Beef-ing up!

LECANTO - The last time Hernando High recorded its ninth victory of any season, the Lady Leopards ranked among the best teams in the state.

The 2001-02 squad, led by current Washington Mystic Bernice Mosby, went 23-5 and advanced to the regional final.

Five seasons have come and gone since then, with Hernando compiling a 35-90 mark over that span and never winning more than eight games in any one campaign.

Walt Cermak guided this program to the state finals twice and compiled 388 wins from 1981-2000. But even his brief return to the bench the past two seasons couldn't reverse the downward spiral.

So when Hernando defeated host Lecanto High Friday night in the Beef O' Brady's Christmas Classic, 49-39, to improve to 9-4 overall, it definitely meant something.

"It means a lot," said first-year Head Coach JoSandra Maner, a former player under Cermak. "I'm proud of the girls. They just needed the confidence. They couldn't get past that point. I think they thought it was unreachable in past years.

"I think they're a really good team, they just didn't know it yet. Now that they've got that in their minds that they're good, I think they'll be all right."

Post play pivotal

Hernando won by getting the ball inside to the strong frontline trio of Jasmire Brown, April Griffey and Desiree Woods, who combined for 26 points and 22 rebounds.

"Basically the point guards, we've been playing together for a little time," said Brown, a sophomore who had 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals. "They know the right time to throw the ball and where to get it in a good spot where we can make it."

That trio had 16 of Hernando's 18 first-quarter points, as the Lady Leopards opened up a double-digit lead over Lecanto (5-11).

"We have not quite figured out that rebounding is all about personal effort," said Lecanto Head Coach Jack Hall, lamenting 40-23 rebound disadvantage. "You can't give up 5-6 shots a trip.

"In our defense, we played very good in the second half. We never gave up. I'm proud of the girls in that respect. They did dig down and fought. If we played two 16-minute games, we'd be 1-1."

Lecanto out-scored Hernando 25-18 in the second half, but trailed 31-14 at halftime when Lady Leopard reserve Sarah Haimes hit a jumper right before the halftime horn for two of her eight points.

Hernando got a balanced effort, with eight players notching at least one basket. Griffey finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while Woods added seven and six. Kyla Brooks scored 15 points for Lecanto.

"That's (collecting a ninth win) awesome," said Griffey, a senior. "It's exciting that we're actually getting the team back together. We all work good together I think."

The tournament proved very successful for Hernando, considering it also defeated Citrus High the previous day, 61-57.

"I think speeding the game up, not dictating every move, letting them make their own decisions, I think that built their confidence up," Maner said. "Citrus was a really good team. They're 12-2, they were aggressive. They've got two really good freshmen but I think we did a good job of containing them.

"I'm glad we got into this tournament to get a chance to play someone else."