In the days leading up to Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal, Springstead Head Coach Pat Kelly provided a quizzical answer to how Pensacola would handle the Eagles' pressure defense.
His response to the question: who said his team was going to press?
Perhaps the veteran headman simply wanted to mask his team's strategy, but anyone who has seen the Eagles play this season knows they live-and-die with their unrelenting defensive pressure.
"It's the biggest thing to our game," senior guard Dante Valentine said. "Take our D away and we'd have gone home a long time ago."
It is a defense that has led them to a 31-0 mark and Saturday's 3:30 p.m. state championship game at The Lakeland Center, and throughout the postseason has made quality opponents look like JV squads.
"The thing is they're so athletic," Nature Coast Head Coach Dave Pisarcik said. "They get their hands on things. They pressure you, they pressure the ball. Their defense makes your offense do what you don't want to do.
"They're very, very quick. It's not just the point guard, Valentine or (Isaiah) Mason. They're quick 1-5. That's what makes them great. They've got a group of guys that understand their talent and make the most of it."
Forcing turnovers
In last Saturday's regional final versus Ocala-West Port, the Wolf Pack had a significant height advantage.
Problem was, they couldn't exploit it. Springstead forced 10 first-quarter turnovers and 26 overall, cruising to a 76-47 victory.
On Thursday, again the opposing team handed the ball to the Eagles 10 times in the opening period. Pensacola fell behind 10-1 early and never recovered as Springstead triumphed over the top-ranked team in the state, 61-49.
"Give them credit," said Pensacola Head Coach Bob Stinnett, whose team committed 23 turnovers for the game. "They came up with loose balls."
Springstead Head Coach Pat Kelly, who came to the school with over 20 years experience and three state semifinal appearances in Delaware, said the defensive success comes from a clear focus.
"It's what we prioritize," Kelly said. "We spend time on it repetitively. We try to put multi-purpose drills in there so we instinctively move.
"Sometimes it's not pretty to watch. Tonight (against Pensacola) it was digging it out. We just had to roll up our sleeves and go hard."
On the season, Springstead opponents are averaging a mere 44.4 points per contest. The highest amount the Eagles have given up is 64, to Central on Jan. 26.
In four state playoff games, when the competition supposedly stiffens, that number has only gone up to 50.5 and only one team (Poinciana) has topped 50.
They are also averaging 15.6 steals, led by Valentine (4.4) and Domnique Roberson (2.8), a product of the athleticism and quickness they use to dominate in the open court.
In turn, the defense fuels the offense. Much of the Springstead's points come off capitalizing on the opponent's mistakes.
"It's satisfying when someone can't even get a pass off," Valentine said. "We get the ball, you turn the other way and Isaiah Mason is dunking. It' s beautiful."
So beautiful that no one has come close to figuring out how to beat it. One more win and no one ever will.
BY THE NUMBERS: SPRINGSTEAD STEALS
Name Steals Average
Dante Valentine 137 4.4
Domnique Roberson 87 2.8
Nick Steadman 60 1.9
Addison O'Neil 58 1.9
Isaiah Mason 56 1.8
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