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Booker Ends Sebring's Run

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's Emmanice McCullors stops and pops for two of her 17 points during Saturday' s Class 4A-District 10 tournament championship game at Avon Park High School. Booker defeated Sebring 47-43.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2009

AVON PARK - After winning just two conference games this season, few figured the Sebring girls basketball team would cause much of a stir in the Class 4A-District 10 tournament.

Few figured they'd knock off two of the top three seeds and bring the defending district champions to the brink of elimination.

Few gave Sebring much of a chance, but that didn't much matter to the Streaks.

"Nobody thought we were going to be here," said senior Hannah Shoop after the Blue Streaks' defense nearly caused another upset before Booker pulled away and won its second straight district championship with a 47-43 victory at Avon Park High School on Saturday night.

"We had no doubt. We didn't have a great season, but we felt like every day in practice and every game, we were improving."

Emmanice McCullors scored 17 points -11 in the fourth quarter alone - to help the Streaks cut a 12-point halftime disadvantage down to a single point in the waning moments before the Tornadoes twisted away with the trophy.

McCullors, who brought the crowd to its feet with four clutch steals and jumpers in the fourth, said she was "feeling it."

"We were determined," McCullors said. "We really wanted this game, so we just dug in."

Sebring coach Mike Lee put the loss on himself, saying starting out in a box-and-one defense in the first quarter and allowing Booker to throw in an easy basket late were a result of coach's decisions.

"We allowed 19 points in the first quarter, but when we switched back to our our normal defense, we only allowed eight and played a lot better," Lee said. "So that's my bad."

Still, Lee said he couldn't be more happy with his group, which was an afterthought heading into the tournament as the No. 6 seed.

"I'm just so proud - how could I not be?," Lee said. "These are great girls. They love each other and they work hard for each other. I'm disappointed, but I'm very proud."

Booker coach Wade McVay, whose team had just won its second district title in his fourth year as coach, said Lee did a remarkable job with his team this season after losing so much talent to graduation last year.

"He gets my vote for coach of the year, anywhere," McVay said, noting that when his team beat Sebring by 27 points during the regular season, he considered it a fluke. "From where they've come from, to put forth the effort they did, I respect him a lot."

Booker used its suffocating full-court press to jump out to an early 10-4 lead and a 19-11 lead after one. The Streaks fell down by 13 with six minutes left in the second, but the Tornadoes managed only eight points in the second quarter against Sebring's stifling half-court zone to lead 27-15 at the half.

"We weren't playing well in the first half," McCullors said. "We were rushing passes instead of taking it easy."

Shoop, who finished with 13 points, said Booker's defense was the best Sebring had seen all season.

"They were quick and they were there on every pass," she said. "It was a constant battle for the ball."

Sebring stormed out after halftime, scoring the first 10 points of the third period and clamping down on the Tornadoes' inside/outside game to cut the lead to seven at the start of the fourth.

"They're so fundamentally sound," McVay said about Sebring's defense. "They box out well and they're tall: If we don't hit from the outside, we knew we might not get a second shot."

The Streaks got the game within three points with three minutes left and two points with two minutes left, but the Tornadoes hit key free throws and held their collective breaths as the Streaks missed a few chances to take the lead in the final minute.

"No quit, no give-up, we just kept chipping away," Lee said. "They have the hearts of winners."

The Streaks (10-16) hit the road for a regional quarterfinal game on Thursday at District 9 champion Lakeland Kathleen (21-4). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES: Booker's Brittanie Williams led the Tornadoes with 13 points, while Kay Larkins and Christina Davis added 10 each and Anna Traver added eight ... Shannon Williams had seven points for Sebring ... The Tornadoes and Streaks could meet again in the regional semifinals should they both win on Thursday.

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@hgihlandstoday.com

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