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Schulman, Adams Lead Gulf To Final

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Gulf Buccaneers have ridden senior Jordan Schulman and freshman Nicole Adams all season long and in Friday's Class 4A-District 8 semifinal at Wiregrass Ranch, the two carried Gulf straight to tonight's district final against Nature Coast.

The duo accounted for all but two points in the Bucs' 53-37 win against Brooksville Hernando. Schulman led Gulf with 26 points and Adams had 25, including going 11 of 11 at the free-throw line. Lindsey Brooks had the other two points for Gulf with a field goal in the first quarter.

"Jordan played the best game she's played all year," Gulf coach Mike Quarto said. "She hurt her shoulder late in the regular season and that's the best she's played since November."

The game was close for three quarters. Gulf led by one after the first quarter, Hernando led by four at the half and Hernando led by two after three quarters.

Then Gulf went on a tear in the fourth quarter, going on a 20-2 run.
Schulman had 10 points in the fourth, starting out the quarter knocking down back-to-back 3-point goals.Adams hit 10 of her 11 free throws in the fourth as well.

"For our seniors this is our last year and we wanted to prove something," Schulman said. "We knew we just had to win this game."

Gulf had built an eight-point lead about halfway through the fourth due to Schulman's field goals, then Adams kept getting fouled and was flawless from the line to extend the Bucs' lead for the win.

"I could not be prouder of her," Schulman said. "To be thrown in this situation as a freshman starting point guard, I'm so proud of her."

Because the Bucs had to recently wait while the flu bug worked its way through the team, they mostly had shootarounds to rest their players and practiced a lot of free throws.

They also perfected their half-court sets, which led to Adams getting fouled so often down the stretch. They made a conscious effort not to shoot at all from the outside.

Gulf also played a strong defensive game, especially in the fourth quarter as the Bucs held Hernando's leading scorer, April Griffey, to one point. She had scored 17 through the first three quarters.

The first game of the night was not as close as No. 1 seed Nature Coast beat Zephyrhills 47-21.

The Sharks had a 17-4 lead after the first quarter and didn't look back.

That win set up the No. 1 vs. No. 2 seed district championship game tonight between Nature Coast and Gulf. Nature Coast won both regular-season meetings with Gulf by 15 and 13 points.

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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