Showtime Sebring

SEBRING - The front entrance of Sebring High School ran out of tickets before Friday night's non-district meeting between the Sebring and Lake Placid boys basketball teams.

But that didn't stop the Blue Streaks from putting on a show.

After the Highlands County rivals traded baskets for much of the first half, Sebring took over in the third quarter, as Sam Robinson's 20 points and six rebounds paced the Streaks to a 71-51 romp of Lake Placid.

"We stepped it up in the second half," said Robinson, whose two 3-point bombs were part of a 28-8 run that put the Streaks up by as many as 30 points. "We tried to put on a little show for the home crowd - we want to keep them coming."

Jakob Trussell scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Natanael Orozco had 10 points and Javier Medina added nine points and four steals for Sebring, which hosts the upcoming eight-team Taviniere Tournament next week at SHS.

Trussell, whose 14 points were his second highest offensive output of the season - he scored 19 against Palmetto - said the Streaks' constant defensive pressure finally got to the Green Dragons in the second half.

"I think we were in their heads a little bit," Trussell said. "After the first couple steals, they didn't seem to know what to do, and they sort of ran the same thing.

"So we took advantage of that and cheated to the side a bit."

Conlin Veley had 17 points and Travalier Sholtz added 12 points for Lake Placid, which came out fast and led 15-14 after the first quarter. But that's when the Sebring press adjusted to the LP break, and soon enough, turnovers started taking their toll.

"They turned the pressure up, and we didn't respond," said Lake Placid coach Levi Williams, whose team dropped all three of its games this week. "We're young in the backcourt, so we're going to make mistakes - It's a growing process."

Sebring led 32-27 at the half and never looked back, holding the Dragons to single digits in the third period to take a 60-35 lead heading into the fourth. Thaddeus Legree and KJ Delbert each had six points for the Green Dragons, while Sebring's Joe Young put in eight points for the Streaks.

Sebring coach Princeton Harris said he didn't need to say much to his team at halftime, as playing against county rivals is motivation in itself.

"When it's county, you have to go after it," Harris said. "I'm a local boy, and I know I never want to lose to a county team - that's just the way it is.

"Lake Placid is a good ballclub, and they'll do well in their districts, but we're getting better."

The Dragons hope to regroup over winter break before opening 2008 play at the Westshore Holiday tournament on Jan. 4. Sebring, meanwhile, opens Taviniere Tournament play at 7:30 on Thursday against Riviera Beach Suncoast. For a complete tourney preview, see Wednesday's Highlands Today.