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Hernando Today

Nothing Changes In 'New Season'

4A-8 BOYS BASKETBALL

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: February 10, 2009

LAND O’ LAKES - At least publicly, those connected to the Springstead High program have spent their extraordinary season saying the right things.

Throughout a school-record 24-0 regular season and heading into the Class 4A, District 8 Tournament at Sunlake High, no one ever seemed to get overly excited, or too far ahead of the task at hand.

So the Eagles, faced with a quarterfinal match-up against eighth-seeded Hernando High, went about their business Tuesday night, overcoming a sluggish start for an 83-48 victory.

"This time of year everyone is excited about playing," Springstead Head Coach Pat Kelly said. "That team (Hernando) came out with a spark and played very well. We just had to get things moving."

Upset brewing?

In spite of the final score, the Leopards (7-20) actually held three different one-point leads in the first half, perhaps buoyed by Monday's dramatic 65-64 win over ninth-seeded Pasco.

Taylor Owensby put Hernando ahead, 22-21, with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. Could the Leopards actually have a monumental upset brewing?

Not so much. Springstead (25-0) responded with a 14-0 run, aided by 15 fouls committed by Hernando in the half, providing the Eagles with 18 foul shots in the second quarter alone.

Dante Valentine scored nine points and Addison O'Neil six in the period. Springstead opened up as much as a 35-22 lead and went into halftime up by 11, 37-26.

In the third quarter senior Domnique Roberson, who had eight points in the opening period, took over with his all-around play.

Roberson hit a three-pointer and converted a three-point play, contributing to his eight points in the quarter. A minute in he found Isaiah Mason with a full-court pass, which Mason turned into a fast-break dunk.

Midway through the period he stole the ball and hit Valentine on a nifty behind-the-back pass for a lay-up and 52-31 edge. Overall Roberson posted a game-high 18 points and 14 rebounds.

"They had Dante and Isaiah locked up pretty much," Roberson said. "I really don't try to do much of the scoring. But when the time comes, you step up.

"We started off kind of sluggish. We weren't getting back on defense. They were getting some momentum and we wanted to end that quickly."

Valentine added 17 points while Mason had 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. Kelly pulled all but one starter, Sal Latimer, at the start of the fourth quarter.

Wayne Jackson led the Leopards with eight points. Corey Thomas, who hit the game-winner against Pasco, had seven points and six rebounds. Alvin Delaine added five steals.

"We played tough with them the first quarter," Hernando Head Coach Mark Latsko said. "We were down 11 at halftime, and then one turnover turns into two turnovers turns into three and the next thing you know they're on a 12-0 run.

"It's a credit to those guys. They're a great basketball team and they're the one seed for a reason."

Springstead will play again Friday in a semifinal versus tournament host and fifth-seeded Sunlake at 7:30 p.m.

"This is a new season," Roberson said. "We're 1-0 right now, looking to go 8-0. Every game is harder. We're working hard, we're at the top of our potential and we'll see how far that takes us."

SPRINGSTEAD 83, HERNANDO 48
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Hernando 14 12 7 15 — 48
Springstead 15 22 25 21 — 83
Hernando (48): Thomas 3 0-1 7, Jackson 3 1-1 8, Bronson 2 0-1 4, Wilson 2 1-2 6, Delaine 3 0-2 6, Roberts 2 2-3 6, Walters 3 0-0 6, Owensby 2 1-2 5, Steitz 0, Stephens 0. Totals 20 5-12 48.
Springstead (83): Roberson 8 1-2 18, O'Neil 4 0-2 8, Mason 7 1-4 16, Valentine 5 6-10 17, Latimer 2 0-0 4, Sabaski 2 2-2 6, Maragh 2 0-0 4, Steadman 0 3-6 3, Noury 1 0-0 3, Floyd 0 2-2 2, Inniss 0 2-2 2, Wild 0. Totals 31 17-30 83.
Three-point field goals: HER 3 (Wilson, Jackson, Thomas); SPG 4 (Roberson, Mason, Valentine, Noury).
Total fouls: HER 24; SPG 17.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: Bronson, Owensby (HER).
Records: Hernando (7-20), Springstead (25-0).

CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 8 TOURNAMENT
at Sunlake High

02-09
Hernando 65, Pasco 64

02-10
Sunlake 56, Nature Coast 46
Springstead 83, Hernando 48

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

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