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Sharks turn Cobras into moccasins

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By JIM REDMILE, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 4, 2007

HUDSON - With a road win on Friday night, Nature Coast, led by senior Joey Silvestri, improved its record to 2-2 and 1-0 in district 4A-8 by defeating Hudson at the Cobras' Den, 69-56.

"This was a big game for us, a big district win," said first-year Nature Coast Head Coach David Pisarcik. "I had great expectations for the team. I'm very proud of them. We know that Hudson is one of the better teams in the district, and our guys came ready to play."

The Shark game plan seemed to be two-fold. Establish an inside game, and try to contain Hudson junior Jarrod Branco.

"All week we concentrated on our scouting report," Pisarcik explained. "Jarrod Branco is a great competitor. Our goal was to contain him and we did our best on him. It's tough to shut a player like him down."
Hudson center Stephen Brom worked hard early to establish an inside presence making the first field goal of the game from inside the paint. But Pisarcik's team had a plan.

"We're a small team. It's a match-up problem for us but we kept attacking the basket, taking it to the rim and scoring," said Pisarcik "We came into the game wanting to be aggressive to the basket and get some easy buckets, create a lane. The last couple games we've been relying on shooting the three."
Cobras lead early

The big Cobra center played right into the Sharks' hand, committing two early fouls and with 5:54 left in the first quarter, sat the rest of the half.

That said, the Cobras went to work, and five of eight players scored in the first quarter to lead 17-13 behind Branco's six points, including a three-pointer and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Nature Coast's Silvestri had five of his 26 total in the first, including a 3-pointer, and Bryan Pent scored two of his five field goals.

The second quarter was almost a repeat of the first. This time Hudson's Chris Russo made two three-pointers, Jarrod Branco added three points with a field goal and the first half of a one-and-one. Nature Coast's Pent had two more, Silvestri again had a three and a two and P.J. Orgass had two baskets and converted a foul shot to make it a 30-27 Hudson lead at the half.

"It's hard to contain Jarrod (Branco), a kid of that caliber," said Pisarcik, but the Sharks made a go of it. They turned the game around in the third quarter shutting Branco down to but a field goal. Patrick Solis of the Cobras turned in six points, Austin Gibbons hit a trey and Scott Rice added two to Hudson's 13 for the quarter.

But now the Sharks were circling and going in for the kill. The ever so consistent Silvestri added another basket to his usual five, along with six rebounds and two steals. Lefty Mike Adams hit a trey and Reshad Terry, quiet until now with two rebounds and a steal, hit for five points giving the Sharks the big lift they were waiting for.

"Reshad is an energy guy," said Pisarcik. "Shaddy came in from football. He came in there, got a couple of baskets, and you could see his reaction. He's an emotional player. It really got us going."
Nature Coast led 46-43 going into the fourth quarter. By now, the Sharks were in the one-and-one with Branco picking up three fouls in a row in the third, slowing him down only slightly.

He exploded with seven of the team total 13 points in the fourth quarter, and recorded 18 total points including four rebounds, four steals and five assists.
Silvestri again hit his usual bucket and three, this time adding four points from the line on five attempts. Terry had three field goals and went 2-for-4 from the line. Orgass added another three-pointer and Pent, who finished with 13, went 3-of-4 from the line for a total of 23 on the quarter.

"Joe Silvestri hit the big shots for us tonight," said Pisarcik. "We kept getting there, we kept getting there, and then they would make a couple of plays. But Joe Silvestri put us over the hump tonight."

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