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Highlands Today

Streaks Outlast Dragons

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebrings Tangie McCullors 13 and Zykeria Dawkins and Lake Placids Meesha Munnings chase after a loose ball during the first half of Monday nights game.

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By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: December 17, 2008

SEBRING - Sebring sophomore forward Shannon Williams scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds and senior center Hannah Shoop added 12 points and pulled down a game-high 15 boards to spark the Blue Streaks to a 57-41 victory over Lake Placid in girls basketball on Monday night.

After being tied at halftime, Sebring used its height advantage in the paint and outscored Lake Placid by 12 points en route to the win to improve to 4-7 on the season.

"We talked at the half about coming out with more intensity," said Blue Streak coach Mike Lee. "We played a good first quarter, but we sat around and watched in the second.

"We were bigger and stronger and started to dominate on the inside in the third quarter and also did a good job of being patient on offense and making the extra pass for some open looks at the basket."

For Lake Placid, it was a loss on the scoreboard, but the youthful Green Dragons showed they are improving with each game.

"We had excellent defense and good ball movement in the first half," said Lake Placid coach Shonda Legree. "We're real young with only one senior and the girls are learning every time they step on the court.

"We hit some big shots in the first half from outside, but we couldn't get it to fall in the second half."

Sebring came out strong to open the game as Williams utilized her 5-foot-10 inch frame to score four points and guard Tangie McCullors, who finished with 11 points and five assists, added a pair of buckets and a free throw as the Blue Streaks took an 11-2 lead with 2:21 remaining in the first period.

Lake Placid rallied behind guard Brandi Colbert, who buried a pair of 3-pointers and scored on a layup to pull the Green Dragons within 13-10 heading into the second period.

"Brandi has a good shot from the outside," Legree said. "She has the green light when she's open, but she has to learn to get her shot off quicker."

Lake Placid junior forward Sierra Weaver scored four points and guard Jamacia Gayle added four to give the Green Dragons a one-point lead, but Sebring's Olivia Bullock answered with a pair of baskets in the paint to knot the score at 21 at the half.

Colbert nailed a 3-pointer to give Lake Placid a 24-23 lead, but Sebring, fueled by guard Jerica Moore's four points, and Williams and Shoop, who combined for eight points went on a 16-3 run to close out the quarter.

"Shannon had a solid game and continues to improve in every aspect of her play," said Lee. "Hannah is our anchor and paired with Shannon gives us a real strong pair of post players.

"Hannah has the experience and takes a lot of responsibility on the court and makes sure the girls are in the right position."

Lake Placid rallied to close within 11 points on a 3-pointer from Colbert, who finished with a game-high 20 points, with 2:47 remaining.

Sebring ran time off the clock and made its free throws down the stretch to seal the non-district win.

"We can play better than we did tonight,' said Williams. "I know I can play better and I'm learning to be more aggressive because the girls are bigger and stronger and I have to adjust.

"I especially need to work on my ball handling and my perimeter jump shot."

Class 4A Sebring is back in action with a District 10 game at Sarasota Booker on Thursday, while Class 3A Lake Placid travels to the Lakeland Christian tournament on Friday and Saturday.

"Booker is the defending district champions and it's a key game," said Lee. "We've improved a lot over the last week and we don't want to go in reverse.

"We want to keep going and turn that corner to becoming a good team."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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