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Girls basketball: Cape Coral 50, Clearwater 48

 
Published Feb. 10, 2016

CLEARWATER — In most games this season, Clearwater's opponents have been able to handle the heat — for a half. By the fourth quarter, the physical and mental strain of looking over their shoulder a quick-handed guard or dealing with the mad windmilling of another defender can be too much.

The strategy starting paying off in the final frantic minutes of Tuesday's Class 6A region semifinal against Cape Coral. The Tornadoes' pressure extended to every nook and cranny on the court. It resulted in an avalanche of turnovers and allowed Clearwater to turn a seven-point deficit to one in the final 12 seconds.

Clearwater even had a chance to go ahead but a shot fell awry and Cape Coral grabbed the crucial rebound. That allowed the Seahawks to escape with a 50-48 victory.

"A couple of bounces, a couple of shots go our way it's a totally different game," Tornadoes coach Paul Lang said.

A press is something most teams resort to out of desperation, when they must have the ball.

Pressure, on the other hand is applied throughout the game.

That's what Clearwater (23-4) does.

Lang also uses full-court pressure to increase the number of possessions in a game, so his talented players have more of a chance to prevail.

"That's how we play all year," Lang said. "Full-court press the whole time. That's our game. Nothing changed for us."

The game was tight with neither team able to maintain more than a five-point lead, and the score was tied at 35 entering the fourth quarter.

With 3:26 left in regulation, Cape Coral (22-7) was up 43-36. The Tornadoes' pressure started coming through. Alleyah Williams and Adriana West hit layups in a 45-second span, then West hit one of two free throws to make it 49-48 in the final 12 seconds.

After a turnover, Clearwater got the ball back but could not hit another shot.

West had 13 points and Williams added 12 to lead Clearwater.

The Tornadoes have just one senior on the roster.

"The future is bright," Lang said.