TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Springstead's Perfection Bid Ends In Final

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 8, 2009

LAKELAND - For 31 1/2 games, no one could solve Springstead High and its stifling pressure defense.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, that one half separated them from a perfect season and a state championship Saturday at The Lakeland Center.

Springstead rushed to a commanding 17-point lead in the first half, only to get out-scored 49-23 by Cocoa in the final two quarters to drop the Class 4A state title game, 75-60.

"It hurts bad," Springstead senior forward Dominique Roberson said. "To get beat, last game of the season, it kind of feels like everything we did didn't matter."

Following a nearly identical script as in its previous four state playoff games, Springstead (31-1) blitzed Cocoa (30-3) out of the gate, forcing the Tigers into seven turnovers during their first eight trips down the floor.

When Dante Valentine stole the ball before Cocoa could hit halfcourt and found Nick Steadman for a floater, the Eagles had a 10-0 lead.

Isaiah Mason scored six points early in the second quarter and 13 across the first two periods, and his free throw with 1:40 left in the half opened up the Eagles' biggest advantage, 36-19. They went into the intermission up 37-26.

Using its own press, Cocoa forced Springstead into four turnovers to begin the third quarter.

"We didn't break the press," Springstead coach Pat Kelly said. "We got the ball in and dribbled into traffic. They did to us what we do to people."

Cocoa took a 42-41 edge on Julius Reid's two free throws with 2:33 to go in the third.

The Tigers outscored Springstead 20-4 in that quarter, with Reid accounting for nine points, and took a 46-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

A barrage of threes down the stretch extended Cocoa's lead. Maurice Pugh's trey with 4:39 to play pushed the advantage to 60-49 and ended any chance of the Eagles putting together a rally.

"In the second half we didn't have fear," Cocoa coach James Rowe said. "We played with fear in the first half. Before we left the bench at halftime I told them tonight we're going to see the greatest comeback in state history."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT