Advertisement

District girls basketball: Palm Harbor University knocks out St. Petersburg

 
St. Petersburg’s Victoria Uhatafe (32) and Palm Harbor University’s Chardonay Aldrich, left, battle for the rebound.
St. Petersburg’s Victoria Uhatafe (32) and Palm Harbor University’s Chardonay Aldrich, left, battle for the rebound.
Published Jan. 28, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — Two teams very familiar with each other went at it again Tuesday night with a trip to the Class 8A-8 district final at stake.

St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor University had split a pair of regular-season games, the home team winning each. This time, the visiting Hurricanes (22-5, 4-3) held off a scrappy effort by the Green Devils, 59-50, to move on against Sarasota Riverview.

The teams traded baskets early in the second quarter as the game remained close. But St. Petersburg appeared to get impatient and took low-percentage shots, while PHU moved the ball more fluidly. The ramifications of that difference in style reflected on the scoreboard as the game progressed.

The Hurricanes turned a four-point halftime advantage into a 45-33 lead after three quarters, built in part on an 8-0 run that extended into the fourth. The Green Devils closed to within nine, but a layup by Megan Ingram, followed by her foul shot, pushed the lead to 52-40 with about four minutes to play.

St. Petersburg (17-8, 4-3) was relentless with its effort, however. Michael LaShon Everhart sank four free throws to help pull the Green Devils within 48-56 with one minute remaining.

But with the game winding down, PHU was content to play keep away.

Megan and sister Julia Ingram hit seven free throws down the stretch as St. Petersburg fouls sent them to the line. Julia led all scorers with 20 points, while Megan had 16. Teammate Chardonay Aldrich, who flew to the ball to snare defensive rebounds, put down 15. Everhart and Victoria Uhatafe led the Green Devils with 14 each.

"We had a lot of confidence," PHU coach Darian Dublin said. "The key was to just box out."