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Buffaloes find range; Eagles not on same plane

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By JIM REDMILE, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: November 26, 2007

SPRING HILL - In the first round of early season girls' basketball on Thanksgiving Eve, the Springstead junior varsity (2-0) pulled off a breathtaking 29-28 victory when Shannon Capehart hit a three-pointer with one minute left in overtime.

But in the final round of a knockdown, dragout night, The Villages' Megan McCue delivered the final and decisive blow to the Eagles girls' varsity basketball team with just 1 1/2 seconds left to lead the Buffaloes to their fourth victory in as many tries.

The game was tied 26-26 with just 10 seconds left on the clock when Springstead point guard Roseann Lariosa was fouled and lined up for the one-and-one free throw attempt.

Lariosa, who until then was 4-for-6 from the line, missed her attempt. The Buffaloes moved the ball swiflty down court where McCue went baseline, missing a lay-up, but got her own rebound and made the putback.

"Down to the wire, what a game. Everybody contributed, everybody stepped up tonight," said Head Coach Todd Toomer of his Eagles. "Everybody played defense. The game could have gone either way to the last three minutes of the game. It was who didn't make the mistakes at the time."

Springstead (0-3 overall) played most of the game with a smaller, swifter squad without senior center Jen Knoer. "I lost my senior center there in the first quarter, she went out with a knee injury, and basically lost my inside presence. She's good for at least 6-7 points a game."

The Villages Charter High School (4-0) remained unbeaten behind McCue's 11 points, including a three-pointer and three rebounds.

Eagles guard Bryer Zavitz led all Springstead scorers with 11 points, going 4-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from the foul line. She also had six rebounds and five steals. Lariosa was 3-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from the line, the two accounting for 21 of Springstead's 26 points.

"Tonight they played like they are supposed to," said Toomer.

Springstead's Sasha Spalding led all rebounders with nine and added two assists, two blocked shots, a field goal and a steal.

"I'm proud of these girls," beamed Toomer. "Everyone fought hard. It was all heart tonight."

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