Pressure D leads Noles over Pirates

BRADENTON — Earlier this season, when the Braden River and Southeast boys basketball teams met, Seminoles coach Elliot Washington used a strategy to pressure the taller Pirates, and the plan nearly worked, but the Noles fell in overtime.

On Tuesday, when the teams played again, the plan worked as host Southeast cruised past Braden River 66-49 in non-district action.

“We knew if we could get back to what we did in the first game and turn up the pressure, we could get to them,” Washington said. “We kept pressure on them with the full-court press and zone presses, and it worked.”

But the strategy wasn’t working early.

The Pirates (11-6) led 20-6 after the first quarter as Braden River 6-foot-6 center Casey Bobelis scored eight points in the first period. It wasn’t until Bobelis left the game midway through the second quarter and didn’t return after he sprained his ankle that the Noles made their push. Southeast closed the deficit to six points (28-22) at halftime.

The Noles took command in the second half. Braden River managed just 21 second-half points.

The Pirates also committed 28 turnovers in the game. The loss snapped Braden River’s six-game win streak. Freshman Trevon Young led the Pirates with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

“Losing Casey, who’s our leading scorer, didn’t help things,” Pirates coach Matt Nesser said. “Then, we had a bunch of players with five turnovers or more. We said before the game we needed to limit our turnovers, and we didn’t do that. With the turnovers, they got the momentum.”

The Noles (11-6) used the turnovers to create their fast-break offense, and Southeast used their up-tempo game to get to the foul line where the team went 22 for 33.

“That was a big improvement,” Washington said. “We have been struggling from the line this season.”

Reggie Smalls paced the Noles with 20 points, and Jovon Garvin added 19.

Coming off a big win over St. Petersburg Lakewood, Washington said his team is making strides in the right direction.

“We still have a lot of room for improvement,” Washington said. “But these kids see when we play hard and play smart, a lot of good things happen for us.”