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Highlands Today

Streaks Thwart Pirate Siege

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring's Devin Clarke dribbles away from Palmetto's Reggie Baty during a recent game. The Blue Streaks competed in the Martin County Christmas Tournament on Monday. For results be sure to check out Wednesday's sports section.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 25, 2009

SEBRING - There was no way of knowing by the look on Princeton Harris' face that he'd just won a key district game.

The Sebring head coach mustered every bit of composure he had to stay cool after the Streaks watched a 20-point lead dwindle down to seven points late in the fourth quarter on Friday before the Blue Streaks pulled out a 72-63 victory over Braden River in a Class 4A-District 10 showdown.

"This win feels like a loss," Harris said. "This team got complacent with the big lead and we stopped playing smart. The guys weren't meeting the passes and taking bad shots, but it was our free throws that saved us down the stretch.

"I mean, we got the win, but Braden River exposed so many holes in our game. I'm not happy at all."

Senior Chris Grubb, who returned to the lineup after serving a four-game suspension, felt that the Streaks lost their cool in the second half were too cavalier in their approach in the final quarter.

"We have to learn to finish games out and play with the same intensity that we do at the beginning of the game," Grubb said. "I give credit to Braden River. They capitalized on our complacency, and we were thankful to pull out the win."

This was the second game in a row Sebring nearly gave up a sizable fourth quarter lead. On Thursday, the Streaks led by as many as 18 points, only to see Palmetto shave the advantage to single digits before an eventual eight-point Sebring win.

"We lost our momentum in that last quarter and that can't continue to happen," said Sebring forward Joe Young. "We slacked up and turned the ball over too many times and we really stopped playing defense.

"We have to realize that we win games on our defense and we have to keep the same pressure on our opponents for the whole game, no matter what kind of lead we have."

The Pirates were the obvious aggressor in the final stanza and center Casey Bobelis and guard Willie McNeal were the catalysts during the 23-11 run that cut the Sebring lead to 66-59 with 1:08 left to play.

Instead of running clock and eliminating the Pirates' offensive possessions in the final minute, the Streaks attacked the Braden River defense, which stiffened up and won the battle down low for some easy fast break points.

But Sebring sank 6 of 8 foul shots down the stretch to put the game away and help keep pace with Palmetto in the race for the district tournament's top seed. Sebring is 5-3 in the district after Friday's win - one game behind the Tigers.

Harris wasn't pleased that his team - which has won five straight games - was outplayed by Braden River in the fourth.

"I don't know how to instill in them how important it is to maintain your focus for the entire game," said Harris. "This team is too good to let leads like that just vanish."

The Streaks broke open a close game in the second quarter by outscoring the Pirates 26-11 on the strength of good ball movement and Sebring's signature defense that forced a bevy of turnovers.

Tevin Toney scored seven of his 14 points in the quarter and Jake Trussell scored eight, as the duo found easy routes to the basket and were huge on the defensive end as well, including a pair of steals by Trussell.

Trussell would finish with a team-high 18 points.

With a 39-21 lead heading into the second half, Sebring used their trapping defense to perfection to force turnovers and create fast-break opportunities.

Young brought the crowd to their feet with a monster dunk, and a pair of Braden River technical fouls helped Sebring extend its lead to 56-32 with less than two minutes left in the quarter. Braden River's Quinton Jones cut the lead down to 20 with back-to-back baskets, which included a one-handed slam off a steal to end the quarter.

"I didn't like that someone dunked in our house," said Young. "That should never happen with our defense."

Grubb finished with 15 points and Devin Clarke had eight points for the Streaks, while Brad Jackson paced Braden River with 18 points and Bobelis with 15 points.

Next up for Sebring is a rematch with archrival Avon Park in an in-school game at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Grubb, who missed the first meeting due to the suspension, can't wait to play in front of the rowdy Avon Park fans.

"I love playing when fans are booing you and everyone is cheering for them," Grubb said. "That just makes me step up my game even more. Avon Park's gym is so loud and I'm sure that they're going to want some payback after we won the first meeting.

"I was disappointed that I wasn't there to play my final game at home against the Devils, but I'll hopefully make up for it on Tuesday."

SEBRING BOYS BASKETBALL

This Week's Games:

TUESDAY at Avon Park, 1:30 p.m.

THURSDAY at DeSoto, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY vs. Booker, 7:30 p.m.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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