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Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Springstead High senior Domnique Roberson (5) pumps in two of his team-high 19 points against Cocoa High in Saturday’s 75-60 loss in the Class 4A State Finals at The Lakeland Center.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: March 7, 2009

While traveling to Saturday's 88th annual Florida High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Class 4A Finals at Polk County's The Lakeland Center, a familiar song streamed across a popular FM station.
The song seemed apropos with underdog and ninth-ranked Springstead facing sixth-ranked Cocoa High in the George Jenkins Arena floor.
The song was penned by Steven Tyler, the lead singer who belted out the ballad for his rock band, Aerosmith.
It was the group's title track song from its debut album some 36 years ago.
Yet the lyrics sounded haunting clear.
The song "Dream On" begins, "Every time that I look in the mirror, All these lines in my face getting' clearer, The past is gone, It went by like dusk to dawn, Isn't that the way, Everybody's got their dues in life to pay…"
Springstead had paid its share of dues. Its played hoops since "Dream On" hit the charts.
The Eagles were attempting to conclude its dream season at 32-0.
You see, no Hernando County boys hoop team had ever reached this elite stage.
In the process, no team had ever enjoyed the success, or the run this Head Coach Pat Kelly-guided team has ever had.
Yet, one final exam remained.
Standing in the way Saturday was a 29-3 Brevard County team that also attempting to do the next to impossible.
Yes, another dream.
You see its Tiger football team captured the 2008 Class 4A title led by Head Coach John Wilkinson.
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Wilkinson guided the grid fortunes of Brooksville-Central for three years from 2002-2004. After his 2004 team finished 8-3, he departed for the east coast.
On Saturday, the Tigers were attempting to capture a rare double header - state championships in its second major sport – since Peter Warrick turned the trick with football and basketball with Bradenton-Southeast.
Yet, the Brevard County squad trailed with a 1:40 left in the second quarter to Springstead, 36-19.
SHS went into halftime ahead, 37-26.
The key?
Springstead had forced the athletic and much taller Tigers into 17 of their game-high 26 turnovers.
Only 16 minutes stood in the way of the Eagles' ultimate dream.
Meanwhile, the Tigers' 13th-year Head Coach James Rowe countered by writing a simple message on the blackboard to his players, "We can't let fear win."
As he acknowledged afterward, his Cocoa High players responded.
"Yes, I know nobody knows, Where it comes and where it goes, I know it's everybody's sin, You got to lose to know how to win…"

Tigers roar

With its dreams teetering on the brink, Cocoa reeled off a 20-4 third-quarter run fueled by nine Eagle turnovers. It didn't help that the Spring Hill crew misfired on 8-of-10 field goal attempts and all four of its free throw attempts.
The Tigers began the final period ahead in the scorebook, 46-41.
"Half my life's in books written pages, Live and learn from fools and sages, You know it's true, All the things, Come back to you…"
Cocoa carried the third-quarter momentum into the last eight minutes by connecting on its first five field goal attempts.
Springstead began to fade as the Tigers' lead reached double digits with 3 1/2 minutes left as SHS seniors Dante Valentine and Isaiah Mason both fouled out within 30 seconds of each other.
The dynamic duo, which had carried this team for most of the post-season run, appeared fatigued.
Mason, who averaged almost 18 points per game, finished with 13 points – including none in the second half.
Valentine, who came in averaging a little less than 20 ppg, concluded with nine markers – featuring one lay-up in the second half.
The normally proficient 1-2 eagle punch misfired on 20-of-25 field goal attempts.
Meanwhile, the Tiger lead swelled to as high as 16 points, 73-57, on a massive two-handed flush by 6-foot-5 senior Ellis Young. Young's dunk with 50 seconds remaining was the last of his game-high 20 points and put an exclamation point to the Tigers second-half domination.
The Brevard County faithful were rewarded and danced in the aisles and sung to the public address announcer's music.
"Sing with me, Sing for the year, Sing for laughter and sing for the tear, Sing it with me, It its just for today, maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away…"

Post-game chatter

In the post-game press conference, Springstead senior Domnique Roberson was asked how he felt.
"I hurt bad," said the 18-year-old Roberson, after his sterling 19-point, seven-rebound performance on the state's largest stage.
Coach Kelly took the high road, praising the other team.
"Cocoa is a great team," said Kelly. "They beat us with pressure. I'll take the blame for that. Cocoa deserves a lot of credit. They shot the ball awfully well, especially in the second half. We don't have the depth and rotation of players like that. But our kids played hard.
"I was hoping after the third quarter that it would be our turn," explained Coach Kelly. "But they (Cocoa) pushed through. It was a physical game from the beginning."
And his team?
"Dante was making things happen, he just keeps coming at you," pointed out Kelly. "(Isaiah) Mason had two big blocks in a row. On one he pinned the ball against the glass and then blocked another shot. We played hard, but their bench shot well."
Keys?
"They (Cocoa) did to us what we did to teams all year," described Kelly on Cocoa's second-half pressure defense that eventually resulted in a come-from-behind win. "And they're well coached. They spread us out and then rebounded well (as reflected by Cocoa's 39-37 rebounding edge). Overall, their shooting was much better and they had a deeper bench than we have."
Someone asked Coach Kelly is 31-1 surreal?
"It's a commendable season for these kids," replied Coach Kelly, who is 53-6 lifetime in two seasons at SHS. "For them this season was unbelievable. I kinda feel like Forrest Gump. I'm an old guy who is going home. It was a privilege to work with these kids. They treated me well."
With the state championship trophy on the table, Coach Rowe thought it was his turn to tote home the state's top prize.
You see 30 years before, his team lost by two points in then sectional finals to reach states.
He felt a little vindicated today.
"First, I give God the glory," he remarked. "I'm a blessed man. It was a gift to coach these kids."
The key?
"The kids responded to what I said at halftime," Coach Rowe recalled. "We hit some amazing shots and played "D". Springstead is very physical. They applied great pressure, but I think they got a little tired and our second and third passes made a big difference in the second half."
On the way back home, the FM dial was seeking a stronger signal when the words flipped back on.
"Sing with me, Sing for the year, Sing for laughter and sing for the tear, Sing it with me, It its just for today, maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away…"
You see, Springstead High will continue to dream on as the Tigers were truly blessed.
 

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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