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Wildcats Facing Test

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By LEE DIEKEMPER

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 21, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - In preparing his girls for the Class 5A region title game tonight against Lake Howell, Wesley Chapel coach Karim Nohra is driving his team as if the game is a 21st century version of David vs. Goliath.

The Wildcats aren't necessarily playing the part of Goliath.

"They scare the pants off of me," Nohra said.

In its region semifinal game Tuesday, Lake Howell destroyed powerhouse Winter Haven, 71-43.
Nohra suggested the 28-point margin is misleading, but only slightly misleading. Nohra said Winter Haven had lost two starters with knee injuries and a third was recovering from an ACL injury and played with a knee brace.
Winter Haven coach Johnnie Lawson told Nohra that one reason for the lopsided score was that Lawson thought his team could run with Lake Howell.

He was wrong. Nohra seems to be heeding Lawson's advice.

"Don't get me wrong, I love to run," Nohra said. "But running on this team, I'm not sure that's going to work well."

If the Wildcats are to come away with a win, they have to have more of a contribution from other players.

Center Janelle Mills has been dominant in the postseason after missing 19 regular-season games with a broken left wrist. Since returning, she has been swatting away shots and controlling the boards while disrupting opponents' interior play.

Guard Shantel Houston also has played well in region play, but Nohra insists he needs more contributions if the Wildcats will be playing in Lakeland next week.

"We need to have four players in double figures to win this game," Nohra said. "We've beaten two really good teams in Armwood and Tampa Bay Tech.

"We've played good defense in the fourth quarter. Against Lake Howell we need to play good defense the entire game and get more offense from others besides Mills and Houston."

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