Girls basketball | Lakewood Ranch follows coach Tina Hadley's example in state semifinal win over Niceville

LAKELAND -- Those who have been around these parts for a while know the game they saw at the Lakeland Center in the Class 7A state semifinal on Friday was pure Hadley ball.

In earning a 47-29 victory over Niceville, Lakewood Ranch showed what playing above the rim seems like even if you have only one player above 6-feet-tall.

It's the way Lakewood Ranch head coach Tina Hadley played when was a vital cog in Southeast's 1985 state championship team.

Standing only 5-foot-8, Hadley played as if she was 6-8. She was of the Charles Barkley mode.

Hadley was adept at clearing space with her muscle and then dared anyone to try to take a rebound from her.

It's how the Mustangs did it in their state semifinal win with a few added wrinkles.

Lakewood Ranch ran a lot of fast breaks off their rebounds and never tired despite not making a substitution until 1:58 remained in the game when Sara Fazio came in to help with the ball handling.

Though Niceville was subbing in and out, it was the Eagles who looked tired at the end when Lakewood Ranch ran away with the game.

"That was the plan, to keep the best players on the floor for as long as it takes. They are well-conditioned. We run a lot in practice," Hadley said.

Amen said the players. The look on their faces confirmed that a Tina Hadley practice is not for the timid. Conditioning is just as important as everything else she preaches, which includes tough defense and rebounding.

Hadley admitted that, as a former player, sometimes it's tough because you want to be on the floor.

"At times, I want to go out there and play and say this is what I really want you to do," Hadley said. "The difference is I like to watch them execute and do exactly what we practice. Execution rocks my world."

Hadley's world was flying Friday with the way her girls followed the game plan. Most impressive is that they looked relaxed and were just having a lot of fun. The message will be to do the same Saturday when they face Winter Haven in the Class 7A state title game.

Winter Haven (25-3) defeated South Broward 66-53 in its semifinal.

"That's what I am going to tell them Saturday, to just go out there and look at it as a normal game and have fun," Hadley said. "Let the chips fall where they may. You have the two top teams in the state, and we are both going to be fighting so just don't give up."

Noteworthy

Winter Haven defeated Lakewood Ranch 46-45 in overtime during the regular season, but the Mustangs Kyra Klarkowski did not play because of an injury. Her presence could be vital considering her 14-rebound performance against Niceville with nine points. ... There were a lot of college coaches present at the Lakeland Center. Among the most notable were representatives from UConn and South Carolina. ... Niceville head coach David Day noted that his Eagles were out-rebounding everybody until they ran up against Ranch, which dominated the boards 45-30. On LaDazhia Williams, Day said, "she is as good as advertised." ...

Winter Haven has a big girl in 6-2 Tyla Singleton (6.8 ppg/10.5 rpg). ... Lost in the victory was Lakewood Ranch's struggles at the free throw line, where the Mustangs converted only 6 of 16.

Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter@ADellSports.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Girls basketball | Lakewood Ranch follows coach Tina Hadley's example in state semifinal win over Niceville ."