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Hernando Today

Lot's of Hart and Hambrick Take Control at West Hernando

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By JIM REDMILE

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 25, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Parrott junior varsity center Darrin Hambrick dropped in 23 points on West Hernando en route to a 43-36 win, while Richard Hart paced the West Hernando varsity squad to a four-point win, 29-25, in middle school basketball hoops Tuesday afternoon.

"Number 21 is huge"

Parrott jumped out to a 12-2 lead after 14-year-old, 6-footer Hambrick scored eight of his 23 total points. Justin Miranda, the team leader and point guard, had the lone basket for West Hernando.

But the Eagles' Miranda, Marcus Attaway and point guard Eric Krause turned the tables by scoring 12 points while holding the Leopards, and Hambrick, to just one field goal.

Parrott Head Coach Dwayne Mobley got on his team at halftime.

"I told them we let them back in the game," recalled Mobley. "It's hard to win a game only scoring two points in a quarter."

Mobley's words of wisdom proved valuable as the Leopards outscored West Hernando 17-7 with points by Hambrick (5), Robert Besser (4), Ruben Monroe (4), Quentin Adams (2) and Kevin Hagood (2).

Krause and Geoffrey Brooks helped the Eagles' cause by making three free throws. Miranda led all Eagles in the third with four points, until he was carried off the court with an injury to his ankle, and was unable to return.

West Hernando topped Parrott 15-12 in the fourth as Krause made four field goals including one three-pointer. Brooks and teammates Shan McQuown and Cole Teater each participated but to no avail.

Hambrick was again dominant with eight for the Leopards while Besser, Eddie Fagin and Tyrail Hawkins converted field goals.

Mobley was pleased with the win, but conceded that his team is still growing. "We're getting better. We need to get a little better with our guard play," he said. "Still a long way to go, but we are improving every game, so that's something to smile about.

"Darrin woke up a little bit and started playing aggressive," he continued. "We were a little passive in the second quarter. We played more aggressive in the second half and it worked in our favor."

West Hernando Head Coach Kevin McManus was still pleased with his club. "The team played good. Justin got hurt in the end; that hurt us bad. He's the star player; he's the point guard.

"The full-court press makes them a little nervous," McManus explained. "It's a little hard to get around sometimes especially if they don't have their lead player.

"They're a physical team," said McManus. "And number 21 is huge."

Rough and ready

The varsity squads started on a more even keel, albeit a little more slowly, finishing the first quarter, 5-4, in favor of West Hernando.

Hart led the Eagles with four and Tyler Fox was 1-of-2 from the line. Clevandre' Pope and Rel Merriweather each had field goals for Parrott.

The second quarter remained relatively even led again by Hart with five. Jevonta Barginere and John Darling added to the lead, tacking on baskets.

This time for the Leopards, Zach Sullivan and Nelson Elicier joined Pope on the scoreboard.

West Hernando's Head Coach Genard Hudson made some halftime adjustments. "I told them they had to move the ball a little more, take advantage of the open shots and rebound more," Hudson said.

The Leopard's Coach Moore was a little more adamant.

"We played a tough defense, worked for opportunities to get lay-ups and we missed four or five of them," he said. "We'll have to go back to the drawing board to teach them that when they work that hard to get the easy short shot you got to capitalize on it."

Malcolm Hudson and Pope accounted for the six Leopard markers while Barginere, Darius Marks and John Darling's three-pointer helped the Eagles to once again edge out their opponents.

West Hernando, with tiny victories in the first three quarters, found themselves on top 20-15 to start the fourth.

The Eagles were up 25-19 with 2:57 left in the game when Coach Hudson called a timeout. Parrott proceeded to score six unanswered points led by Nelson Elicier with two baskets and Rel Merriweather with one.

The Eagles saw their lead erased in one minute. But Marqui Redding and Hart answered with field goals of their own making the final 29-25.

West Hernando assistant coach Ricardo Jaquez talked about the team's progress.

"We're making some improvements," Jaquez remarked. "They hesitate a little bit but they have made improvements overall in the basics, the fundamentals. They're playing as a team much more."

Jaquez also commented on the leader, Hart, who finished with 11 points and had as many rebounds. "He's very athletic," Jaquez said. "He's the 'Hart of our team.' He did a heck of a job rebounding."

Coach Moore fondly offered his nickname for the Leopards.

"I call them 'rough and ready.' They came as football players and we had to develop them into a basketball team," said Moore. "We don't have the most talent in the world, but we have a team concept that we work on and together they can be awesome."

Junior Varsity: Parrott 43, West Hernando 36
Qtr. Scoring
1
2
3
4
 
 

PAR
12
2
17
12
—
43

WHR
2
12
7
15
—
36
 
PARROTT (43) - Hawkins 0 2-2 2, Hagood 1 0-2 2, Adams 0 2-4 2, Hambrick 11 1-4 23, Besser 5 0-0 10, Monroe 2 0-0 4, Grant 0, Ertl 0, Jackson 0, Fagin 0, Zabriskie 0, Rook 0, Rivera 0. Totals 19 5-11 43.
WEST HERNANDO (36) - Krause 5 3-4 14, Miranda 5 0-4 10, McQuown 0 2-2 2, Teater 1 0-0 2, Attaway 3 0-0 6, Brooks 0 2-4 2, Medina 0, Marreo 0, LaBonte 0, Dean 0. Totals 14 7-14 36.
3-point field goals: WH Krause, 1.
Total fouls: PAR 14; WHR 12.
Fouled out: WH: Brooks.
Technicals: none
Records: Parrott (6-1), West Hernando (2-6).

Varsity: West Hernando 29, Parrott 25
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4

PAR
4
5
6
10
—
25

WHR
5
8
7
9
—
29
 
PARROTT (25) - Pope 5 2-6 12, Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Elicier 2 1-2 5, Hudson 1 0-0 2, Merriweather 2 0-0 4, Dilmore 0, Maner 0, Nick Merced 0, Clark 0, Chris Merced 0. Totals 11 3-8 25.
WEST HERNANDO (29) -Barginere 2 2-3 6, Redding 1 0-0 2, Marks 1 2-2 4, Fox 0 1-3 1, Darling 2 0-0 5, Hart 3 5-6 11. Totals 9 10-14 29.
3-point field goals: WH: Darling 1.
Total fouls: PAR: 12; WH 8.
Fouled out: none.
Technicals: none.
Records: Parrott (2-5), West Hernando (7-1).
 

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