BROOKSVILLE - Marti George doesn't have the history within the Hernando Christian Academy program that his teammates possess. Thus far, he only knows the good times.
The 6-foot senior guard just transferred to the school from Berean Academy this season, making an immediate impact.
He came in leading the team in scoring at 17 points per game, a number that will keep rising thanks to a 24-point performance Tuesday night at the Lions' Den.
Host HCA continued a recent trend of blowout victories, trumping winless Ocala-St. John Lutheran, 75-33, in a Class 1A, District 6 match-up.
"I played my hardest, that's about it," George said. "It's a team effort."
The Lions (11-2 overall, 6-2 1A-6) matched their win total from last season, when they went 11-11 in their first year under Head Coach Bill Brooks. That record marked a major improvement over previous campaigns.
Still, HCA has never played in a regional FHSAA playoff game, though that has a good chance of changing this year if the team keeps on its current pace. Both its losses have come to district powerhouse Seven Rivers Christian.
Rolling, rolling, rolling
Since dropping a home contest to Lecanto-Seven Rivers on Dec. 13, the Lions have rattled off seven straight wins. The last six have come by a combined 412-174 - granted against less than stellar competition.
Nevertheless, Brooks pointed out that his players have been on the wrong side of such games before, and being on the other end surely feels a lot better.
"I think the confidence level is building every game," Brooks said. "It's that we don't want to get overconfident. The last four or five games, we've had running clocks. That cuts down on the amount of playing time guys are getting. But to get a running clock, you've got to be doing something right."
HCA never had any worries against the Saints (0-13 overall, 0-6 1A-6), leading 20-6 after one quarter and 42-18 by halftime.
George's nifty drive through traffic for a lay-up at 2:42 in the third quarter pushed the advantage passed 30, 56-25.
Derek Wilson knocked down a free throw with 6:41 left to play, making it 66-31 and initiating a running clock.
Mark Pantages provided the one bright spot for the Saints by compiling a double-double, 10 points and 13 rebounds.
For the Lions, Jake Gaustad tallied 14 points and eight rebounds. Josh Westfall added nine points. Tim Hellmers had only four points, but four steals, three assists and three blocked shots.
Every player on HCA scored, with nine of 10 recording a field goal, as Brooks continues to use his bench liberally with little if any fall off.
"I think we're starting to come together," Brooks said. "We stress defense. We try to dictate what's going on out on the court defensively and let the offense take care of itself. We figure if we hold them down defensively, we'll be in every game we play.
"...We have our moments when we have to stop practice and reiterate the things we have to do. But for the most part, the terminology we use is effort and hustle and we're getting that most of the time. That's what it will take if we're going to go anywhere in the postseason."
HERNANDO CHRISTIAN 75, OCALA-ST. JOHN 33
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
Ocala-St. John 6 12 13 2 - 33
Hernando Christian 20 22 19 14 - 75
Ocala-St. John (33): Weiss 1 0-0 2, Samuel 0, Roach 2 1-2 5, Marks 0, Colquitt 2 1-2 6, Pantages 5 0-3 10, Melendez 4 0-3 8, Ohanrahan 1 0-0 2, Poehlman 0, Wilson 0, Kirk 0. Totals - 15 2-10 33.
Hernando Christian (75): Westfall 3 2-2 9, Gaustad 6 1-3 14, Kessler 2 0-0 4, Hellmers 2 0-0 4, George 8 7-9 24, Hunter 2 0-0 6, Kautsky 2 2-3 6, Bronson 0 3-4 3, Wilson 1 1-2 3, Eastin 1 0-2 2. Totals 27 16-25 75.
Three-point field goals: SJ 1 (Colquitt); HCA 5 (Hunter 2, Gaustad, George, Westfall).
Total fouls: SJ 19, HCA 11.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: Ocala-St. John (0-13 overall, 0-6 1A-6), Hernando Christian (11-2 overall, 6-2 1A-6).
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