Noles win, Canes ousted

VENICE - With Southeast High's streak of seven straight district titles on the line, Bianca Hanna wanted the ball in her hands, and Noles coach John Harder was more than happy to oblige.

Only a freshman, Hanna didn't feel the nerves. She felt responsibility. She's the future of Southeast basketball, but she's also pretty good in the present.

Hanna scored seven of her 18 points in the four-minute overtime to lead the Noles to a 34-31 victory over Venice.

Southeast struggled from the free-throw line all night, but in the four-minute overtime period, Hanna made 5 of 6 to put the game away.

"I just concentrated and didn't listen to the crowd," Hanna said. "Coach told them to get the ball to me because I'm the best free-throw shooter and I can make plays happen."

Hanna and senior Breona Siplin combined for all 11 of the Noles' overtime points in the victory.

"(Hanna) is my best shooter and she's leading the team and close to leading the county," said Harder, who also lauded Hanna's defense. "She's a clutch shooter. I coach her and I know her. We were going to the free-throw line and it was going to be in her hands, one way or another."

With the win, the Noles advanced to Saturday's Class 5A-District 12 final, where they will play top-seeded North Port.

Southeast did not hold a lead in the game, until Siplin stole a pass and made a lay-up in the first minute of overtime. She also added a put-back shot to give her four points in the first two minutes of the OT, after she scored only two in regulation.

The Noles trailed by two at halftime, largely due to their inability to convert from the free throw line. Through the first 16 minutes, Southeast missed 15 shots from the line, including 12 in the second quarter.

Though Southeast dominated the boards in the early going, the girls also struggled to make put backs and lay-ups, allowing the Indians, who jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, to stay in the game even though they did not make a field goal in the second quarter.

In the second half, the Noles improved from the line, making 7-of-13, but they still had a difficult time getting into their offense with the aggressive on-ball defense from the Indians ruining the flow.

The Noles somehow managed to win despite all that went wrong.

"Most teams would have folded . . . but we hung in there and hung in there and took it to overtime," Harder said. "Then I had great confidence would could do it."

VENICE (31) - Natalie Gaudreau 5 3-4 14, Lauren Ramey 1 0-0 2, Lindsay Reigstecker 2 0-0 5, Kaylee Ream 1 2-4 4, Diana Mesherle 1 0-2 2, Kim Pinkerton 1 1-2 3, Jen Thoennssen 0 0-0 0, Kristen Walchle 0 0-0 0, Chloe West 0 1-2 1. Totals: 11 7-14 31.

SOUTHEAST (34) - Jamyriah McPherson 0 0-2 0, LaDaisha Holloway 1 0-3 2, Bianca Hanna 4 10-17 18, Keimara Brooks 3 2-10 8, Breona Siplin 2 2-4 6, Kayla Rivers 0 0-0 0, Carolyn Taite 0 1-2 1, Kasondra Simmons 0 0-3 0. Totals: 10 15-40 35.

Venice 10 3 9 2 7 - 31

Southeast 5 6 8 5 11 - 34

3-pointers: Venice 2 (Reigstecker, Gaudreau); Team fouls: Southeast 20, Venice 27. Technical fouls: Venice (team); Fouled out: Gaudreau, Mesherle (Venice). Records: Southeast 17-9, Venice 14-10.