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Hernando Today

Flipping The Switch

Staff photo by BOB EAST III

Hernando's Rianna Jenkins goes up with the ball before Pasco's Cyndee Bennett can make a block during Wednesday's 4A-8 quarterfinal.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: February 4, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - When a mysterious power outage knocked out the lights in the Nature Coast Technical gym, it appeared Wednesday's Class 4A, District 8 quarterfinal action would have to wait another day.

However, the lights came back on, and fourth-seeded Hernando and fifth-seeded Pasco played to a near stalemate over most of the opening two quarters.

Then the Lady Leopards flipped on their own power switch, turning it on in the second half to pull away for a 47-36 victory.

"I think we wore them down," Hernando Head Coach Pete Lahey said. "The first half we played their style. We didn't run as quick as we wanted to go. The second half we had to step the pace up."

Slow start

Neither team got much separation in the first half, with the Lady Leopards (10-13) taking a 17-13 lead into intermission.

Hernando finally gave itself some breathing room early in the third quarter, making it 23-15 on a basket by Brielle Geiger and forcing Pasco (9-13) to call a timeout.

Then junior Jasmire Brown took over, hitting back-to-back hoops to push the edge to 12, 27-15. She scored 10 in the period, helping the Lady Leopards go into the fourth quarter in front 35-24.

"She was a little concerned," Lahey said. "I told her just let your shot come to you, just take your time. Relax and shoot."

The Lady Leopards had as much as a 15-point lead, 43-28, in the final period, before the Lady Pirates cut it to 43-36 on Ashley Larkin's layup with 1:56 to play.

Rianna Jenkins and Brown responded with a bucket each to short-circuit the rally. Brown finished with a game-high 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. She had 14 points in the second half.

"I was talking to my dad, he was telling me whatever was on my mind, forget about it," Brown said. "We're going to be sitting home early watching the games. I didn't want that to happen. Whatever was on my mind, I had to let it go and play my game."

Larkin posted 17 points and 16 rebounds for Pasco, while Lucy Schneider scored 16 points to go along with five steals.

Jenkins contributed seven rebounds and five steals for Hernando. Brittany Flowers added 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists.

The Lady Leopards moved on to a semifinal versus top-seeded Wiregrass Ranch Friday at 5:30 p.m.

"We'll go back and work on defense, work some offense and see what we can do," Lahey said. "We played them within 12 (45-33) the first time we met. We'll see if we play better than the last time (58-22) and see what happens."

HERNANDO 47, PASCO 36
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Pasco 9 4 11 12 — 36
Hernando 8 8 18 12 — 47
Pasco (36): Bennett 0 1-2 1, Brandt 0 0-2 0, Larkin 8 1-2 17, Schneider 7 0-0 16, Gibson 0, Fletcher 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 2-6 36.
Hernando (47): Brown 9 2-2 20, Flowers 2 2-2 6, Geiger 2 2-2 6, Jenkins 2 2-2 6, Lawrence 4 1-2 9, White 0, Liles 0, Kalina 0. Totals 19 9-10 47.
Three-point field goals: PAS 2 (Schneider 2); HER 0.
Total fouls: PAS 9; HER 9.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: Pasco (9-13), Hernando (10-13).

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

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