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Hernando Today

Leopard turnovers, lack of rebounding at heart of the matter

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By MARTY MILLER, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 12, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Before his game Friday night against Gulf High, first-year Hernando High basketball Head Coach Chris Ridenour said one of his team's major problems this year has been maintaining control of the basketball. And that, along with rebounding, were the big reasons Gulf High ran away with a 45-27 4A-8 win over the now winless Leopards (0-6).

Hernando was able to stay with the 3-6 Buccaneers in the first half as they trailed 8-5 after one quarter and 20-17 at the half.

It was in the third period that things got out of control as the Leopards failed to score on their first nine trips down the court and let Gulf out score them in the quarter, 11-4.

"We've had trouble all year controlling the basketball and that happened again tonight," Ridenour said of his team that committed 20 turnovers in the game. "That and rebounding, they had a couple of big guys who took over the boards on us tonight."

Gulf out-rebounded the Leopards 40-30 on the night and were led by Leon Orr, who had 12 points and 14 rebounds in the game.

Besides Orr, J. D. Ramirez helped the Bucs with eight rebounds while teammate David Ramirez had eight points and eight rebounds.

Guard Kyle Scianna led Gulf with 16 points, eight of them coming in the fourth quarter. Orr added 12 points while David Ramirez had eight.

For the Leopards, Lamon Neal finished with 11 points and six rebounds Friday while Shane Eikenberry contributed five points and Corey Emerson had seven rebounds.

The game turned around at the start of the third quarter as Hernando struggled with its shooting touch.

HHS converted 2-of-10 from the field in the third quarter and 2-of-14 in the fourth period.

The Bucs scored the opening seven points of the third quarter to lead 31-21.

HHS closed the gap on a basket by Nate Howell and one free throw each from Neal and Emerson slicing the deficit to six points with 5:33.

But the Bucs got two free throws each from Scianna and David Ramirez along with a basket from Orr to make it 37-25 with 2:58 to go and seal the win.

Hernando now faces a tough upcoming week as it must play four games in five nights. Monday's road game at Wildwood will be followed by home games against Central and Wiregrass Ranch before finishing the week with a road game against Zephyrhills.

"We've still got a lot of work to do but the one thing that helps us is that the kids play hard the whole game," Ridenour said. "We have to handle the ball better, we've got to rebound better and start making some shots. But I still think by the end of the year, we'll be fine.

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