NCT: Taking the first step

Nature Coast began its quest for a fourth straight Class 4A, District 8 Tournament championship with an easy win in Wednesday's quarterfinals at Wiregrass Ranch High.

The second-seeded Lady Sharks moved into the semifinals by bouncing seventh-seeded River Ridge, 53-31.

"I didn't think the intensity was there the whole game," Nature Coast Head Coach Travis Lamle said. "We started out good and had ups and downs.

"I thought Alyssa (Joens), Brittany Johnson played well. (Jen) Marshall did a good job. Tori Hattaway, she hasn't been with us most of the season, she gave us good minutes."

The Lady Sharks (17-8) led 22-12 after the first quarter thanks to nine points from Marshall and eight out of Helfand. Those two combined to knock down three three-pointers in the period.

River Ridge (11-11) could never recover, scoring in single digits in each of the next three quarters.

Marshall finished with 16 points, Helfand with 12 and Alyssa Joens added 10. Nature Coast will now play third-seeded Lecanto on Friday at 6 p.m.

With a win, the Lady Sharks would clinch their seventh consecutive regional berth. They have never failed to reach regionals in the history of the program.

"Lecanto, they're completely different than when we played them the first time (60-52 win on Dec. 18)," Lamle said. "They never played man (defense) against us. They didn't have (Stephanie) Savery, a real good shooter.

"So I think we match up well. We've got to take care of (Bri) Jackson and close out on Savery."

NATURE COAST 53, RIVER RIDGE 31
Qtr. Scoring 1 2 3 4
River Ridge 12 5 8 6 - 31
Nature Coast 22 15 6 10 - 53
River Ridge (31): Kostogiannes 2 1-4 5, A. McCann 0 2-2 2, Smeltz 3 0-0 6, Warren 2 1-2 5, Meyers 4 0-0 8, Ball 1 0-4 3, Donato 1 0-0 2, J. McCann 0 0-2 0, Fomino 0, Hoolihan 0, Pinto 0, Treadwell 0. Totals 13 4-14 31.
Nature Coast (53): Byrd 2 2-2 6, Helfand 5 0-0 12, Joens 5 0-0 10, Brit. Johnson 0 1-2 1, Marshall 4 6-6 16, Peterson 2 0-2 4, Hattaway 2 0-0 4, Brie Johnson 0, Pospisil 0, Hagar 0, Je'Nel Yore 0, Je'Nay Yore 0. Totals 20 9-12 53.
Three-point field goals: RR 1 (Ball); NCT 4 (Helfand 2, Marshall 2).
Total fouls: RR 8; NCT 12.
Technical fouls: none.
Fouled out: none.
Records: River Ridge (11-11), Nature Coast (17-8).

CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 8 TOURNAMENT
at Wiregrass Ranch High

02-01
Sunlake def. Zephyrhills

02-02
Citrus def. Land O' Lakes, 43-36
Wiregrass Ranch def. Sunlake, 70-25

02-03
Lecanto def. Hernando, 65-62
Nature Coast def. River Ridge, 53-31