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Hernando Today

Sharks take a big bite out of the Leopards, 71-47

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By RICK FULLER, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 29, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - First-year Head Coach David Pisarcik took his Nature Coast basketball team into a hostile environment at Hernando High School last Wednesday night and came away with a convincing victory, taming the Leopards, 71-47.

The game didn't begin well for the home team Leopards, when they were issued a technical foul before the game even started for substituting a player into the lineup after the 10-minute, pre-game period.

The first quarter was a close match-up, with both teams playing deliberately and passing the ball a lot, looking for the open man.

The second quarter began a bit different when senior Bryant Pent stole a pass and hit Mike Adams for one of his two three-pointers on the night, followed by a steal by Joe Silvestri and another three by Adams at the 6:47 mark. That sparked the Sharks and the subsequent feeding frenzy was on.

The second quarter ended much like it began. With 10 seconds left, Nature Coast's senior point guard, Pent, held for the last shot, then drove the lane for two points.

Immediately, Reshad Terry stole the inbounds pass and put it in for another deuce and a 43-25 halftime lead.

Emptying the bench

The lead held up the second half and neither team scored as much because they were clearing the bench.

"We've been playing really well lately," said Coach Pisarcik. "We struggled early on in the season, but now we've got our full team. We've won four straight, mainly because we've been playing together, we're competing and we're playing hard. We've got six seniors on the team. And those guys are all leaders.

"Tonight they came out with a box-and-one on Joey which is fine because that means the other guys had the opportunity to step up. The last couple games we've had, Pent stepped up, Adams stepped up two games in a row, Fields stepped up again. We're playing good team ball right now."

On defense?

"We're man," said Coach Pisarcik. "We like to play man. We're a good defensive team. We hold our opponents to 45 or 50. If we hold them under 40, we feel we should win the game. That's our goal; try to hold them under 40."

Offense?

"They played zone. That usually means it's a slow down game. We try to push the ball; we're not going to force it. We have a senior point guard. He's our leader and he knows when to push it," Pisarcik said. "He doesn't have to score for us, but he does so many little things. He gets us in the offense, drives, creates mismatches. He's one of those kids at practice, he doesn't whine, doesn't complain, he gets the job done."

On Hernando?

"Our kids play hard," explained Coach Chris Ridenour. "Our trouble all season has been turnovers (22 for the game). We're just turning the ball over way too much. The more opportunities you give the other team, the chances they have to score, and you just put yourself in a bad situation. That's been our story all year. My kids work hard and they come to practice every day and they are focused. I put my kids heart for heart against any other kids in the whole Tampa area. It can't be just about heart, you've got to protect the basketball."

Goals?

"We are just going to continue to play hard and we're focusing on the turnovers," added Ridenour. "We're trying to be smart with the basketball. Play a little bit better defense than we did tonight, finish and doing a better job rebounding."

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