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Hernando Today

Spoiled! Leopard JVs upset in finale

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By JIM REDMILE, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 11, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Perfect seasons are hard to come by.
Parrott JV Head Coach Mason Lewis knew that, and tried hard to keep his team focused on the task at hand; beat Challenger and end the season 10-0.

But the Navigators had other ideas and behind Natalie Caraballo's six points, Challenger K-8 defeated the Leopards, 16-12.

"That's what we told the girls. This is going to be a great test to see where we finish the season," said Challenger JV skipper Jeff Laing. "We know where we started how many weeks ago; let's see how we finish against one of the best groups in our conference."

Five of eight girls on the Challenger roster put points on the board.
Caraballo paced all scorers with six points. Syclair Jones had four in the second half and added seven steals, three rebounds and an assist. Sabrina Russell made a field goal and had four steals and a rebound. Nicole Morolla and Elena Hoogland each had a basket. Anna Poholek and Jillian Deller each had two rebounds and Callie Griffin had a steal.

"I am proud of our girls going out there and getting a win," exclaimed Laing. "Syclair has really been 'Miss Everything' for us. Nicole Morolla, she's been a little fireplug coming in with a quick steal even though she's not that tall, and she goes hard to the basket. We get a lot of energy from Anna Poholek and Callie Griffin and a lot of girls come in and everyone plays. I am very proud of them, and proud of this season."

Likewise, the Leopards Head Coach Lewis couldn't say enough about his team. "The girls have been amazing this whole year," said Lewis. "A lot of them are sixth graders, a lot of girls who haven't played before or only had one year and we go in and beat the traditional powerhouses in the district."

Parrott's Tierra Ousley was high scorer with two first-quarter baskets and tried to keep her Leopards in the game with six steals. Nacole Stephens had two field goals, three steals, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot. Arianna Tankersley and Caitlin Bainum each scored two points. Tankersley and Nicole Drinkwater each had a steal and a rebound. Ty'Oshay Owens had five rebounds and Tyisha Ousley, Megan Suiters, Lailonnah Wright and Ashley Corey each contributed to their team.

"They did a phenomenal job," said Lewis. "They came together as a team. They just learned the game of basketball. In the beginning they had very silly fouls and weren't playing traditional hands up defense...by the end we even had good ball movement."

Regular season finale

In a lopsided victory just four days before the conference tournament, the Challenger varsity squad looked as if they may shutout Parrott at home.
Parrott was scoreless in the first quarter, while five different players, including Raven Humphrey (6), Tori Hattaway (6), Megan Morrison (4), Carly Wiggins (2) and Rebecca Braz (5) scored for the 'Gators.

With just seven seconds left in the half, Leopard Rakeisha Woods hit a free throw to make the score 23-1.

"There was a lid on the basket," joked Leopard Head Coach Nick Keller. "Actually, we didn't play awfully well, and they played very well. They moved the ball very nicely."

Challenger's Gabby Bierkowski led all scorers with 10 points including six in the fourth quarter. Raven Humphrey had nine steals and Tori Hattaway had three assists. Sabrina Cymbal, Morrison, Wiggins and Braz each had at least one steal, rebound and assist. Missy Ritter had a basket and a blocked shot.

"The girls were just working all together. Everyone was involved, and everyone had confidence in each other's ability to pass and let the other do the scoring," said Roe Foley of her Gators.

Emily Walters was the Parrott standout with the remaining four points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Rakeisha Woods added three steals and four rebounds to her stats. Paris Madrey had five steals and Mika Rotunda also had four rebounds.

In preparation for the tournament Keller added, "We have to work on playing our game, work on thinking a little bit more. Work on not throwing the balls away and trying to get that lid off the basket."

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