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Hernando Today

Nature Coast: Reloaded

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: November 16, 2008

From the very first official game they ever played, a win over Springstead High in 2003, the Nature Coast Technical Lady Sharks have dominated Hernando County.

In five seasons, Nature Coast has still never lost to an opposing team that resides within the county borders, standing a perfect 26-0 against Central, Hernando, Springstead and even Hernando Christian Academy.

That dominance has spread to the district level, as the Lady Sharks have reached regionals every season, claiming district titles in three of the past four.

But as is the nature of high school athletics, every team must eventually rebuild. Or at least reload.

To that end, Nature Coast (22-6 in 2007-08) must replace the county's two-time Player of the Year, Cherikhan Waddy, at shooting guard plus All-County guard Lauren Wajerski, center April Trezise and defensive specialist Kaitlin Wadsworth.

The Lady Sharks return two starters from last season, both seniors, in forward/center Shareka Maner and point guard Crystal Anthony.

Juniors Alyssa Joens and Jen Marshall, contributing bench players the past two seasons, must step up and fill the remaining voids, as well as two late-season JV call-ups in 2007-08, sophomores Alexis Helfand and Brittany Johnson.

Add in talented freshmen Mariah Byrd and Tori Hattaway, two of the best middle school players from a year ago, and Nature Coast hopes to have enough to avoid a significant falloff.

"We're a young team, making young team errors and mistakes," said second-year Head Coach Travis Lamle. "We're trying to get the kids used to playing at the varsity level. We're pretty much essentially adding four brand new kids.

"I don't think scoring will be an issue. I think defensively is where we're having a hard time. It's a lot different from the JV or middle school level."

Maner, who averaged 11.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.4 blocks per game last season, will surely draw a lot of attention in the middle.

But Lamle talked about the potential impact of Anthony, as the four-year starter must step up her game to help replace Waddy, an athletic go-to scorer and top-notch defender on the wing.

"In my opinion without Crystal, a lot of things don't happen," Lamle said. "She's been kind of the unsung hero for three years. She accepted that because we had a great group of kids. She played in their shadows."

Anthony averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals as a junior, but in the past had Waddy as a safety net with ballhandling. Lamle believes Marshall can assist Anthony in that capacity, while Joens can pick up some of the scoring slack.

In Class 4A, District 8, Lamle sees perennially strong Gulf and up-and-coming Wiregrass Ranch as the biggest threats to the district crown.

The district also includes Hernando and Springstead, though both are in a building mode.

The Lady Leopards surprised some people last season, using a stout frontline including the county's scoring champ, April Griffey, to go 17-7 under first-year Head Coach JoSandra Maner.

Though Maner led Hernando to its first winning season since 2001-02, she has not returned to the sideline. Re-enter Pete Lahey, who originally coached the team from 2001-2005.

Junior guard/forward Jasmire Brown returns to lead the Lady Leopards. She averaged 13.0 points per game last season and often served as the primary ballhandler.

"I don't know how we compare to other teams around," Lahey said. "We've got some good returning lettermen. Hopefully we'll play well enough to play well against other people."

Todd Toomer starts his third season on the Springstead bench, still trying to lead the Lady Eagles to respectability. They went 4-22 in 2007-08.

"I'm excited about this year," Toomer said. "I see lot more dedication out of the girls coming up and the girls coming back. We're always looking for a winning season but the biggest goal I have for this newly-formed team is play together."

At Central (12-12 in 2007-08), fifth-year Head Coach Penny Gressick must find a way to replace All-County guard Ronisha Browdy, who scored over 1,000 points in her career and won two county scoring titles.

"We're somewhat rebuilding," Gressick said. "We have a lot of new people. We're moving people in positions they really didn't play. We're bringing up freshmen to varsity, that's a big transition."

HCA has a new coach in Trey Crawford, the Hernando boys' coach from 1992-1995. He replaces Jim Bragg, who in four years took a group of freshmen and molded them into a playoff contender.

However, only one starter remains, senior small forward Heidi Riley, leaving the Lady Lions looking for new stars as they try to match last season's 15-8 campaign.

"I'm pretty excited about this group," Crawford said. "I know it's a pretty good group. I know we're lacking in varsity experience but we're fairly athletic in certain spots. I expect us to be competitive."

CENTRAL LADY BEARS
Head coach: Penny Gressick (5th year)
District: 5A-7
2007-08 record: 12-12 (2-6 5A-7, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: Ronisha Browdy, Courtney LeCours, Raqurra Ishmar (injured, out for season).
Key returnees: McKenzie Burns (So., PG), Amanda Morris (Sr., F), Blair Morris (Sr., F), Angela Velez (Sr., SG).
Key newcomers: Tikiera Relaford (So., PF), Ashley Sims (Sr., G/F).
Coach's outlook: "We're somewhat rebuilding. We have a lot of new people. We're moving people in positions they really didn't play. We're bringing up freshmen to varsity, that's a big transition."

HERNANDO LADY LEOPARDS
Head coach: Pete Lahey (1st year, 5th overall)
District: 4A-8
2007-08 record: 17-7 (12-4 4A-8, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: April Griffey, Jordan Platt, Ryane Ledington, Sarah Haimes.
Key returnees: Jasmire Brown (Jr., G/F), Rhiana Jenkins (Sr., G), Desirae Woods (Sr., F), Liz Lawrence (Jr., G), Brielle Geiger (Sr., F/C).
Key newcomers: Stefanie White (So., G/F), Brittany Flowers (So., G/F), Nikki Liles (Jr., G), Quaniesha Hawkins (Jr., C/F), Taylor Beverland (Jr., F/C).
Coach's outlook: "I don't know how we compare to other teams around. We've got some good returning lettermen. Hopefully we'll play well enough to play well against other people."

HERNANDO CHRISTIAN LADY LIONS
Head coach: Trey Crawford (1st year)
District: 1A-6
2007-08 record: 15-8 (9-1 1A-6, lost in district semifinals)
Key losses: Mary Ellen Langley, Meredith Hanshaw, Danielle Kuka, Cassi Byrne, Brittany Flowers.
Key returnees: Heidi Riley (Sr., SF), Madeline Hanshaw (So., F), Madison Manuel (Jr., G).
Key newcomers: Remi Manuel (Fr., G), Courtney Crawford (Fr., F), Chelsea Crawford (So., F), Briana Hogan (Fr., G), Heather Drummond (Fr., G/F).
Coach's outlook: "I'm pretty excited about this group. I know it's a pretty good group. I know we're lacking in varsity experience but we're fairly athletic in certain spots. I expect us to be competitive."

NATURE COAST LADY SHARKS
Head coach: Travis Lamle (1st year)
District: 4A-8
2007-08 record: 22-6 (16-0 4A-8, won district, lost in regional quarterfinals)
Key losses: Cherikhan Waddy, Lauren Wajerski, April Trezise, Kaitlin Wadsworth.
Key returnees: Shareka Maner (Sr., C/F), Crystal Anthony (Sr., PG), Alyssa Joens (Jr., F), Jen Marshall (Jr., G).
Key newcomers: Alexis Helfand (So., G/F), Brittany Johnson (So., G), Mariah Byrd (Fr., G/F), Tori Hattaway (Fr., G).
Coach's outlook: "We're a young team, making young team errors and mistakes. We're trying to get the kids used to playing at the varsity level. We're pretty much essentially adding four brand new kids. I don't think scoring will be an issue. I think defensively is where we're having a hard time. It's a lot different from the JV or middle school level."

SPRINGSTEAD LADY EAGLES
Head coach: Todd Toomer (3rd year)
District: 4A-8
2007-08 record: 4-22 (2-14 4A-8, lost in district quarterfinals)
Key losses: Lynsay Riddle, Jennifer Knoer, Ro Lariosa, Mary Schuetter.
Key returnees: Sasha Spalding (So., F), Jazmin Armstrong (Jr., C), Samantha Shelmet (Sr., F), Christine Brinker (Sr., G), Jackie White (Jr., G), Caitlin Hughes (Sr., G/F), Jenna Donohue (Jr., G/F), Bryer Zavitz (Sr., G).
Key newcomers: Shannon Caphart (Jr., PG), Cat Morrison (Jr., F), Renee Montague (Jr., F).
Coach's outlook: "I'm excited about this year. I see lot more dedication out of the girls coming up and the girls coming back. We're always looking for a winning season but the biggest goal I have for this newly-formed team is play together."

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

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