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Hernando Today

HCA Rocks Lions' Den With Record-Breaking Win

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: January 31, 2008

BROOKSVILLE – As the Hernando Christian Academy seniors stood in line at halftime, the school honoring them on Senior Night, athletic director Mike Drummond read off each one's personal highlight.
Guard Marty George, who transferred in this year from Tampa-Berean Academy, listed his as 'finally being on a winning team,' which brought a reply from someone in the crowd: 'what about that shot?'
On the final play of the first quarter, George intercepted a long pass at half court and somehow managed to heave up a one-handed shot that went through the net before time expired.
"I just said a prayer," George said. "I threw that up there. I don't know how that went in. That was a great."
HCA's leading scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game coming in, George knocked down several more conventional baskets in a 25-point performance as the Lions blew away Academy at the Lakes at the Lions' Den Thursday night, 71-35.
"We came in focused," George said. "We knew what we had to do. We played as a team, had a good practice yesterday, got the job done."

New record

This non-district victory still had meaning in that it set a new school record for wins (14) in a single season, set by last year's 13-11 squad.
The Lions (14-2) are in the midst of what will likely go down as the best season in program history, as they march toward the Class 1A, District 6 Tournament in two weeks as the second seed.
HCA has never reached the FHSAA State Playoffs, but seem primed to do so in its second campaign under Bill Brooks.
The veteran coach spent 19 seasons guiding the program at Powell Middle School, where he still works as a gym teacher, before coming over to HCA. He has compiled a 27-13 mark with the Lions.
"It's (breaking the record) very good for the boys. I'm happy for them," Brooks said. "Some of these boys have been playing at this school for four years. Other than last year and this year, they've never been on the winning end of games.
"I don't think the level of the district teams has fallen off. We've been blessed with some players the last couple of years that have been molded into the ability to win now. It's coming together."
That includes George, whose addition has turned into a huge boon for the Lions. He added eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals to his impressive point total.
His buzz-beater capped a 14-point first-quarter; twice he pulled up from the top of the key and nailed a three-pointer. It also gave HCA a 27-8 advantage.
Academy at the Lakes (4-12) never recovered from that deficit, falling behind by as much as 30 in the first half before heading into the intermission down 52-23.
At 6:04 in the third quarter, George stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a lay-up, making it 58-23 to initiate a running clock.
"Too many turnovers," said Dr. Rod Brame, Academy at the Lakes head coach. "I think they have a great team. All their starters are seniors. My team is mostly sophomores."
The Wildcats had one double-figure scorer, getting 10 points form Matt Grossenbach.
Seniors Tim Hellmers and Blake Hunter each tallied 10 points and three steals. Junior Brett Eastin had eight points and six rebounds off the bench.
HCA has four non-district games remaining on its schedule prior to the 1A-6 Tournament Feb. 5-9 at Ocala-Meadowbrook Academy. Brooks said he wants to peak during those final regular season contests.
"I think we played well but we just want to try to keep our game tuned up so we stay consistent," Brooks said. "We had our moments where we showed flashes of greatness and then we had our moments where we turned the ball over when we shouldn't have.
"It wasn't anything they did. We kind lost a little bit of focus. Overall, the blend of teams that we had in there on the floor I think did a good job."

HERNANDO CHRISTIAN 71, ACADEMY AT THE LAKES 35
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Academy at the Lakes 8 15 10 2 — 35
Hernando Christian 27 25 12 7 — 71
Academy at the Lakes (35): T. Conner 3 3-8 9, Grossenbach 3 4-4 10, Valdes 0, Giglio 1 0-2 2, C. Conner 1 0-0 2, Kwitko 2 0-0 5, Doromal 1 2-2 4, Blank 1 0-2 3, Grimme 0. Totals – 12 9-18 35.
Hernando Christian (71): Hellmers 4 1-2 10, Gaustad 3 1-2 7, Kessler 2 1-2 5, George 9 3-3 25, Hunter 4 0-0 10, Eastin 1 6-6 8, Bronson 1 4-5 6, Westfall 0, Kautsky 0, Wilson 0, Mikkola 0. Totals 24 16-20 71.
Three-point field goals: ATL 2 (Blank, Kwitko); HCA 7 (George 4, Hunter 2, Hellmers).
Total fouls: ATL 14, HCA 17.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: Academy at the Lakes (4-12), Hernando Christian (14-2).

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

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