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Girls Basketball Roundup: Late Free Throws Lift TBT To Win

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A Tribune staff report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Tech struggled from the free-throw line in Thursday's Class 5A-Region 2 girls basketball quarterfinal game against Land O' Lakes.

The host Titans shot 42 percent (10-for-24) from the line. But when it mattered most, TBT sank four free throws in the final two minutes to propel the Titans to a 41-40 win.

TBT (23-4) will host Wesley Chapel in a region semifinal on Tuesday. Land O' Lakes ended its season 13-14.

The Titans trailed by 10 early in the second quarter before using their defensive pressure to get back in the game.

"I wish we hadn't started that slowly. We came out and were really tight," TBT coach Heather Glezen said. "Once we settled down we were OK. Our defense stepped it up in the second half."

Gators sophomore guard Meghan Keough scored a game-high 23 points from all over - she penetrated the lane, went coast-to-coast, drove the baseline, hit pull-up jumpers and connected from 3-point range.

"She's a heck of a player, and she played her butt off," Glezen said. "But I told our team we can't let one person beat us."

After Keough tied it at 37 with a free throw, TBT made four free throws in the final minutes to go up 41-37. LOL's Kaitlynn Pacholke made a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it wasn't enough.

Gregg Becnel

Dragons Cruise Past Hurricanes

Jefferson defeated Palm Harbor University 79-58 on Thursday night for the girls basketball program's first playoff victory.

The win sets up a rematch in the region semifinals Tuesday night with Clearwater, a team that beat Jefferson by 39 points in the first round last season.

The Dragons (25-1) used a stifling defense and a deep bench to build a big lead early. And despite a flu bug that tore through the team this week, a less than 100 percent Jefferson squad easily advanced to the next round.

"That's a tribute to all of them coming off the bench and doing their job," Jefferson coach Tom Mosca said. "Our depth helps, and that could get us through."

Freshman center Shayla Wilson led the Dragons with 21 points, including 18 in the second half.

Katherine Smith

Mills Leads Wildcats To Win

WESLEY CHAPEL - Janelle Mills may have missed 19 regular-season games with a broken left wrist. But in her third game back she played like a seasoned pro. The senior Wesley Chapel center created havoc inside and owned the boards. But it was her timely long-range shooting that gave the host Wildcats a 51-43 Class 5A-Region 2 quarterfinal win against Armwood.

With Wesley Chapel holding a one-point lead to begin the fourth quarter, Mills scored 10 straight points, including consecutive 3-point baskets for a 46-35 lead with 3:47 left. After her last bucket of the run, she blocked a shot on the ensuing Armwood possession.

"I was just feeling the shots," Mills said of her four 3-point field goals. Armwood "was giving me the shots and I just took them."

Lee Diekemper

Ryan Keys Tornadoes Win

CLEARWATER - Junior guard Veronica Ryan scored 18 points leading Clearwater 62-31 to victory in the Class 5A-Region 3 quarterfinals. Ryan made three 3-point shots in the first half, helping the Tornadoes to a 38-11 halftime lead.

Plant scored almost half of its points in the third quarter as the Panthers cut into the Clearwater lead. In the end, Clearwater's defense wore down Plant, allowing only one double-digit scorer.

"They had a lot of fight in them," said Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt, "that's to their credit."

Aaron Cline Hanbury

Sickles Rallies Behind Henson

SARASOTA - Host Sarasota Riverview (20-9) led by as many as 13 points, but a strong second half carried Sickles to a 48-34 victory in their Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinal.

It would have been difficult to predict that after the Gryphons' rough start. Sickles (20-6) went scoreless for the first 5:18 before Rachel Smith hit a 3-pointer. Another 8:18 passed before Sickles scored again, on an Amber Henson putback, allowing Riverview to build a 16-3 lead. Yet, the deficit was just 18-10 at halftime.

"I told the kids, 'Hang in there,'" Sickles coach Mark Key said. "'You're playing great defense. It's going to turn around in just a minute.'"

An air ball to begin the third quarter wasn't a good indication, but things were swinging in Sickles' favor. Smith sank another three a minute into the period to begin an 11-0 run. Henson, who had two points in the first half, sank a 3-pointer with 3:50 left in the quarter to give Sickles its first lead, one it wouldn't give back.

Henson had 10 points in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 21.

Anthony Gagliano

Sailors Upset Green Devils

ST. PETERSBURG - After trailing twice by 10 points in the third quarter, visiting Sarasota (20-8) scrapped for a 50-43 victory over St. Petersburg (21-6) in the Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinals.

The Sailors were down 31-21 before the comeback. St. Petersburg led by 10 twice, the biggest lead by either team in the game.

Freshman guard Kelly Jutras hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 to go in the game. The basket broke a 39-39 tie to give the Sailors a 42-39 lead they held on to.

Mike Moore

Wiregrass Fall To Bishop Moore

ORLANDO - When basketball season begins again in October, Wiregrass Ranch coach Greg Finkel plans to show the tape of Thursday's Class 4A-Region 2 quarterfinal game against Orlando Bishop Moore.

But he won't have his players watch the play of the Bulls. It will be Bishop Moore that the girls will be studying.

The Hornets (27-2), last year's Class 4A state champions, dominated en route to a 68-17 victory against Wiregrass Ranch (23-6).

"When you get to the regional for the first time, you don't want to play like this," Finkel said. "But Bishop Moore is phenomenal."

The Hornets jumped out to a 29-4 first quarter lead and by halftime had built a 46-11 lead. With a 35-point halftime lead, a running clock was in effect the entire second half.

Rick Harmon

Boca Ciega Advances

GULFPORT - Defending 5A champion Boca Ciega beat North Port 61-46 to move into the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals. It was a tight game in the first half, with North Port leading 26-24 at halftime.

"We had no flow the first half" said Boca Ciega coach William White "We had to come out and give it everything we've got in the second half"

Boca Ciega did just that, exhibiting more hustle, better free-throw shooting and better passing.

Greg Jenssen

Gladiators Fall To Southeast

BRADENTON - After falling behind early, Gibbs rallied in the third quarter, but was unable to get past Bradenton Southeast, which won 52-38 in the Class 5A-Region 3 quarterfinal.

The Gladiators (22-5) were held to 27 percent shooting (17-for-52) but pulled within two at 30-28 late in the third quarter.

The Seminoles (27-2) withstood the charge, however, going on an 11-2 run to re-establish their lead before closing out the game.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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