TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Gulf Girls Best NCT In Convincing Fashion

BUCCANEERS 52, SHARKS 41

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Gulf forward Kianna Mills gets position and goes up strong for two of her 19 points on the night.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: January 20, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Gulf High picked up its second, late-season statement victory Tuesday night by convincingly beating Class 4A, District 8 rival Nature Coast Tech 52-41.

The win comes only six days after the Buccaneers (17-4, 12-2) toppled Wiregrass Ranch – who was previously unbeaten in district play – and now gives Gulf a strong grip on the No. 2 seed come tournament time in early February.

Gulf never trailed in Tuesday night's rematch of the Sharks' 51-40 home victory on Dec. 11. The Buccaneers stunned Nature Coast (15-6, 10-3) early by sprinting out to a quick 12-2 lead. Guard Nicole Adams and forward Kianna Mills combined for 30 of Gulf's 34 points in the first half alone and were assisted by multiple second and third-chance opportunities opened up by an all-around strong effort on the offensive glass.

Mills was especially effective underneath for Gulf during the opening half. The junior displayed impressive body and ball control over that span where was good on 6 of 8 field goal attempts.

"Coach told me to come out with some energy and I just stepped up if they needed it," said Mills, who finished with 19 points.

"(Kianna) had a phenomenal game," Gulf coach Mike Quarto said. "We've really worked with her with sealing inside and our guards are stepping up and entering the ball better to the post. I give Brittany Brosnan and Martisha Jones a lot of credit entering the ball the way they did in the first half."

Mills added that the significance of Tuesday's rematch provided extra incentive to shine, as well.

"I've been preparing for this game since we lost the first one."

A brief streak of sloppy ball handling and decision making toward the end of the first quarter and into the start of the second allowed Nature Coast to creep within three, 16-13, but Adams' pull-up 3-pointer from the right wing capped a 7-0 run to regain comfort.

Adams led all scorers with 24 points, nearly three above her season average of 21.4. The 80-percent free-throw shooter also went 8 for 8 from the line and has now only missed three attempts in the past five games (32 for 35).

Gulf came out of the second half slow and let the Sharks mount a 7-1 run that cut its lead down to seven, but, after a time out, the Bucs quickly regrouped and went on another 7-0 spurt of their own.

The Buccaneers defense locked down in the final quarter and saw their lead expand to as much as 16 points after consecutive drives to the lane and lay-ins by Adams that effectively iced the game.

Gulf will head to Hernando High Thursday night and take on the Leopards for its next-to-last district game of the season.

SCORING:

Nature Coast - 11 - 10 - 9 - 11 --41
Gulf --- 16 - 18 - 6 - 12 -- 52

TOP INDIVIDUAL SCORERS:

Nature Coast

Shareka Manor - 16
Jenn Marshall - 9
Alexis Helfand - 8

Gulf

Nicole Adams - 24
Kianna Mills - 19

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT