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No Doubting Thomas

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Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High junior Corey Thomas elevates this jumper over Pasco's Chuck Simmons for two of his game-high 22 points in the Leopards' pulsating 65-64 win Monday night at Sunlake High.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: February 9, 2009

LAND O’LAKES - With 18 seconds remaining, Pasco sophomore Hakeem Ishmar buried his ninth and final field goal – a twisting layup giving the No. 9 seed Pasco Pirates its final lead Monday night at Sunlake High against eighth-seeded Hernando High, 64-63.
But the Leopards set up for one last shot.
First-year Head Coach Mark Latsko instructed the team, "to move the ball around and get a good look."
With four seconds left, HHS sophomore Taylor Owensby, who had seven second-half points, hoisted a 14-footer toward the rim.
The shot, unfortunately, missed.
Luckily for the Purple and Gold, the ball bounced right the Leopards' most dangerous player all night – junior Corey Thomas.
Thomas collected Owensby's miss and converted the stickback for his game-high 10th field goal with 2.2 seconds left. He led all scorers with 22 points.
The Pirates, however, utilized their final timeout to set up a desperation three-point heave by their hottest player – junior Chaise Dunn – as the buzzer sounded the shot hit the front end of the rim and bounced away.
The Pirates were Dunn, 65-64.
Though Dunn poured in 19 points, including 13 in first half, the Pirates under first-year Head Coach Derek Heard closed out their winter campaign at 3-21 overall – losers of its final six games.
Dunn and Ishmar, whose two-handed dunk 20 seconds into the fourth quarter, had both sets of fans stirring, also finished with 19 points. Freshman point guard Trey Giles added 10 markers.
Heard's team can look no further than its 28-of-66 effort from the field, or its 13 misses from the foul line, or its 19 turnovers for its Class 4A, District 8 Boys Basketball Tournament first-round exit.
"We played hard, and we played to the final buzzer" insisted Coach Heard afterward. "We came a long way this year. There were times this year when I thought we gave up; that never happened tonight."
The two teams split the regular season series, so what happened Monday?
"I thought we didn't rebound the ball well," replied Heard. "And then in the first half, we had eight steals but we weren't finishing possessions."
Any regrets?
"None," he sighed. "We learned a lot. But we laid a foundation for the future. We went through five point guards and we finished the season with a freshman there. I think we'll be much improved next season."

HHS heroes

Despite a game-high 24 turnovers, HHS advanced to Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal round against No. 1 seed Spring Hill-Springstead by converting 13-of-14 free throws.
In a 35-pouint first half, Thomas scored 12 points while Alvin "Chubbs" Delaine converted 7 of his 11 markers.
Leopard senior James Stephens buried 3-of-4 three-pointers for nine first-half points while Thomas Bronson and DeAndre Roberts each scored four points.
HHS enjoyed its largest lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter on a Bronson layup, 49-41.
But Pasco chipped away as HHS had to overcome 20 personal fouls whistled against them. The Pirates closed the gap as Bronson and Delaine each fouled out as Ishmar tallied 11 points in the final eight minutes, including what was believed to be the game-winner with 18 seconds left.
"Coach told us to move the ball and get a good look," recalled the 16-year-old Thomas. "When Taylor missed, I told myself, 'I gotta get the ball.' Thank goodness I scored. But Pasco had one more possession. It wasn't over."
Overall?
"This is the toughest game I've been in all year and the best game I played all year," smiled Thomas. "Now, we get a chance to beat Springstead. I'm so happy."
Latsko appeared exhausted afterward.
"It was fun tonight," pointed out Latsko. "Both teams played hard. I thought Corey was gonna have a big game. I hit a couple early shots and he was on."
What about Pasco?
"They're very similar to us," Latsko said. "They're a young team overall. They too, have a first-year coach. And they improved as the season went on.
"I've heard about the Pasco-Hernando rivalry. To win this game, is a big plus," he added. "Now, we have to play a perfect game to beat Springstead. I really just want to see us improve from the last time we played 'em. Hopefully, they come out a little sluggish and we come out ready to play tomorrow."
The Eagles solved the Leopards twice this winter, 60-20, and 69-19.

HERNANDO 65, PASCO 64
Qtr. Scoring        1  2  3  4
Pasco               20 15 8 21 — 64
Hernando         20 16 13 16 — 65
PASCO (64) – Johnson 2 2-4 6, Giles 5 0-0 10, Vickers 1 0-5 2, Simmons 3 2-3 8, Dunn 8 2-4 19, Ishmar 9 1-4 19, Joel Siller 0. Totals 28 7-20 64.
HERNANDO (65) – Delaine 5 1-2 11, Thomas 10 2-2 22, Stephens 3 0-0 9, Bronson 2 4-4 8, Wilson 0 2-2 2, Jackson 0 2-2 2, Roberts 1 2-2 4, Owensby 3 0-0 7. Totals 24 13-14 65.
Three-point field goals: PAS: Dunn; HER: Stephens (3), Owensby.
Total fouls: PAS: 14; HER: 20.
Fouled out: HER: Delaine, Bronson.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: Pasco (3-21), Hernando (7-19).

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

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