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Special K... Land O' Lakes all-around threat Keough lifts Gators over Central, 48-37

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Published: January 13, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Central High tried its best to out-muscle Kayli Keough and Land O' Lakes High Tuesday night.

But the Lady Gator star still found a way to put together her normal outstanding all-around performance and lead her team to a Class 5A, District 7 victory over the host Lady Bears, 48-37.

Keough, a 6-foot-2 senior, came in averaging 20.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.1 blocks and 3.4 steals per contest.

Despite taking several tumbles to the floor after hard fouls by the Lady Bears, Keough managed 20 points, 14 boards, six blocks and six steals.

"Kayli is a tough kid," Land O' Lakes Head Coach Laurie Pacholke said. "It was a very physical game. But we've got to learn to play with it. We can't control anything but what we do. Kayli is tough as nails mentally and physically. That's what makes her a special player."

Central improving

For Central (7-9 overall, 1-5 5A-7) this actually marked a significant improvement from earlier in the season, when the Lady Bears lost to the Lady Gators (18-1 overall, 5-1 5A-7), 69-36.

"Last time we played them we got beat by 33," Central Head Coach Penny Gressick said. "Tonight was a completely different ball game.

"We've won five of our last six. We're a completely different team than at the beginning of the year. As a coach, that's what you want."

The Lady Bears began the year 0-5, but have captured 7-of-11 since, including 2-of-3 at the Ida S. Baker Christmas Tournament in Cape Coral Dec. 27-29.

"We're communicating a little more, talking on defense, playing help," said Gressick, in her fourth year. "My point guard (freshman McKenzie Burns) has done a 360 in the line of being comfortable, taking care of the ball, running plays."

After falling behind 15-4 after the first quarter and going into halftime down 26-18, Central briefly rallied to within four, 26-22, when Burns and Ronisha Browdy scored early in the third period.

Land O' Lakes, a team receiving votes in the state poll but ranked second in the district because its lone loss came to Wesley Chapel, quickly boosted the lead back to 10, 32-22, on Keough's driving lay-up and led 37-26 heading into the final period.

The Lady Bears had a chance to pull within one possession when Browdy just missed on an open look for three with 4:20 remaining.
Keough came down the other way and converted a three-point play to push the Lady Gator advantage to 42-33.

Meghan Keough finished with 15 points. Emily Seda pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with six points.

"Absolutely disgusted," Pacholke said. "We played sloppy. It is what is. Give it to Central. They were out here and our girls know we have a target on our backs. We let them dictate the game. We want to play our game, not theirs. Give it to them. They played their hearts out tonight.

"At this point a win is a win. We'll take it and run. We've definitely got to get better. It's not going to be a good end to the season if we play like this."

Browdy, the county's two-time defending scoring champion averaging 13.7 points per game at the start of the week, paced the Lady Bears with 17 points.

"It's more of a confidence builder right now," Gressick said. "Knowing we're capable of going out and playing all together. I'm pleased with how we've played and the progress we've been able to make."

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