Lions Last Left Standing

Out of the county's smallest school, comes the last team left standing.
The Florida High School Athletic Association regional quarterfinals take place tonight, but don't look for county co-champions Springstead High or Nature Coast Technical tonight. Nor Central or Hernando High.
Nope, those teams couldn't survive their respective district tournaments as their seasons came to an end.
Instead, carrying the proverbial torch in the county this evening is the Hernando Christian Academy Lions, fresh off capturing the Class 1A, District 6 championship on Saturday night.
The Lions (20-2) will host 1A-5 runner-up Deltona-Trinity Christian Academy (16-10) in the Lions' Den at 7 p.m. They are making the first state playoff appearance in program history. 
"It's a huge situation because these kids have never been past the semifinals of the district tournament," HCA Head Coach Bill Brooks said. "This is the first time they've won a district (tournament) game, the first time they've won the district championship. 
"Now to be in the regional playoffs, that's just great for them. I'm grateful to be a part of it. Everything from here is something they'll never forget."
 
Two turnarounds
 
A former high school basketball coach in Maryland, Brooks spent 19 seasons coaching at Powell Middle School, where he teaches physical education.
Last season he decided to return to a high school bench, taking over a Lion team that included his son, then senior and current assistant coach Travis Brooks.
Under Brooks, HCA improved significantly from 2-19 in 2005-06 to 13-11 last season. However, the Lions went 2-10 in district play.
That changed this season, as HCA finished with an 8-2 regular season record in 1A-6. Both its losses were inflicted by defending district champion Lecanto-Seven Rivers Christian.
On Saturday in the 1A-6 title game, the Lions finally broke through against the Warriors, winning in overtime, 73-71.
That marked HCA's 16th consecutive victory, dating back to a Dec. 13 loss to Seven Rivers.
The transfer of senior guard Marty George from Tampa-Berean Academy has provided a huge boost. George paces the team in scoring (19.6), assists (4.1) and steals (1.8).
He also averages 5.3 rebounds per game, well behind team-leader Clay Kessler (9.0).
Those two players have caught the attention of Trinity Christian Head Coach Brian Soukup in his scouting of the Lions.
"It's one of those things where I think anytime any team makes the playoffs, they've got to be a good team," Soukup said. "They're in the playoffs for a reason. We're going to go in realizing it might be our last game. If we don't want to go home then we need to play our butts off. I think it'll be a good game."

Turnaround is fair play

Like the Lions, the Eagles have staged their own program turnaround. They are making their first regional appearance since 2000, behind a veteran group of five seniors and four juniors that have mostly played together under Soukup the past four years.
"Most of them have been with me since they were freshmen," Soukup said. "We're having a successful season. Hopefully it'll continue. We've been pleased with our success this year.
"...Our motto for basketball this season was respect. Our football team does very well. Our baseball team is going to do well. We wanted our team on par with them."
The Eagles, described by their coach as an athletic team that shoots and runs the floor well, are led by three players averaging double figures: Andrew Peterkin, Ian Sauri and Wes Reed.
Peterkin, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, paces the team at 16.5 points per game and also averages 8.1 rebounds per contest. Sauri, a 6-foot junior guard, has a 14.2 scoring average with 60 three-pointers made.
Reed, a 5-foot-8 junior, averages 10.2 points and a team-best 5.8 assists per game. Seniors Jacolby Washington (9.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg) and Sean Dunn (9.2 ppg) round out the high-scoring starting five.
"It looks like they have a pretty solid line-up," Brooks said. "They can go to four or five players that are able to put 20 points on the board.
"...I think (the key) is going be our defense, for us to be able to stop their offense. They're averaging the same amount of points we are."
The winner of this game will face the winner of a quarterfinal between Seven Rivers and 1A-5 champ DeLand-Lighthouse Christian in the semifinal round on Tuesday.
"One loss ends our season and we don't want to lose," Brooks said. "We want to go as far as we can and take this ride as far as it'll let us go."
 
COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHAT: Class 1A, Region II Quarterfinal
WHO: Deltona-Trinity Christian Academy Eagles (16-10, 1A-5 runners-up) at Hernando Christian Academy Lions (20-2, 1A-6 champions).
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: HCA's Lions' Den.
AT STAKE: Spot in Tuesday's regional semifinal versus the winner of Seven Rivers/Lighthouse.
STARTING LINE-UPS: Trinity Christian (Brian Soukup, 5th year) - C Jacolby Washington (Sr.), F Sean Dunn (Sr.), F Andrew Peterkin (Sr.), G Ian Sauri (Jr.), G Wes Reed (Jr.); Hernando Christian (Bill Brooks, 2nd year) - C Clay Kessler (Jr.), F Jake Gaustad (Sr.), F Josh Westfall (Jr.), G Tim Hellmers (Sr.), G Marty George (Sr.).