Lightning race past Gators at Santa Slam
While classes may be out for the holidays, the Island Coast girls’ basketball team got schooled on Tuesday.
The Gators fell 58-41 to Lehigh in the Blitzen Division championship game of the Southwest Florida Santa Slam II tournament at Oasis.
Island Coast (12-6), with four freshmen playing significant time, struggled in the first half against the pressure defense of Lehigh (13-3). The Lightning held the Gators to three field goals, all by freshman Cherelle Washington, in the first half to lead 25-11 at the break.
The Gators adjusted and played a more competitive second half, which allowed coach Jerry Ellis to chalk up the loss as a lesson learned for his team.
“With so many freshmen on the team, when a team throws a zone pressure on us full-court, we work on it in practice, but you’ve got to be able to synthesize it in the game,” Ellis said. “By the time that happened, boom-boom-boom, three or four turnovers and changes of possessions. The game can just jump out 10, which it did, and by the time we figured it out, relaxed. We did in the second half. Everything was much better.
“We don’t typically miss seven free throws and we don’t turn the ball over like that,” Ellis added. “But you know what? Just to be able to play in a championship game, wherever you are, is a treat and a success.”
Washington led all scorers with 18 points. Leanne Ellis added 15 points for the Gators, 14 in the second half.
Alexxis Mendoza led the Lightning with 17 points. Leondra Bell, Haylie Holloway and Darnesha Burch scored nine points each.
“I told them we need more of this,” Ellis said. “We need more of this so that when it’s thrown on us, we’re ready for it. You can’t replicate it in practice. I’m not disappointed at all.”
Palmetto came from behind to beat South Miami 66-63 in the Donner Division championship game.
SWF Christian 58, Oasis 51: The Sharks’ late rally came up short in Tuesday’s loss to Southwest Florida Christian in the third-place game of the Santa Slam’s Donner Division.
Down by 10 with 3:11 left, the Sharks (10-8) came within 52-49 on Daria Aho’s three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining. SWFC held on by hitting foul shots at game’s end.
The Kings led most of the game by packing in its defense against Oasis scorer Jordan Westendorf. While Westendorf still managed 23 points and 13 rebounds, SWFC took advantage of a tough day for Sharks outside shooters to control the game. The Kings made five three-pointers while the Sharks made two.
“Southwest Florida Christian’s a really good team,” Sharks coach Sam Wood said. “They know us very well. They know our strengths and our weaknesses. I’m just so proud of my kids. We were down by over 10 points, and we fought back and made a game out of it at the end. We just came up a little bit short.”
Taylor Edens had 31 points, nine rebounds and four steals to lead the Kings (7-10). Rebekah Bergquist added 11 points.