GAINESVILLE — Nature Coast coach David Pisarcik couldn’t finish a sentence without some sort of interruption after his team’s win Saturday night. For every couple words spoken, he absorbed approval: a pound, a pat, a hand slap, a smile. “Please excuse our excitement,” Pisarcik said, the knot of his tie ...
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Sat. Feb. 25, 2012 at 10:53 p.m. | Tyler Jett
BROOKSVILLE — Blake Lowman was still wearing his sweat-spotted game jersey Tuesday night when he moved on from Nature Coast’s 14-point win over Hudson. As the senior guard bolted out of the locker room, he bellowed what his teammates were surely thinking. “One more,” he said. “Third time’s the charm. ...
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Fri. Feb. 24, 2012 at 11:58 a.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Nature Coast needed a spark from point guard Donovan Ingram early in Tuesday’s Class 5A region semifinal against Hudson. Once the Sharks got it, they were unstoppable. Ingram’s penetration led a big run to close the first quarter, and Nature Coast dominated the rest of the way to ...
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Tue. Feb. 21, 2012 at 9:41 p.m. | Matt Baker
Boys basketball region semifinals All game Tuesday night at 7 Class 6A, Land O’Lakes (22-6) at Winter Haven (19-7) Winner meets: Sickles/Palmetto winner in the region final Saturday How they advanced: Land O’Lakes’ stingy defense held Lake Gibson to 10 first-half points, and the Gators cruised to a 53-30 win ...
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Mon. Feb. 20, 2012 at 12:39 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Nature Coast needed all of three minutes to show off the size, speed and athleticism that would carry it to an easy 68-52 playoff victory over Wesley Chapel on Thursday. A quick start and steady finish sends the Sharks into the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, ...
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Thu. Feb. 16, 2012 at 10:49 p.m. | John C. Cotey
Best chances to move on 1. Nature Coast Tech: At 27-1, the boys are easily the North Suncoast’s best team, with size, speed and depth. Even a potential rematch with district foe Eustis doesn’t seem as much of a roadblock as it did earlier this season. 2. Academy at the ...
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Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 at 5:59 p.m. | John C. Cotey
District boys basketball Wesley Chapel 46, Ridgewood 38: The Wildcats trailed by one in the final minutes but scored the last seven points to advance to the Class 5A, District 8 title game. “It was back and forth,” Wildcats coach Doug Greseth said. Standout junior Erik Thomas made 3-of-4 free ...
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Fri. Feb. 10, 2012 at 11:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Before Nature Coast hoisted its district championship trophy and posed for pictures after Friday’s 60-46 win over Eustis, senior Tyler Bergantino turned to his bench. “This doesn’t mean a thing,” the UMass recruit said. “Next week is the big deal.” And the weeks after that, if the Sharks ...
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Fri. Feb. 10, 2012 at 9:53 p.m. | Matt Baker
TRINITY — As the seconds ticked down to the end of River Ridge’s season, sophomore John Childs sat at the end of the bench, alone, with his head down, staring at the hardwood floor at Mitchell. His triple double wasn’t enough to begin one of the most unlikely region runs ...
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Wed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 8:43 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Rohan Blackwood dunked as a freshman and caught a winning touchdown as a sophomore. He has the size (6-foot-5) and frame (195 pounds and counting) to attract recruiters from across the country. His quickness makes him a Division I football prospect, and his leaping ability makes him one ...
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Thu. Jan. 19, 2012 at 6:34 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — Nature Coast knew it needed a win Tuesday night over Eustis to have a chance at first place in the district. The Sharks delivered with one of their best performances of the season. Tyler Bergantino and Rohan Blackwood dominated the post to lead Nature Coast to a 64-54 ...
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Tue. Jan. 17, 2012 at 10:19 p.m. | Matt Baker
BROOKSVILLE — For a brief moment after the opening tipoff, it looked as if Central was going to hang with county rival Nature Coast. That moment passed quickly. In a game at the Bear Den, the Sharks more than doubled up the score on the Bears on Thursday for a ...
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Thu. Jan. 12, 2012 at 10:34 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere
CLEARWATER — By the fourth quarter the grace was gone. The 3-pointers were no longer swishing. The passes were erratic. The points were less plentiful. The Gladiators’ offense had hit a stumbling block. They were behind by five and their undefeated season was in jeopardy. So Gibbs coach Larry Murphy ...
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Wed. Dec. 21, 2011 at 12:23 a.m. | Bob Putnam
CLEARWATER — Gibbs coach Larry Murphy keeps reminding people that his offense is still a work in progress. Sure, the Gladiators are undefeated, but they lost four starters from last season's team that reached the state semifinals. Murphy has given them the freedom to shoot, the latitude to improvise and ...
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Mon. Dec. 19, 2011 at 9:23 p.m. | Bob Putnam
CLEARWATER — Nature Coast beat Boca Ciega 67-41 Saturday night to advance to the semifinals of the BrightHouse Holiday Tournament. The Pirates appeared overmatched from the start as the Nature Coast front court, anchored by 6-foot-9 senior standout Tyler Bergantino, dominated the post game on both sides of the floor. ...
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Sat. Dec. 17, 2011 at 6:09 p.m. | Rob Bibelhauser