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Hernando Today

HCA Posts Near Shutout, 54-6

Chris Bernhardt, Jr.

Freshman guard Remi Manuel led the Lady Lions in scoring.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: December 2, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Shutouts are usually reserved for more low-scoring sports; baseball, hockey, soccer, even football.

But a shutout in basketball? That's not very likely.

Hernando Christian Academy came about as close as realistically possible Tuesday night, hosting First Academy-Leesburg at The Lions' Den for a Class 1A, District 6 match-up.

The Lady Lions held the Lady Eagles to just one field for the entire game, literally running away with their first district victory, 54-6.

"It's a good start," HCA Head Coach Trey Crawford said. "Obviously First Academy, I know they lost a lot of players from last year and they had to get girls that hadn't played basketball in a few years just to fill out the team.

"The strength of our team is getting out on the break and running. If we do that, we're going to put up some points."

Fast start

HCA (2-1 overall, 1-0 1A-6) was able to play up-tempo right from the start, recording 10 steals in the first quarter. Five players scored, led by Heidi Riley's five, as the Lady Lions opened up a 17-0 edge.

First Academy (0-3 overall, 0-1 1A-6) finally dented the scoreboard on a free throw by Shannon Holmes at the 6:17 mark of the second quarter.

That made it 17-1, but HCA rattled off 14 more points before the intermission to lead 31-1.

Freshman guard Remi Manuel led the Lady Lions in scoring at the half with eight, and added 10 more in the second half to finish with a game-high 18.

That included a short jumper at 1:22 in the third period to make it 37-1 and initiate a running clock. She scored 20 points combined in the season's first two contests, second on the team to older sister Madison.

"I had lots of lay-ups," said Manuel, who added four steals. "It was the passes off the steals. The long passes; I ran them down and got them."

Another free throw by Holmes accounted for the Lady Eagle scoring in the third. She went 3-of-7 from the charity stripe, while none of her teammates made it to the foul line.

Sasha Stokes heaved a three-pointer from the top of the key, banking it in with 6:36 to go in the game for First Academy's lone made basket. That only cut the Lady Lion advantage to 41-5.

Sisters Courtney and Chelsea Crawford, daughters of the HCA head coach, each scored 10 points. Courtney Crawford chipped in eight rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals.

Madeline Hanshaw contributed eight points, five rebounds and four steals. Madison Manuel led everyone with six steals; Riley and Briana Hogan each had four swipes.

"You don't want too many games like this one because it can create some sloppiness," Coach Crawford said. "It's good to have some games like this once in a while because it allows you to play all the girls a lot.

"I'm happy with them. Definitely I think we need to improve our rebounding. Even though we scored a lot on the break we still had a lot of turnovers early. That's got to be addressed.

"We just got to get better. It's a long season. We'll play better teams and we just got to get better."

HCA 54, FIRST ACADEMY-LEESBURG 6
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
First Academy 0 1 1 4 — 6
HCA 17 14 8 15 — 54
First Academy-Leesburg (6): Collop 0, Holmes 0 3-7 3, Knorr 0, Elliott 0, Stokes 1 0-0 3, Potter 0, West 0, Dunn 0. Totals 1 3-7 6.
HCA (54): Riley 2 1-1 5, Hanshaw 3 2-2 8, Co. Crawford 5 0-0 10, M. Manuel 1 0-2 2, R. Manuel 9 0-0 18, Ch. Crawford 5 0-0 10, Hogan 0 1-2 1, Drummond 0. Totals 25 4-7 54.
Three-point field goals: FAL 1 (Stokes); HCA 0.
Total fouls: FAL 9; HCA 9.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: First Academy-Leesburg (0-3 overall, 0-1 1A-6), HCA (2-1 overall, 1-0 1A-6).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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