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Gators Chomp Blue Streaks

MARK PINSON/HIGHLANDS TODAY

Sebring's Brenita Grant drives to the basket as Land O Lakes Kayli Keough (22) and Daniel Priest defend during Saturday's game in the Blue Streak gym.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: December 17, 2007

SEBRING — Land O Lakes forward Kayli Keough signed a Division I basketball scholarship with Florida State University two weeks ago.

The 6-foot-2 jumping jack showed why the Seminoles want her by scoring a game-high 18 points, pulling down 15 rebounds and blocking five shots to lead the Gators to a 38-30 win over Sebring on Saturday.

"She was big, coordinated and had real long arms," said Blue Streak forward Hannah Shoop. "She could also handle the ball and run the floor and is one of the best players I've played against.

"It was fun to play against someone that good and it helped to raise our level of play."

Despite the loss, which dropped the Class 4A Blue Streaks to 8-4, there were a lot of positives in the contest.

"I'm proud of the girls and the effort they gave against a very good team," said Sebring first-year coach Mike Lee. "I'm taking the blame for this loss because we were only down by three points late in the third quarter, and I took Brenita Grant out for a breather and that's when Land O Lakes made their run.

"I took Brenita out too early and got her back in too late and once you get behind against a team that good it's hard to come back."

The win improved the Class 5A Gators to 11-1 on the season.

Land O Lakes came out running with Kayli Keough scoring four points and younger sister Meghen adding seven of her 10 points, as the Gators took an 11-5 lead into the second period.

Sebring stormed back as Whitney Lee scored seven of her nine points and Grant added four points to pull the Blue Streaks within 19-18 at the half.

Kayli Keough dominated the third quarter by scoring numerous buckets in the paint and Brittany Kripp added a pair of 3-pointers as the Gators extended their lead midway through the stanza.

Grant, who finished with six points and seven steals, sat down with under three minutes remaining in the quarter with her team down by three.

Land O Lakes took advantage of her absence by going on a run to take a 33-24 lead into the final eight minutes.

Grant came back in and Sebring, which shot 21 percent from the floor and was 1 of 9 from behind the 3-point arc, rallied once more, as Shoop, who had a team-high 13 rebounds, scored three of her seven points.

The Gators spread the floor and ran the clock with each possession to seal the win.

"Land O Lakes is a tremendously talented team," Mike Lee said. "We didn't shoot the ball well, but we hung in there and battled and that's all I can ask for.

"Playing good teams like this will only make us a better team down the road."

The Blue Streaks hit the road for an important District 10 game against Avon Park on Tuesday.

"We beat Avon Park at our place earlier in the season," Lee said. "It was close, but we know they will be ready for us this time in their gym."

BOYS BASKETBALL

OVEIDO — Sam Robinson led the team in scoring, but it wasn't enough as Oveido beat Sebring 67-54 in boys basketball on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Streaks were tied with the Class 6A Lions at 42 late in the third period, but Oveido pulled away down the stretch for the win.

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