High School Basketball
Though the Nature Coast boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season this past week, falling at Ridgewood on Wednesday, 44-40, it stayed unbeaten where it truly counts. Friday night, the Sharks staved off Class 5A, District 7 rival Hernando, 50-47, to improve to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in district action.
“We made enough shots at the end,” Nature Coast head coach Dave Pisarcik said. “You look at the last couple of games we’ve played against them, it’s all come down to who makes that shot. Sometimes it’s Hernando and sometimes it’s us. We’re just happy that tonight it was us.”
The Sharks had to survive a 26-point effort by senior guard Joel Wilson of Hernando (4-3 overall, 4-2 5A-7). Nick Crima had 19 points for Nature Coast, while Kaine McColley chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. It was the second straight tough district loss for the Leopards, who fell at Central on Tuesday, 56-50.
“That’s fine. We’ll wait till February,” said Hernando head coach Jeff Laing, referring to the district tournament. “We’ve got a lot of new parts. Joel and Dustin (Bailey) are my only two players returning with varsity experience even though I throw four seniors out there.
Laing explained, “A lot of moving parts that we’re trying to get into sync and once we can get it into gear I think the sky’s the limit. We proved it tonight. This is the best team around and we were right in the game the whole time.”
For the Bears (8-1 overall, 4-1 5A-7), that victory over Hernando was a huge bounce back after getting trounced by the Sharks the previous Friday. Nature Coast and Central are holding down the top two spots in the district standings.
Springstead (3-3) dropped its first two 6A-8 contests of the season, at Land O’ Lakes on Tuesday, 59-31, and against Mitchell on Friday, 55-50. In that second game, Julian Louis had 10 points and 13 rebounds while Michael Flores posted 11 points and five steals.
In girls hoops, Springstead (8-2 overall, 2-1 6A-8) beat Land O’ Lakes on Tuesday, 47-45, then lost at Mitchell on Friday, 65-53.
Hernando Christian Academy notched back-to-back district triumphs over Ocala-St. John Lutheran on Thursday, 43-21, and Seven Rivers Christian on Friday, 41-34. The Lady Lions (7-2 overall, 3-0 2A-4) rallied from a 26-12 halftime deficit against Seven Rivers Christian, as Lauren Zappone scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Hernando (5-4 overall, 3-2 5A-7) won Tuesday at Central, 36-34, and Friday at Nature Coast, 44-38. Against the Lady Bears, Ali Bronson paced a 19-point fourth quarter for the Lady Leopards, and finished with 10 points and four steals on the night.
Weeki Wachee (8-6 overall, 2-5 5A-7) had back-to-back wins over Seven Rivers Christian on Thursday, 66-39, and Central on Friday, 31-26.
High School Soccer
Nature Coast’s boys soccer squad moved to 10-2-1, defeating Springstead on Monday, 2-1, and Zephyrhills on Friday, 5-2, sandwiching a loss to Pasco on Wednesday, 4-1. The Sharks are 9-2-1 in 3A-7, second to Pasco.
After losing to Nature Coast, Springstead rebounded to beat Wesley Chapel on Wednesday, 5-2, and Weeki Wachee on Friday, 1-0. The Eagles are 8-5-1 overall, 7-2-1 in 3A-7.
Weeki Wachee (5-4-3 overall, 4-4-3 3A-7) had upended Hernando on Monday, 5-1, and Zephyrhills on Wednesday, 3-1. Joseph Raguso scored three goals against the Leopards, while Bailey Hypes had a pair plus an assist versus the Bulldogs.
Nature Coast absorbed two tough district losses in girls soccer, falling on Monday against Springstead, 2-0, and to Pascoon Wednesday, 3-1.
Central (10-2-2 overall, 6-0 2A-6) earned a win against Dunnellon on Tuesday, 8-0, before losing at Ocala-Trinity Catholicon Friday, 3-0.
High School Wrestling
Hernando held the 34th annual Kiwanis Invitational wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday, with Springstead earning the county’s highest finish behind a third-place 153. Weeki Wachee took fifth (144), Hernando came in eighth (99.5) and Nature Coast ended up 18th (51).
The Eagles had the lone champion, as sophomore Tommy Barker finished first at 106 pounds. Teammate Richie Rivera was the runner-up at 113, as was Weeki Wachee’s Brandon Enoch at 138 and Nathaniel DeJesus at 160. Nature Coast’s Jordan Gibson placed second at 152.