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Challenger K-8 Does It Again

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Challenger K-8’s Syclair Jones tries to elude the defensive pressure of Parrott’s Caitlin Bainum Monday night at Parrott Middler School. Jones poured in 14 points to pace the Navigators past the Leopards, 23-18.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: November 24, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - For the second time this season, Challenger K-8 swept a twi-night doubleheader from Parrott.
On Monday in the Leopards' gym, the heavily-favored Navigators appeared to on the ropes.
Challenger K-8 could not handle Ebone Plummer's eight points and nine rebounds.
The last of Plummer's four field goals with 3:55 left in the third period swelled Parrott's largest lead to 15-4.
But Head Coach Roe Foley's 'Gator defense clamped down permitting one bucket across the final 9 1/2 minutes to pull away a win from the jaws of defeat over Parrott (2-7), 23-18.
In the junior varsity opener, it was almost the reverse.
Challenger erected a 13-0 lead with 4:37 left in the final quarter.
But Parrott (6-3) refused to quit scoring seven points before stalling out, 13-7.

Four in a row

Challenger K-8 JV's garnered their fourth straight win in Monday's first game improving to 8-1 overall.
Balanced scoring did the trick as Rita Jarque and Bryanna Leonard each scored four markers for the winners, while point guard Nicolla Morolla added three points while Rosie Witherell chipped in two points.
Challenger could have blown this one, as the visitors could not cash in on the Leopards' poor ball handling resulting in 33 turnovers.
"Today, we did OK," commented the 12-year-old Morolla, who is also a standout softball player. "I felt like I didn't do as well as I normally do."
Why did Parrott close strong?
"Coach (Jeff Laing) likes to run a lot of plays and get everyone in," replied Morolla. "I think we kinda slacked off after we led 13-0."
Danielle Harvey buried a three-pointer to lead the hosts while Renneisha Williams tallied two points to complement her game high 14 rebounds. Tara McDaniels added a field goal to round out the host's scoring.
"In middle school, we try to get everyone in the game," explained Laing. "We're not trying pound the lead. We had some young girls get some valuable experience tonight. Let me tell you, if it would have gotten any closer, we would have had some substitutions."

Jones rules

In the night cap, Syclair Jones tossed in a game-high 14 points for Challenger K-8, including six in the 15-3 fourth-quarter run to tip the scales in favor of the visitors.
Jones was not alone, however, as Jillian Deller (5 points), Elena Hoogland (2) and Anna Poholek (2) each scored in the decisive final period.
"We all knew we had to set it up," said the 13-year-old Deller. "We're tired of losing. We kinda pushed ourselves late in the game. We hit some buckets and some free throws."
What about Jones' efforts?
"She was awesome," commented Deller. "It's like she's always where she's supposed to be. And she hit some big shots tonight."
What was the difference?
"We really felt the momentum swing," commented the 14-year-old Jones. "We had to do this. It seemed like every little bit counted tonight."
How big was the win?
"It was huge," she added. "They (Parrott) were very aggressive. But deep down we knew we could beat them."
Parrott Head Coach Nick Keller thought his team gave a valiant effort, especially after the Leopards suspended five players, including both point guards prior to the game.
"The difference? Everything they shot at the end of the game went in for them," lamented Keller. "I thought we should have hung in there and won this. But, bottom line, my kids played hard. The effort was there."
 
Challenger 23, Parrott 18
VARSITY
               1  2   3  4
Challenger  2  2   4 15 -- 23
Parrott   6  7   2  3 -- 18
CHALLENGER (23) – Caraballo 0 0-4 0, Deller 2 1-2 5, Hoogland 0 2-2 2, Bishop 0, Poholek 1 0-2 2, Jones 6 2-3 14. Totals: 9 5-13 23.
PARROTT (18) – Boswell 0, Brooks 0, Ousley 1 0-0 3, Plummer 4 01 8, Gillis 0 1-2 1, Bainum 1 0-0 2, Drinkwater 2 0-0 4. Totals: 8 1-3 18.
Three-point field goals: Ousley (PAR).
Total fouls: CHAL 8, PAR 19.
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: Challenger K-8 (5-4), Parrott (2-7).

Challenger 13, Parrott 7
JUNIOR VARSITY
              1   2   3    4
Challenger  5   2   4   2 -- 13
Parrott   0   0   0    7 -- 7
CHALLENGER (13) – Leonard 2 0-0 4, Ruiz 0, Laing 0, Morolla 1 1-2 3, Baldwin 0, Jarque 2 0-0 4, Witherell 1 0-0 2.Totals: 6 1-2 13.
PARROTT (7) – Tankersley 0, R. Williams 0, McDaniels 2, Renn. Williams 1 0-2 2, Harvey 1 0-0 3, Sampson 0. Totals: 3 0-2 7.
Three-point field goals: Harvey (PAR).
Total fouls: CHAL 11, PAR 5.
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: Challenger K-8 (8-1), Parrott (6-3).
 

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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