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Rivalry Renewed: Springstead Strikes First, 63-45

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead High's Isaiah Mason launches for a dunk early in Tuesday night's home match-up with county-rival Nature Coast.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: December 9, 2008

SPRING HILL - The parking lot filled up, all the way to the auxiliary lot across Landover Boulevard. Fans packed the bleachers on both side of the Springstead gym, cheering at ear-ringing decibels.

And that was just for the end of the junior varsity contest.

For sure, Springstead versus Nature Coast has become more than just a typical basketball game, even by the standards of a county rivalry. No other local hoops game can draw a near capacity crowd.

The defending county co-champions, also amongst the leaders in Class 4A, District 8 the past few years, met for the first time this season Tuesday night.

Give the first round to the host Eagles, who blew open a close game at halftime by outscoring the visiting Sharks 32-17 in the second half and pulling away for a 63-45 triumph.

"It's a big win coming off the loss last year," said senior Domnique Roberson, referring to 59-47 defeat at Nature Coast in last season's second meeting. "We needed some redemption. We looked forward to this game, but we played like any other game, played hard."

Mason soars early

Isaiah Mason staked the Eagles (4-0 overall, 4-0 4A-8) to an early lead, and delighted the exuberant home fans in doing so. The senior scored Springstead's first 10 points, including a two dunks.

The first time Roberson found the streaking Mason with a bounce pass in traffic. Mason intercepted a pass at midcourt and raced to the hoop for the second slam to make it 10-3.

"I was getting into the crowd, playing a little 'D' (defense)," Mason said. "The dunks were all right. It got us going, but I kind of fell off on 'D.'"

The Sharks (3-3 overall, 1-2 4A-8) rallied back, taking their first lead, 19-18, on a Mike Adams' three-pointer to start the second quarter.

A long three by Sal Latimer beat the halftime horn to put the Eagles in front at the intermission, 31-28.

Nature Coast's Mike Fields answered with a trey at the beginning of the third quarter, tying the score at 31.

Springstead followed with an 8-0 run that forced a Nature Coast time-out, capped by an alley-oop lay-up from Nick Steadman to Dante Valentine.

However, Valentine, Roberson and Mason all picked up their fourth fouls in the period, taking all of them off the floor by the 2:11 mark.

Yet the Eagles carried a 45-38 advantage into the fourth quarter and led 53-39 when Adams recorded the Sharks' first points of the period on a free throw with 5:44 remaining.

Valentine's basket with 3:20 left made it a 20-point edge, 59-39. Nature Coast didn't get its first field goal of the quarter until Adams' three with less than a minute to go.

"We moved the ball and let the shots happen, that's what happened in the third quarter for us," Springstead Head Coach Pat Kelly said. "We were able to adjust to Nature Coast and take things away from them.

"They're tough. They like to play off the dribble. We took that away from them in the second half, exploited some things a little bit and our pressure made a difference in the second half as well."

Mason paced the Eagles with 18 points plus seven rebounds and three steals. Roberson had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, also contributing five steals and two blocks.

Addison O'Neil chipped in 11 points, five boards and three steals. Valentine had 11 points and two steals, while Latimer provided nine points off the bench.

Adams led all scorers with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. Fields added 13 points, nine boards, three assists, three steals and a block, while Tevin Drake pulled down 10 rebounds.

"I think the first half we were able to handle their pressure but I think their pressure wore us down," Nature Coast Head Coach David Pisarcik said. "The second half they were getting their hands on things, getting second-chance points.

"They're tough, well-coached. To beat Springstead you've got to play a perfect game and I think we played a half. But you've got to give credit to them."

SPRINGSTEAD 63, NATURE COAST 45
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Nature Coast 16 12 10 7 — 45
Springstead 18 13 14 18 — 63
Nature Coast (45): Adams 6 6-9 21, Fields 5 0-0 13, Drake 1 1-4 3, Meier 1 0-1 3, Lowman 0, Lynch 1 0-1 2, Waddy 1 0-0 2, Dodson 0 1-2 1, Diven 0. Totals 15 8-17 45.
Springstead (63): Roberson 4 3-5 11, O'Neil 4 3-5 11, Mason 7 3-5 18, Valentine 5 0-2 11, Steadman 1 1-2 3, Latimer 4 0-0 9, Noury 0, Sabaski 0, Torres 0, Mahla 0, Maragh 0, Inniss 0, Wild 0. Totals 25 10-19 63.
Three-point field goals: NCT 7 (Adams 3, Fields 3, Meier); SPG 3 (Mason, Valentine, Latimer).
Total fouls: NCT 19; SPG 23.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: Nature Coast (3-3 overall, 1-2 4A-8), Springstead (4-0 overall, 4-0 4A-8).

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

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