McKeel Academy, LCS Sent Out of Playoffs

Fri. February 10, 2012 at 1:00 a.m. | By Blake Hasenzahl

By BLAKE HASENZAHL

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

Class 3A Girls Basketball Regional

LAKELAND | McKeel Academy shot 17-for-55 from the field in a 54-42 loss in the first round of the Class 3A regional playoffs to Brooks Debartolo (Tampa).

Even the Wildcats' leading scorer, Madison Caffey, who finished with 17 points, had a hard time getting baskets to fall as she missed five lay-ups and seven shots total.

Brooks Debartolo's 6-foot-3 center Tatiana Manuel was most of the cause for the troubles in the paint. She blocked eight shots, grabbed 16 boards and had 11 points.

The Phoenix's full-court press not only helped them jump out to a 14-2 lead at the end of the first quarter — rattling off seven straight points off turnovers — but also was the catalyst behind the team's 18 steals.

The Wildcats weren't the only 3A team to struggle as Lakeland Christian was defeated by Seffner Christian 65-29.

Vikings senior Whitney Houk was held to just 12 points, her third lowest total of the season, in the loss.

Houk finishes the season with 548 points, second in the county.

"I feel like we rebounded the ball well but we weren't able to hit shots," Vikings head coach Mike Carl said. "That kind of dictated the game. It wasn't that we got beat in transition we just got beat on the offensive boards."

Seffner Christian had four players score double digits.

Seffner Christian (65): Parramore 12, Whiting 13, Walker 13, Denny 3, Plager 12, Weaver 5, Duffy 4, Slait 3. Totals 28 5-12 65.

Lakeland Christian (29): Erica DeAlejandro 4, Allie Chmura 1, Megan Watson 4, Alexis Lattimer 5, Whitney Houk 12, Tess Horne 3. Totals 11 4-13 29.

Halftime: Seffner Christian 40-12. 3-pointers: Lakeland Christian 3 (Houk 3), Seffner Crhstian 4 (Whiting 2, Plager, Denny). Records: Seffner Christian 22-4, LCS 13-11.

DEBARTOLO 54, McKeel 42

Brooks Debartolo (54): Destanee Mills 2, Chelsea White 20, Shine Bryant 3, Jasmine Curry 9, Vontoria Hopps 9. Totals 20 5-11 54.

McKeel Academy (42): Karissa Maze 2, Kayla Wilson 2, Ariel Kelly 1, Brinae Wilkerson 4, Kayliegh Gibson 6, Mia Corbin 2, Jasmine Jackson 8, Madison Caffey 17. Totals 17 7-11 42.

Brooks Debartolo 14 13 14 13 —854

McKeel Academy 2 10 9 21 —842

Halftime: Brooks Debartolo 41-21. 3-pointers: McKeel 1 (Caffey). Records: Brooks Debartolo 18-8 (6-2), McKeel 21-5.