Celebration On Senior Night... NCT Clinches Share Of County Title With Win Over Central, 72-56

BROOKSVILLE - For the past three seasons, Springstead High has stood alone atop the county. The Eagles remain in that spot, but they finally have company.

On Thursday, Nature Coast Technical celebrated its Senior Night with a 72-56 win over visiting Central High, clinching at least a share of the Hernando County Athletic Conference title.

Whether the Sharks (17-7 overall, 5-1 HCAC) would claim sole possession of the crown depended on what Springstead did against the Bears (6-18 overall, 2-3 HCAC) the following night. The Eagles won, 65-54.

Nature Coast split its regular-season series with the Eagles, each team winning on its home floor.

"This is going to put us on the map," senior Joe Silvestri said. "We knew this year we had a shot and we came out and did it. We played excellent tonight.

"...Coach planned this out since the summer. Conference championship, last (home) game, Senior Night, we had this in our minds for a long time. Nature Coast will remember this senior class and I'm proud of that."

Seniors lead way

Fittingly, the Sharks started four seniors who all played pivotal roles in the victory. Especially Silvestri and Reshad Terry, who combined for 49 points, 14 rebounds and six steals.

Silvestri came in averaging team highs in scoring (16.7), rebounding (9.0), assists (4.4), steals (2.9) and blocked shots (1.2), and lived up to his billing with 27 points, seven boards, five assists, three steals and a block.

He also paces the county in three-pointers made (60), and knocked down four shots from beyond the arc, all in an 18-point first half. In the fourth quarter he hit on 9-of-10 free throws.

Silvestri out-dueled the county's scoring leader, Darryn Frazier, who had just 18 points thanks to solid defense by senior P.J. Orgass.

"We know what type of scorer (Frazier) is," Nature Coast Head Coach Dave Pisarcik said. "We put P.J. on him and very limited help responsibilities. That's his (Orgass) role on the team, to play defense.

"You've got to limit his (Frazier) opportunities, make everything difficult for him. I thought P.J. did a good job of that tonight."

Terry added 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while senior point guard Bryant Pent dished out six assists. Sophomore Tevin Drake added eight points off the bench.

A close game blew open late in the second quarter. Silvestri connected on his fourth trey with 11 seconds remaining, making it a 10-point halftime advantage, 35-25, for Nature Coast.

Silvestri found Terry for a basket that turned into a three-point play at 6:39 in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 15, 40-25.

"Our nerves, we knew coming in this was a big game and Senior Night," Pisarcik said. "You don't get too many opportunities to play for a conference championship on Senior Night. I think the guys came out hesitant. Once the first couple horns sounded, they went out and played basketball."

The Bears never recovered, despite hitting seven threes, including three by Greg Rodriguez, who finished with 14 points. Jessey Fulton added nine rebounds.

"The second quarter, we had lapses," Central Head Coach Eric Hayes said. "We let them get second shots, third shots, fourth shots. Silvestri hit some shots; we had defensive breakdowns. They took advantage of those opportunities. It was a two or three-point game and next thing I know it's ten.

"When we played them last time (a 58-56 Nature Coast win) I felt we let it get away. Tonight it was Nature Coast's Senior Night; they came out pumped early. The first minutes of the second half it went from 10 to 15, I thought that was the game."

For the Sharks, all that mattered at the moment was the chance to celebrate their first county championship.

"That was one of our goals in the summer," Pisarcik said. "Central is a tough team. It was Senior Night. If everything went our way it'd be for the conference championship, but we had to take care of business to set that up.

"These guys showed heart all year. They've been battling, competing with each other. It's the perfect end to their senior season."