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Hernando Today

Rise of a new district power HCA keeps plowing through 1A-6

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Published: December 17, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Jim Bragg's four-year plan appears right on schedule.

When he took over a team full of novices at Hernando Christian Academy four seasons ago, he hoped that by this point the Lady Lions could challenge for a postseason berth.

Based on their results so far in Class 1A, District 6 play, the Lady Lions are well on their way.

Less than a week removed from the first win in program history over the district's traditional power, St. John Lutheran, 55-52 last Friday in Ocala, HCA destroyed undermanned Seven Rivers Christian at The Lions' Den Thursday night, 49-6.

"I thought we played pretty good. The defense hustled. We scored when we needed to," Bragg said. "We had a lot of good, unselfish play. A lot of girls had open lay-ups and dished it to teammates. It's really good to see we can move the ball well.

"...We're where I pretty much thought we'd be. Four years ago I took this over and we were pretty young. I said by the fourth year I want to try to make the playoffs. We have a good shot to do that if we stick together and keep working on fundamentals and go from there."

Injury cripples Warriors

When these two teams met in Lecanto on Nov. 27, HCA (8-1 overall, 5-0 1A-6) won by a far more competitive score of 55-40.

Since then Seven Rivers (6-6 overall, 3-3 1A-6) has lost its top player, Maddie Burich, for the season with a torn ACL.

"Maddie was our everything girl," Seven Rivers Head Coach Rick Kiernan said. "She was giving us 15 rebounds, 20 points each game. We haven't been able to replace her.

"We're looking at the future at this point. I've got seventh and eighth graders playing against varsity players. We mix in a junior and a senior, but you can't win with two players."

Without Burich the Lady Warriors could do nothing on the offensive end. HCA led 8-0 before Alex Iwanice's lay-up with 2:15 left in the first quarter.

Abby Labahn added a basket in the second quarter and Rachael Capra two free throws in the fourth to account for the rest of the Seven Rivers scoring.

Meanwhile every member of the HCA roster tallied at least one field goal, though nobody surpassed double figures in points.

Brittany Flowers led everyone with nine points and added four steals. Cassi Byrne had only five points, but six rebounds and five steals.

Mary Ellen Langley, one of three seniors (along with Danielle Kuka and Meredith Hanshaw) that have played for Bragg all four years, scored eight points.

Kuka added seven points off the bench, along with team highs of seven rebounds and five steals.

Hanshaw chipped in five points, including the game's only three-pointer, plus four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Heidi Riley had four points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Madison Manuel tallied five points and three steals, Madeline Hanshaw four points and four rebounds, and Kim Armstrong two points and two steals all in reserve roles.

"We feel really great right now," Meredith Hanshaw said. "We've come a long way from being blown out by like 70 points by both of them (St. John and Seven Rivers). And coming back and being able to beat them by more than a couple of points, that made us feel really good about ourselves.

"I think we've just learned the game. We've learned how to play, play smart, make good passes, making our shots. We've come together as a team.

"...We don't have any selfish player. We want to win as a team. Everyone wants points but we've got to pass it around. The important thing is to win. You're not going to win with one person."

Even the opposing coach had nothing but positive things to say about the Lady Lions.

"I told our girls I think this is the best team we'll see all year," Kiernan said. "I think Hernando Christian; they go 7-8 deep. Every one of them is an athlete. Every one of them is a threat. Every one of them garners attention.

"Not to mention, they're a good group of girls. If someone is going to beat you, it might as well be a team you care for."

HCA still has plenty of season left before it can start planning for its initial regional appearance. On Jan. 15 the Lady Lions host St. John and they still must survive the district tournament.

But considering they have won their five district contests by a combined 264-126, they sure seem like a prohibitive favorite going forward.

"It would be awesome (to make regionals)," Hanshaw said. "We've worked real hard all four years I've been here and we haven't made it. It would feel really great."

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