of the day.

"It took us a little while to get warmed up, get the kinks out, but I told them I'm proud of their effort today," Leesburg Head Coach Mark Oates said. "We came out against a good team, a well-coached team, and found a way to get the W.

"...I think there was a point where we got some easy baskets and they missed some easy baskets and once we got a lead we were able to do the things we want to do. I don't think they handled pressure as well as the coach wants them to and I thought we rebounded well."

The tournament resumes Monday, when Nature Coast will play Apopka at 3:15 p.m. On Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. they'll take on Cocoa.

"I thought we looked great in the first quarter," Lamle said. "We knew what we were getting into. I thought we had them scouted well but you can't make them put lay-ups in.

"I know nothing about Apopka. Cocoa, they're going to be athletic and big. We don't see that in the Hernando/Pasco/Citrus area. We've got to hope our system basketball negates some of their athleticism."

LEESBURG 53, NATURE COAST 43
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Nature Coast 19 6 6 12 - 43
Leesburg 17 12 12 12 - 53
Nature Coast (43): Helfand 5 4-5 14, Joens 5 0-0 10, Maner 2 0-0 4, Anthony 2 0-0 4, Marshall 3 3-3 9, Byrd 1 0-0 2, Johnson 0, Hattaway 0. Totals 18 7-8 43.
Leesburg (53): Carlisle 4 6-6 14, Blue 4 0-0 10, Foster 2 1-2 5, Bridges 4 0-0 10, Cosgrove 0, Lanier 6 0-0 12, Richardson 1 0-0 2, Johnson 0, Cardinales 0, Dejarlais 0. Totals 21 7-8 53.
Three-point field goals: NCT 0; LEE 4 (Bridges 2, Blue 2).
Total fouls: NCT 11; LEE 13.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: Nature Coast (10-4), Leesburg (11-2).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

Resources
 
Leesburg Public Library
100 East Main Street
Leesburg, Florida 34748











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