Eagles Take The Bite Out Of The Cobras 66-56

SPRING HILL - Springstead High's boys' basketball team overcame a slow start Thursday evening at home against Hudson before pulling ahead in the third quarter for good, winning 66-56.

Springstead was led by Dante Valentine with 18 points, four rebounds and six steals, followed closely behind by teammate Dominic Roberson with 16 points, four rebounds and three steals.

Hudson: ahead quickly

Hudson (10-9) started off quick, grabbing the opening tip was Stephen Brom and he found Tyler Hooten wide open for one of his three treys on the night.

With 6:01 left in the first quarter, Springstead guard Nick Steadman swiped the ball and scored the first points of the night for the Eagles, 6-2.

With 2:53 remaining in the first, Valentine cleared the boards and drove the length of the floor for two, cutting the lead to 6-4.

Hudson began to pull away when Hooten hit another three-pointer from behind the arc, giving Hudson an 11-4 advantage.

Springstead had difficulty converting lay-ups early on. Still, Springstead's Nehemiah Mason converted a three-point field goal early in the second quarter that thus began the Eagles' tedious climb back into the game.

With 3:23 left in the first half, Roberson grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for two and a foul. He managed to convert the three-point play bringing the Eagles to within five, at 25-20.

With four seconds showing, Andrew Echanique hit a three-pointer to give momentum to the Eagles, who trailed by one at the intermission.

With 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, Roberson grabbed another rebound and put it in for two and added another three-point play, converting 8-of-10 on the night from the free throw line.

SHS: defense picks up

Springstead increased its defensive intensity in the second half, forcing a total of 25 turnovers, 15 of them steals that enabled the Eagles to fast break and get to the line.

With less than a minute left in the third quarter the Eagles' Valentine grabbed a rebound and started a perfect Roberson-to-Steadman fast break that resulted in another easy lay-up and a 52-41 advantage, allowing Springstead to put the Cobras away for good.

"Their defense definitely won this game and turned the tide," commented Hudson Head Coach Jason Vetter.

Springstead's first-year mentor, Pat Kelly, spoke after the game, "All our kids stepped up. We always say just stay focused. You never know whose turn it's going to be to make a difference. Our kids are pretty unselfish. They tried to copycat Nature Coast a little bit. We were just trying to take what was there, what they gave us."