This time, NCT feels right at home

BROOKSVILLE --

Nature Coast didn't need any extra motivation Friday night. Not with a district championship game on its own home court.

Yet the memory of losing last year's title tilt in their gym could surely add fuel to the fire.

Or maybe it was just about facing Eustis in a battle of two of the top teams in the entire state in the Class 5A, District 7 Tournament final.

Either way, the result was an impressive victory for the Sharks. They led from start to finish, roaring out to a double-digit advantage early in what ended up a 60-46 triumph.

"We wanted to give our fans a district championship and be able to win it on our home floor," Nature Coast Head Coach Dave Pisarcik said. "We know the type of quality opponent Eustis is. This was a key matchup between two big teams.

"Eustis is a great team. They were not going to go away. They play hard. They want it as bad as we do. We had to execute. We had to know our game plan. When we're playing Nature Coast basketball, we're a hard team to stop."

* * * * *

The Sharks (24-1) scored the first seven points of the game, holding the Panthers (23-4) scoreless over the first three minutes.

Nature Coast led 15-4 after the opening quarter and 20-4 in the second.

Rohan Blackwood scored nine points in the half, and Blake Lowman's three just before the halftime horn gave the Sharks a 33-16 edge at intermission.

Eustis did slowly creep back into, yet every time Nature Coast had an answer.

Around the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Panthers cut the deficit to seven. Ronald Tarver knocked down two free throws, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and connected with Josh Brown for a layup, making it 43-36.

However, Nature Coast immediately threw the ball back into play to a wide-open John Parker, who raced to the hoop from midcourt and was fouled going for a shot.

He hit both free throws, and kept Eustis from grabbing the momentum.

A similar scenario unfolded with 3:50 left to play. Anthony Allen hit a jumper to pull the Panthers within six, 48-42.

That's when Shark senior guard Donovan Ingram dashed down the court and laid it in prior to stealing the ball back.

Ingram helped turn that possession into points as well, swinging the ball to Lowman for a trey in front of the Nature Coast bench that expanded the lead back to 11, 53-42.

"I felt it was time for somebody to step up on our team," Ingram said. "Tyler (Bergantino) can only do so much. I felt like somebody needed to attack."

Ingram scored 11 points to go with five assists and three steals. Lowman and Parker each chipped in 10 points.

Bergantino led the team with 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds, but the 6-foot-9 senior needed help from others with the defense collapsing on him in the paint.

"It's a credit to every single player. There was so much focus and energy and I really think that was key. The team stepped up. This was a team win," Bergantino said.

"We're a family. We have our times when we disagree, but at the end of the day it's about winning games. It's about playing for each other and I think that's what we did tonight."

Pisarcik compared this season's squad with the one that captured a district crown in 2009-10 and eventually reached the Elite Eight.

Last season's team also made it that deep into the postseason despite falling in the district finale.

"This is probably one of our most balanced teams," Pisarcik said. "We've got a big guy in Tyler, one of the best point guards in area in Blake and a lot of role players."

* * * * *

The Panthers were paced by Dustin Dunham (15 points), Allen (12 points) and Tarver (six assists, five steals).

"They've got a great team. They've got a new player (Blackwood), he's the missing link," Eustis Head Coach Mike Bowe said. "They really won the first half, we won the second half. We've got play like that in the first half.

"They played exceptionally well. They deserved the victory. Hopefully we'll be back to play them in a week and a half."

That would be in a Region II semifinal. First both teams must get through their quarterfinals against opponents pending Saturday's 5A-8 final between Hudson and Wesley Chapel.

This win guarantees that potential fourth meeting between the Sharks and Panthers will take place at Nature Coast.

"Playing at their place is a whole different atmosphere, a whole different ballgame," Pisarcik said. "Eustis is going to come back with some firepower and they'll be tough to beat again."

Whether that game actually transpires remains to be seen, but the senior-laden Sharks are already focused on the road ahead.

"It's very nice to know we have a district championship under out belts, but our work isn't over," Bergantino said. "We're happy, but not satisfied."

Nature Coast 60, Eustis 46

Qtr. Scoring	1	2	3	4
NCT	15	18	10	17	—	60
EUS	4	12	16	14	—	46

Nature Coast (60): Parker 4 2-2 10, Blackwood 3 3-3 9, Bergantino 6 3-10 15, Davila 1 0-0 3, Lowman 3 2-2 10, Ingram 3 5-5 11, Martin 1 0-0 2, J. Mazzia 0. Totals 21 15-22 60.

Eustis (46): D. Dunham 5 4-4 15, Brown 3 1-1 7, Allen 6 0-0 12, J. Dunham 1 0-2 2, Tarver 2 2-2 6, Clayton 1 2-2 4, Graham 0. Totals 18 9-11 46.

Three-point field goals: NCT 3 (Lowman 2, Davila); EUS 1 (D. Dunham).

Total fouls: NCT 12; EUS 17.

Technical fouls: none.

Fouled out: Clayton (EUS).

Records: Nature Coast (24-1), Eustis (23-4).

5A-7 Tournament

at Nature Coast

02-07

Game 1 – No. 5 Hernando vs. No. 4 Dunnellon

Hernando 72, Dunnellon 34

Game 2 – No. 3 Tavares def. No. 6 Crystal River