Finding A New Challenge

Locked into a nine-team district, finding outside competition has continually plagued Nature Coast Technical.

The Lady Sharks have dominated Class 4A, District 8 the last two seasons, but never advanced past the second round of regionals.

To that end, Nature Coast has traditionally participated in multiple holiday tournaments. This weekend the Lady Sharks will take part in the Gene Gorman Turkey Shootout at Punta Gorda-Charlotte High.

Nature Coast faces Englewood-Lemon Bay at 1:30 p.m. today. If the Lady Sharks win, at 12 p.m. tomorrow they'll face the winner of Ocala-Forest versus host Charlotte, then play in either the 6 p.m. championship game or 4:30 p.m. third-place game later Saturday night.

If Nature Coast loses to Lemon Bay, it will have to play the loser of Forest-Charlotte today at 6 p.m. and again Saturday at either 1:30 p.m. or 3 p.m.

The rest of the eight-team field includes Fort Myers-Dunbar, Tampa-Jefferson, Port Charlotte and Tampa Catholic, in what Nature Coast Head Coach Travis Lamle called a "loaded" top half of bracket.

Dunbar finished as the state runner-up the past two seasons, first in 4A and then in 3A.

"This will give us a chance to play someone we don't know much about," Lamle said. "The only way to get better is by playing teams better than you. Some of the teams are really good there, especially in the upper bracket.

"This is the reason why you play in these tournaments. You want to play better competition so it prepares you for the postseason."

The Lady Sharks are 2-1 on the young season, easily disposing of county rivals Hernando and Central but falling to 4A-8 upstart Wiregrass Ranch, ending a 33-game district win streak in the regular season.

Nature Coast has not played since beating Central on Nov. 19, a fortunate lull in the schedule. Lamle said the entire team has been sick, passing around a bug to one another.

"I want us to go there and really compete and get after it," Lamle said. "I don't think we did that all that well in our past three games. We did well in spurts. We need to play all four quarters.

"I want them to see what that's like and we want to get in the championship game, go up against one of the big dogs and see how we do."

Central heads to Lake Wales

One other county team will be in tournament action this weekend, as Central plays in the Lady Highlanders Holiday Shootout at Lake Wales High.

Like Nature Coast, the Lady Bears needed to add some games to the schedule and ended up in this eight-team tournament.

Today at 2:15 p.m. Central squares off with Haines City, and at 7:15 p.m. Palm Harbor. Saturday at 2:15 p.m. the Lady Bears play Lecanto-Seven Rivers Christian.

"Obviously (the goal is) to go and be able to win," Central Head Coach Penny Gressick said. "At the same time, I don't know anything about these teams. Basically just (want) to go over and be competitive."

Central comes in 2-1 with wins over Hernando and Springstead against a loss to Nature Coast.

"If we can alleviate turnovers and not give up easy baskets, we'll be in the game," Gressick said. "I just want them playing well all the way around, offensively, defensively. Take care of the ball and getting high percentage shots. We're not taking advantage of easy shots when we get them.

"I have a team that hasn't really played together. I lost five seniors. Now it's just getting them out there and playing."

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Gene Gorman Turkey Shootout

WHO: Punta Gorda-Charlotte, Fort Myers-Dunbar, Ocala-Forest, Tampa-Jefferson, Englewood-Lemon Bay, Nature Coast, Port Charlotte and Tampa Catholic.

WHEN: Nov. 28-29

WHERE: Charlotte High.

FORMAT: Two-day bracket, three games guaranteed.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 south to exit 164 (Punta Gorda/Arcadia). Turn left on Duncan Road (U.S. Highway 17 South). Continue on State Road 35 South. Bear left on Cooper Street. The school is located at 1250 Cooper St.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Lady Highlanders Holiday Shootout

WHO: Bartow, Central, Haines City, Lake Region, Lake Wales, Merritt Island, Palm Harbor and Lecanto-Seven Rivers Christian.

WHEN: Nov. 28-29

WHERE: Lake Wales High.

FORMAT: Two-day shootout, three games guaranteed.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 south to Interstate 4. Take Interstate 4 east to exit 27 (Polk Parkway/Lakeland/Winter Haven). Take State Road 570 East to exit 10 (Lakeland/Bartow). Turn right on U.S. Highway 98 South; bear right on State Road 60 East. Bear left on West Polk Avenue. Turn left on South 1st Street. Turn right on Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue. Turn left on North Scenic Highway (U.S. Highway 27 Alt.) Turn right on Burns Avenue. Turn left on Highlander Way. The school is located at One Highlander Way.