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Tigers Bring Out the Brooms

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Fox Chapel’s Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team – Features first row (left to right): Heather Masters, Holly Allen, Marisa Welch, Jazelyn Ramos and Sarah Robinson. Back row: Head Coach Dave Schlechter, Brianna Johnson, Lauren Grimsland, Ashley Ferrer and Lorna Steff.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: December 3, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - After postponing Tuesday's Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference basketball game at Powell 24 hours due to a death in the family, high-flying Fox Chapel sputtered but never broke down in completing Wednesday's seasonal sweep over the Lady Panthers.
In the early junior varsity contest, Fox Chapel seventh-graders Heather Collins and Destiny Key combined for 25 points to help trim Powell, 32-15.
In the varsity nightcap with the Tigers clinging to a narrow 9-8 lead, the Fox Chapel defense led by Sarah Robinson's four blocks and six rebounds held the hosts to two field goals across the final 14 1/2 minutes to break open the game, 21-12.

Tigers: rusty

Fox Chapel's Brianna Johnson, who came into the game averaging 16 points per game, was held to eight points to pace the 9-0 Tigers. The loss dropped Powell to 6-4 overall.
For the winners, Robinson, Lauren Grimsland and Marissa Welch each scored four points while Holly Allen added a free throw to round out the scoring.
Fox Chapel, which had not played since Nov. 20, sputtered offensively suffering 26 turnovers.
Its defense, however, forced 24 Powell turnovers.
The catalyst was the cat-quick Robinson.
"It (defense) was great tonight," said the 13-year-old Robinson. "We had a couple shaky practices coming in and I think that showed up in our offense. We were a little rusty; we certainly were never in a groove."
Allen stood behind Robinson's efforts.
"She's very aggressive and real quick," added the 13-year-old Allen. "What I like most is she likes to get in people's faces and get the ball for us."
What about the offensive struggles?
"We had two practices without our coach," shrugged Allen. "We tried to come together; it didn't work out offensively. But all in all we did OK."
What was the key?
"We've been able to shut down teams in the second half," pointed Coach Schlechter. "Tonight, on offense we weren't flowing like we've been in the past. It seemed like we were forcing shots up. I thought Sarah (Robinson) had a terrific game. I told her to stay back and stay on No. 21 (Briana Baugher) and she did. Sarah is a tremendous athlete and fortunately for us she's only a seventh-grader."
Baugher paced the hosts with six points on three lay-ups.
"Our passing was off tonight," lamented Powell Head Coach Laura Fowle. "We've been kinda up and down all year. Tonight, our passing broke down. But I think we did a terrific job in holding No. 43 (Johnson) to eight points again. In both games we played against them it was a 2-3 point game right till the end."

Tiger JVs set up showdown

In the early junior varsity contest Collins led all scorers with a season-high 18 points and eight boards while Key added eight markers for the 8-1 Tigers.
Fox Chapel's win sets up a showdown for first place at 5:15 p.m. tonight against visiting Challenger K-8. The Tigers stretched their current win streak to seven in a row including a 19-17 nod at Challenger K-8.
Collins enjoyed her best-ever game despite a throbbing left knee.
"I was trying my absolute hardest tonight," shared the 12-year-old Collins. "My knee (which was not swollen or discolored in any way) has been bugging me. And I don't know how long I might be able to play on it."
What about playing on back-to-back nights and facing first-place Challenger K-8 on Thursday?
"Every game is big," said Collins. "But the Challenger game is our biggest. We'll all rest tonight to get ready for them."
Key believed Collins was the main cog.
"She missed a couple practices because she was in Texas," noted the 13-year-old Key. "But she had a heck of game tonight. We all used a lot of energy, but we'll be fine going back-to-back with Challenger tomorrow. We've been kinda looking forward to this game."
Tiger JV skipper Mike Adams praised his pressure defense for forcing Powell into a staggering 39 turnovers.
"Everything starts with our swarming pressure defense," explained Adams. "Each game is important, but we've been putting things in place preparing for Challenger. We were not looking past Powell, but I know the girls really want to play Challenger again."
And Collins?
"She's our leader and our captain," added Adams. "I tell her what we need to run and she steers the ship. She's definitely our leader."
 
Fox Chapel 21, Powell 12
VARSITY
                1    2   3    4
Fox Chapel    9    0   6    6 -- 21
Powell    4    4   0 4 -- 12
FOX CHAPEL (21) – Robinson 2 0-0 4, Welch 2 0-4 4, Allen 0 1-2 1, B. Johnson 4 0-0 8, Grimsland 2 0-2 4. Totals: 10 1-8 21.
POWELL (12) – Glynn 0, Baugher 3 0-2 6, Amodie 1 0-2 2, Peterson 1 0-0 2, Gambino 1 0-0 2. Totals: 6 0-4 12.
Three-point field goals: none.
Total fouls: FC 6, POW 7.
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: Fox Chapel (9-0), Powell (6-4).

Fox Chapel 32, Powell 15
JUNIOR VARSITY
                1    2   3    4
Fox Chapel    10    6   8   8 -- 32
Powell    3    4   6    2 -- 15
FOX CHAPEL (32) - Bruderman 1 0-0 2, Key 4 0-0 8, Woreen 1 0-0 2, Hurtado 1 0-1 2, Collins 8 2-2 18, Sauto 0. Totals: 15 2-3 32.
POWELL (15) – Serama 2 0-0 4, Burkhamer 0 1-4 1, McRae 3 0-2 6, Jarman 2 0-1 4, Waddy 0, Sbashing 0, Santana 0, Feliciano 0, Overa 0. Totals: 7 1-17 15.
Three-point field goals: none.
Total fouls: FC 11, POW 11.
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: Fox Chapel (8-1), Powell (4-6).
 
 

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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