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Hernando Today

Staying Alive

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By JIM REDMILE

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 13, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - It took 70 seconds, but after Darryn Frazier made the first Central field goal against River Ridge in the first round of the Class 5A-7 Tournament, the Bears eventually cruised to a 51-38 victory, landing number one-seeded Ridgewood at home in the quarterfinals.

CHS' second-year Head Coach Eric Hayes, whose team improved to 7-19 overall, was pleased with Frazier's performance but complimented several others, including Joe Lula, who had 10 points.

"He (Lula) did a lot of different stuff; people look at Darryn and Darryn was getting opened because Joe was setting the screens," explained Hayes. "Joe was rebounding on the defensive end; he was hustling. He got a couple steals in the second half, but the game is more than points, it's a lot of different stuff that helps you put the ball in the basket."

Knights early

River Ridge jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, but the Bears countered with a 13-7 second-quarter run, making it 18-17 at the half.

"I told them on the defensive end we have to eliminate guys getting those easy drives to the basket, do a better a job of taking shots," said Hayes of his halftime speech to his troops. "Some shots they got guys driving, we have to get more aggressive on the glass. One of our offenses we were playing our top players a little tight; we tweaked our offense a little bit and we went out and executed."

The Bears took Coach Hayes' suggestions to heart, shutting down the Royal Knights' offense allowing only five points in the third quarter while opening up their own for 18.

Hayes was also quick to laud the work of Central's unsung heros.

"Of course my point guard, Barrett Sheffield, he played well; people always overlook him but he was ahead on defense and he puts a lot of pressure on the ball," shared Hayes. "A lot of times it was just him guarding because he puts a lot of pressure on the ball.

"He also gets us into our offense," Hayes continued. "He makes sure we run the offense all the way through; he sets it back up when it seems like we're a little bit rough; he'll run and get the ball."

After strong second and third quarters, the Bears found themselves up by 24 points with 2:08 left in the game.

Coach Hayes also had praise for another young Central athlete. "My young man came off the bench, Guan Winsett; he came in and played some very good minutes for us, early in the game as well as later in the game on the defensive end. He played really well and that translated into some easy opportunities in transition; he made some good decisions in the open court," Hayes said. "He's a sophomore, another kid we're grooming in the program."

Central 51, River Ridge 38
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4 
RRG 10 7 5 16 — 38
CEN 5 13 18 15 — 51
RR (38) - Suarez 3 2-3 9, Gruzlewski 1 0-0 2, Tyson-Long 1 2-2 4, Babcock 3 2-3 8, Bagamary 1 0-1 2, Brandon Saitch 1 0-0 2, Nelson Saitch 3 2-2 8, Golnik 1 1-1 3, Ritenour 0, Cibirka 0, Childs 0. Totals 14 9-12 38.
CEN (51) - Sheffield 1 1-1 3, Rodriguez 1 1-2 4, Barnes 2 2-2 7, Frazier 9 1-2 20, Fulton 1 2-2 4, Joe Lula 5 0-0 10, Whitsett 1 1-2 3, Rodriguez 0, Rogers 0, Acosta 0, Loreston 0, Caramanica 0, Michael Lula 0, Gartner 0, Reed 0. Totals 20 8-11 51.
3-point field goals: RR: Suarez 1; CEN: Rodriguez 1, Barnes 1, Frazier 1.
Total fouls: RRG: 10; CEN: 11.
Fouled out: none.
Technicals: none.
Records: River Ridge: (11-15), Central (7-19).
 

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