Bucs Nip Leopards, 38-36

NEW PORT RICHEY - Thursday night's tilt served as a key prep girls basketball match-up between Hernando and Gulf.
A possible second seed in the upcoming Class 4A, District 8 Tournament was at stake.
Despite Hernando receiving 17 points from April Griffey and 14 from Jasmine Brown, it was free throw shooting that hurt the Leopards the most as Gulf hung on for a 38-36 win.
Despite trailing by as many as six points early in the fourth quarter, the 14-6 Lady Leopards came back and led the game 36-34 with just over a minute to go before a driving lay-up by Nicole Adams and a free throw by Colleen McAuliffe gave the Bucs the win and locked up the second seed.
What snapped the Lady Leopards' seven-game winning streak, first-year coach Josandra Maner was clear and to the point about the game.
"We missed free throws, that's what cost us the game," she said. "We missed 12 free throws and if we make them, we win the game."

Gulf: early cushion

The Bucs (18-4 overall) began the game by jumping to an early lead, going in front 10-6 after one quarter and leading 21-14 at the half.
And even in the third quarter, the Leopards were not able to get within four points of the Bucs. But in the final period, Hernando started to make a comeback.
Griffey scored three baskets in the last period, the final one coming on a layup with 1:26 to go in the game to tie it up at 34-all.
Then Brown, who ended the game with a double/double featuring 14 points and 14 rebounds, converted two free throws that put Hernando ahead 36-34 with 1:05 left.
But then freshman guard Adams, who finished the game with 19 points, hit a free throw with 47 seconds left.
Then with 14 seconds left, Adams drove the lane and converted a lay-up that put Gulf up by one point. McAuliffe then hit the first of a one-and-one free throw attempt with three seconds to go to end the scoring.
Griffey finished the game with 17 points and six rebounds for Hernando while Adams finished with 19 points for Gulf and McAuliffe ended with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
In the end, the difference in the game was free throw shooting as Gulf connected on 10 of 19 attempts while Hernando hit eight for 21.
"There were some calls by the refs that I just don't agree with," Maner said after the game. "That one call in the final minute of the game where Riana Jenkins was exchanging the ball Jasmine (Brown) and was called for traveling, I just don't get that."
But Maner, whose team had beaten Gulf earlier in the year 47-42, thought that this would not be the last time these two teams would meet this year.
"I know the two and three seeded teams will play lower seeded teams in the first round of the districts, but I'm sure we'll see each other again. And this time in won't be a home game for Gulf, and I won't have to worry about the refs."

Gulf 38, Hernando 36
HER 6 8 7 15 -- 36
GULF 10 11 6 11 -- 38
Hernando (36) - Ledington 0 0-0 0, Jenkins 1 1-4 3, Brown 4 4-6 14, Woods 0 2-4 2, Griffey 8 1-3 17, haines 0 0-0 0, Lawrence 0 0-4 0. Totals - 13 8-21 36.
Gulf (38) - Adams 6 7-8 19, Melgard 0 0-0 0, Jones 1 0-2 2, McAauliffe 5 2-7 12, Brooks 1 1-2 3, Seybold 1 0-0 2. Totals - 14 10-19 38.
Three-point field goals - Brown 2 (HER).
team fouls - HER 15; GULF 15.
Fouled out - None.
Technical fouls - none.
Records - Hernando (14-6 overall, 11-4 4A-8); Gulf (18-4 overall, 10-3 4A-8).