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Seven Rivers Drops HCA, 54-34

1A-6 BOYS BASKETBALL

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

The HCA boys basketball team: (front row, l to r) Garrett Mikkola, Josh Westfall, Devon Kuka, Jeremy Knight, Nate Kautsky and David Rotteveel. Back row (l to r): Coach Jake Gaustad, Coach Joe Decker, Brett Eastin, Ian Townsend, Head Coach Bill Brooks, Ben Clark, Winsor Sineus, Coach Matt Bucklin and Coach Travis Brooks.

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By C.J. RISAK

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 13, 2009

OCALA - There were certain elements that were favoring Hernando Christian Academy going into its 1A-6 district semifinal against top-seeded Lecanto-Seven Rivers Christian Friday night.
For one, three of the Warriors¹ starters were out with the flu.
For another, HCA was getting its top scorer, Ian Townsend, back after a two-week absence due to an ankle injury.
And don¹t forget the weight of history. Seven Rivers was on a 32-game win streak in 1A-6 games; the only loss in that span was in the district final last year to (drum roll please) HCA, in double overtime.
So in Friday¹s game at Ocala's St. John Lutheran, when the Lions¹ Winsor Sineus got the game¹s first basket, the stage seemed to be set.
And it was, for 2:20. Because that¹s how long the Lions had the lead.
With 5:38 left in the opening quarter, freshman Sam Jones nailed a three-pointer to give the lead to Seven Rivers.
Following a couple of HCA turnovers and a basket by teammate Caleb Nelson, Jones connected on a couple more triples and, with the first quarter just past the halfway point, the Warriors were in the midst of a 17-point run.
Their onslaught would not be impeded. They led 18-4 after one quarter and 30-17 at the half. The difference was never less than a dozen after that as Seven Rivers rolled into the district final, 54-34.
The Warriors take a 21-5 mark into Saturday¹s final against the winner of the Meadowbrook-St. John Lutheran game. HCA concluded its season at 11-12.
"They've got a very fine basketball team," said HCA coach Bill Brooks.
"There¹s a few seniors who¹ve been together since the fifth grade. They¹ve been schooled."
They apparently were quick learners, particularly the chapter about spreading the wealth.
In the first half, six players scored, with Andrew Gage getting nine of his team¹s last 11 points in the second quarter (he had
11 for the half). Jones had nine and Ty Connors netted four.
No one had more than four points in the first half for HCA.
"I thought our defensive intensity was very good considering we had three starters out," said Seven Rivers coach Jim Ervin. "Even though our press wasn¹t that effective in the second quarter. But you have to give Hernando Christian credit, they always give whoever they play a game, and they work hard every night."
The difference, Ervin felt, was that start.
"Sam Jones came in and knocked down those threes, and we usually aren¹t that good from the perimeter," he said. "I think that took them out of their game."
That and forcing nine first-quarter turnovers by the Lions. It proved too big a deficit for them to overcome.
"Their transition game," Brooks said when asked what his team would have to deal with to be successful. "They force a turnover and turn it into a quick score. They've been running that press for eight years.
"We played as hard as we could. We had to go man-to-man against them and we couldn't match up with them. But the kids didn't quit. That was good."
What wasn't was free-throw shooting. While Seven Rivers made 8-of-12 from the line (67 percent), the Lions hit just 7-of-23 (30 percent).
Jones and Gage each scored 11 points to lead Seven Rivers, with Connors adding 10.
Sam Kautsky¹s 10 points was best for HCA; next best was Devon Kuka with eight.

SEVEN RIVERS 54, HERNANDO CHRISTIAN 34
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
SR 18 12 12 12 - 54
HCA 4 13 8 9 - 34
Seven Rivers (54): Gage 5 0-0 11, T. Kauffman 1 0-0 2, Connors 4 2-2 10, Nelson 1 0-0 2, Wahl 2 1-2 7, Beaver 1 0-0 2, Jones 3 2-2 11, M. Kauffman 3 3-6 9. Totals 20 8-12 54.
Hernando Christian (34): Kuka 3 1-6 8, S. Kautsky 3 2-2 10, Westfall 0 1-2 1, Sineus 1 1-4 3, Burke 2 2-2 6, Mikkola 1 0-2 2, Townsend 2 0-5 4. Totals 12 7-23 34.
Three-point field goals: HCA 3 (S. Kautsky 2, Kuka); SR 6 (Jones 3, Wahl 2, Gage).
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls: none.
Records: HCA (11-12), Seven Rivers (21-5).

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