Real season begins for Nature Coast

An early-season loss and a twist of fate have conspired to make Nature Coast's road to a third straight regional final and beyond that much tougher.

The Sharks (21-2) will host the Class 5A, District 7 Tournament this week.

However, a split with Eustis (22-3) in the regular season – both teams swept through the remainder of their district slates – forced a coin flip to decide the top seed.

Nature Coast lost that tiebreaker and had to settle for the second seed. Both the Sharks and Panthers will nonetheless receive byes into the semifinals in the six-team event.

But for the Sharks that will almost assuredly set up a matchup with third-seeded Tavares on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

On the surface that doesn't seem so daunting. Nature Coast defeated Tavares twice this season, 77-49 on Dec. 16 and 72-61 on Jan. 24.

Yet Tavares led that second game at halftime and clearly got the attention of the Sharks' head coach, Dave Pisarcik.

"Being the number one seed is pretty huge for this tournament," Pisarcik said. "Tavares is a team that can upset Nature Coast or Eustis. They've played us tough all year long.

"Unfortunately we're in this situation, but the kids are ready to play. They understand the real season starts now."

Tavares must first defeat No. 6 Crystal River in Tuesday's quarterfinals. Those two will play at 7:30 p.m., following a 6 p.m. contest between fourth-seeded Dunnellon and fifth-seeded Hernando.

The winner of the opener plays Eustis on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.

"It's definitely tough," Pisarcik said. "There are two teams in the top 10 in the class in the same district. Obviously it'll be a good battle.

"Eustis is a little different type of team than we've seen in the past. They're quick, athletic; they get up and down the floor. We usually don't see that type of team until the Elite Eight."

The Panthers captured the first meeting on Dec. 9 in Lake County, 51-34. The Sharks won the rematch at home Jan. 17, 64-52.

The difference was Nature Coast sophomore power forward Rohan Blackwood. The Gulf transfer didn't play in the first Eustis game, but came off the bench to tally 14 points and nine rebounds in the second contest.

The addition of Blackwood (7.1 points, 7.4 rebounds per game) and emergence of junior point guard Vic Davila has provided the Sharks greater depth and athleticism this season.

That complements UMass-bound senior center Tyler Bergantino, enjoying another fine campaign at 17.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.7 blocks.

"We're hungry to win the tournament on our home floor," Pisarcik sad. "We want to be able to give our home fans another district championship."

Last season the Sharks actually failed in that regard, dropping their district final on their home court to Wiregrass Ranch. They then defeated the Bulls in the regional semifinals.

Such a scenario could again unfold, as Nature Coast and Eustis may face for a fourth time in the Sweet 16.

"Last year was last year and we're not looking to last year to get motivation," Pisarcik said. "We're looking at what lies ahead. We think we've got a Final Four team on our hands if we play well in the playoffs."

Though Nature Coast and Eustis are clear favorites in 5A-7, Hernando (10-12) is at least an interesting case study.

The Leopards began the season 0-7, a byproduct of so many players coming over late from football. In the new calendar year they're 10-5.

At the forefront is senior forward Terrence Owens, averaging 14.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.5 blocks.

Hernando, though, must overcome the recent loss of sharp-shooting senior guard Devon Kuka (8.3 points) to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Also, the Leopards have to quickly bring talented sophomore Ra'shaad Hart, an athletic 6-foot-3 forward, back into the fold. He played in the team's past five games after becoming academically eligible and averaged 7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

Hernando Head Coach Mark Latsko admitted his club is "going through an identity crisis," but they can feel good about a 59-34 victory in their most recent game against Dunnellon on Jan. 17.

"We're pretty confident," Hernando Head Coach Mark Latsko said. "We aren't upset with our matchup in the quarterfinal with Dunnellon. We know we're going to be able to compete against them."

On Monday, Central (12-10) hosts Springstead (7-13) in a 6A-6 play-in game at 7:30 p.m. The Bears are seeded fourth, the Eagles fifth in the five-team tournament.

The winner will play top-seeded Ocala-West Port on Wednesday at 6 p.m. as the remainder of the event will take place at Lecanto High.

Central defeated Springstead on Nov. 28, 60-44, then stumbled against the Eagles on Jan. 20, 60-52.

The Bears lost 6-foot-5 junior center Troy Stewart (10.9 points, 6.8 rebounds) to a season-ending right ankle injury. That contributed to a recent slide in which they've dropped 8-of-11 since starting off 9-2.

Conversely, two forwards, 6-foot-5 senior John Anderson and 6-foot-1 junior John Davis, have recently joined the team off academic ineligibility.

"I'm expecting my guys to learn from the mistakes they made in the second half of the season," Central Head Coach Matt Zandecki said. "A couple kids off the bench have to step it up. I like our intensity in practice."

Springstead has been up and down, admitted Head Coach Craig Swartout.

"But I think we've started to play better, which was the goal we had at the beginning of the season, to be a better basketball team at the end," Swartout said.

"Central is a good team. We split with them. I think it'll be a good game. It's an opportunity for our seniors to make one last statement."

First-year Weeki Wachee (0-18) is the fifth-seed in the five-team 4A-6 Tournament. They'll play at fourth-seeded South Sumter Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The remainder of that tournament will take place Friday and Saturday at Umatilla.