Hurricanes thwarted in title attempt

By Justin Plante

OCALA — Even before tip-off, the atmosphere in the West Port High School gym was electric. And suffice to say, that atmosphere made way for one of the most intense and emotionally-charged games played all season.

But, what else could be said about a district championship game. The No. 1 seeded Citrus girls basketball team brought its undefeated district record to West Port, only to come up just short of claiming the District 6A-6 championship, as they fell to West Port High School, 44-38.

The Hurricanes will now travel to either Gainesville or South Lake, who square off Saturday to determine the District 6A-5 title.

From tip-off, nether team would give an inch. West Port got the game started when senior R’kyiah Scott, who ended with a game-high 22 points, hit a long three in the face of a Citrus defender from well behind the arc.

Citrus wouldn’t be fooled from there, though, as the team made it a point to be pests around the ball and forced West Port to take tough shots.

The Lady ’Canes kept the game close mainly due to the work they put in on the boards. Citrus outrebounded the Lady Wolf Pack 18-12, with the majority of those coming on the offensive end to keep the ball in their hands.

What did hurt the Lady ’Canes was the missed buckets, as they often found themselves open, but just couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities.

Citrus head coach Brian Lattin was quick to dismiss nerves as the reason.

“I really don’t think it was the pressure at all,” he said. “Obviously they were excited to be in the district championship game, but I don’t think it got to them at all. You know, it’s basketball and you have games where the shots just don’t go in.”

The offensive struggles continued throughout the night for both teams, as neither could get into any type of rhythm.

Citrus would find some success, going on a quick four-point run, but West Port would end it by forcing a turnover and running the ball back downcourt. While West Port would be successful for a bit, Citrus would disrupt its opponent’s runs with stiff defensive plays of its own.

After an 8-7 third quarter, Citrus found itself down by five, with West Port looking at foul trouble.

“Even with the offensive troubles, there was never a point in this game were we felt that the game was out of reach,” coach Lattin said. “We were always down five or six, but I just felt like we couldn’t get over that hump.

“We’d cut the lead to two or three, or tie it in the first half, but then they’d come down and go on like a 4 or 5-0 run,” Lattin continued. “But our defense came up big, and kept us in the game. When you hold a team like this, that scores 50 to 60 points every game, to 44 points, it says something.”

Citrus found some offense in the fourth quarter behind junior Elizabeth Lynch, who finished with six points and two steals, senior Paige Garvin, who led her team with 10 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore Shenelle Toxen, who added another nine points to the total.

But, with the Lady ‘Canes’ defense playing more aggressive, they found themselves in foul trouble awfully quick.
And that foul trouble would be the game clincher for the Lady Wolf Pack, as their starters proved to be just too clutch, going 12-for-16 from the free throw line in the final frame, as the 12 points from the line contributed the only points scored for the Wolf Pack.

“Obviously you have tip your hat to West Port,” Lattin said after the game. “Coach Rollerson and his staff (have) done a great job with the team.”