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Hernando Today

Nature Coast Knocked Out

4A-8 BOYS BASKETBALL

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: February 10, 2009

LAND O’ LAKES - A quick glance at the records would make this one seem elementary.

Fourth-seeded Nature Coast Technical came into Tuesday's Class 4A, District 8 Tournament quarterfinal with a tidy 15-9 mark, while fifth seed and tournament host Sunlake went just 8-16 in the regular season.

However, that doesn't take into account the Seahawks' recent play. Sunlake had a four-game win streak that included a 31-28 victory over the Sharks on Jan. 23.

This time around the Seahawks proved that night was no fluke, sending Nature Coast to an early postseason exit, 56-46.

"We made a couple of mistakes early on," Nature Coast Head Coach Dave Pisarcik said. "When we adjusted we battled back in the game. It was one possession a bad pass, one possession a missed free throw. We came up with empty possessions.

"We talk about finishing plays and I don't think we did that defensively or offensively. Sunlake is playing well. They've beaten some creditable teams. We knew at their place we'd have to play hard to win. We played hard; we just didn't play well enough to win."

Early cushion

Sunlake opened up a nine-point lead, 19-10, within the first two minutes of the second quarter, forcing Nature Coast to call a timeout.

The Seahawks continued to build on their advantage throughout the remainder of the period, going in front by 13 on Andrew Banks' lay-up with 1:08 left in the half, 32-19.

They took a 34-22 edge into halftime, with senior Eli Escobar scoring 17 points before intermission.

However, the Sharks came out rejuvenated in the third quarter, out-scoring Sunlake 13-4 in the period. A pair of free throws by Mike Fields with 25.5 seconds to go in the quarter cut the deficit to 38-35.

"I think they were getting to the basket too easy," Pisarcik said. "Our post presence was almost non-existent. We made some adjustments, started getting rebounds and changing shots and that led to easy baskets for us."

Escobar came out with a three-point play to start the fourth and added another bucket, helping the Seahawks get the lead back to nine, 47-38.

"I told them to settle down," Sunlake Head Coach Bob Marinak said. "Offensively they were trying to force the issue too much. I told them to relax, let the offense come to them.

"Once we got 2-3 baskets in a row we needed to play defense. They did it. The credit goes to them. They made plays tonight."

Nature Coast crept back to four, 47-43, but couldn't make enough plays down the stretch to complete the comeback.

"What I told our kids is when you're a new school without tradition, sometimes you have to create a tradition," Marinak said. "It's important to establish a second season tradition.

"Everybody is back to 0-0. It's a second chance. I told our kids we have to go out and play defense. We haven't been great on offense but our kids have bought into our defensive system and that's made the difference the last 5-6 games."

Escobar finished with 23 points to pace the hosts. Center Tyler Bergantino finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots for Nature Coast.

Fields had nine points, four assists and three steals and Jake Meier hit three three-pointers.

"I had two freshmen (Bergantino and guard Blake Lowman) out there," Pisarcik said. "I think those guys will take this to heart and work hard. They don't want to feel this feeling again."

SUNLAKE 56, NATURE COAST 46
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Sunlake 15 19 4 18 — 56
Nature Coast 10 12 13 11 — 46
Sunlake (56): Escobar 9 4-5 23, Williams 4 0-0 8, Hisamoto 2 0-0 4, Dionisio 1 1-3 3, Simpson 2 0-0 4, Warren 3 3-4 9, Banks 2 1-2 5, Senoga-Zake 0. Totals 23 9-14 56.
Nature Coast (46): Adams 2 1-2 6, Fields 3 2-6 9, Bergantino 5 0-0 10, Meier 3 0-0 9, Lowman 1 0-0 3, Byrd 3 1-1 8, Emerson 0 1-2 1, Williams 0, Lynch 0, Waddy 0, Diven 0. Totals 17 5-11 46.
Three-point field goals: SL 1 (Escobar); NCT 7 (Meier 3, Adams, Lowman, Byrd, Fields).
Total fouls: SL 9; NCT 18.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: Adams, Meier, Fields (NCT).
Records: Sunlake (9-16), Nature Coast (15-10).

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

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