Warriors' mettle

By Dave Pieklik

Cathy Kapulka/Chronicle

Seven Rivers Christian’s Alexis Zachar goes up for two points as St. John Lutheran’s Heather Fisher tries to block the shot during the first quarter of the District 2A-3 championship game at Seven Rivers on Friday night. The Warriors captured their first district title since 2004 by defeating the Saints 43-33.

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Cathy Kapulka/Chronicle

The Seven Rivers Christian School girls basketball team is District 2A-3 champions after defeating the St. John Lutheran Saints on Friday night at home. From left: Rebecca Wright, Sofia Leon, Andrea Zachar, Samantha Kauffmann, Alyssa Gage, Kayleigh Kiernan, Tiana Miele, Alexis Zachar and Kaitlen Fenton.

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LECANTO — That wide open three that didn’t fall, that errant pass out of bounds? Don’t sweat it. Missed opportunities are meaningless today for the Seven Rivers Christian School’s girls basketball team: they are champions.

In a game that almost went the other way, the Warriors defeated Ocala St. John Lutheran School 43-33 Friday night to claim the District 2A-3 title. This is the second district title for the school, which also won the championship in 2004.

“Best feeling in the world without a doubt,” senior guard Kayleigh Kiernan said afterward.

Who knows what Kiernan will feel like if the Warriors — who went 17-5 in the regular season — continue their winning ways in the regional playoffs.

The Warriors will host the runner-up of District 2A-4 on Thursday at Seven Rivers. That district will hold its title game Saturday night.

Momentum swung back and forth in the latest game, a nail-biter until the very end with both teams giving it everything they had.

“This is exactly how I thought it would happen,” said Seven Rivers coach Rick Kiernan, crediting Saint John and its coach with being very talented.

The game had a little of everything: suspense, questionable foul calls, loud fans, exciting plays and then some. It started with a headache-inducing moment for the Warriors, when an incomplete lineup card had them behind two points before the opening tipoff from ensuing technical foul shots. From there, the teams went back and forth.

Seven Rivers led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, and 20-15 at the end of the first half. With aggressive defense and rebounding, the Saints drew to within two points of the Warriors three times — midway through the third quarter and twice in the fourth — just to see Seven Rivers fight back with a momentum-shifting steal or shot.

Guard Alyssa Gage and forward Andrea Zachar had 11 points each for the Warriors while guard Sara Poehlman had 15 for St. John. Poehlman was one of the three guards coach Kiernan had his team put pressure on in hopes of forcing bad shots or turnovers.

While enjoying the victory, Kayleigh Kiernan was looking ahead to the regional playoffs. To succeed, she recognized her team’s perseverance against the Saints when the lead could have slipped away. She added, “Our really strong bond as a team is what pushes us through those moments.”