Girls Basketball | Southeast's starting lineup rounds into form during blowout win against Cypress Lake in region quarters

MANATEE -- John Harder waited until his final starter was announced before Thursday's Class 5A-Region 3 girls basketball quarterfinal to elevate his excitement level past a standard cheer and round of applause. His first four starters were familiar faces. Cierra McKinnon was not.

Harder shouted her name as she ran off Southeast's bench and toward midcourt. The rest of the Seminoles grew a bit more excited. McKinnon, who played at Sarasota as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Southeast, became eligible before the Noles' region opener. And in the 62-38 victory against Fort Myers Cypress Lake, she showed why the Seminoles are so excited to have her.

"She was academically ineligible when she came to me," Harder said. "She just pulled a 3.85 in her first semester at Southeast, and, obviously, that's why she could play tonight, so we're quite pleased."

McKinnon drilled a pair of 3-pointers in her Noles' debut at Benjamin "Buzz" Narbut Memorial Gymnasium and added four rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

The Seminoles (25-4) rely heavily on their backcourt, so McKinnon's addition as a post player who can stretch the floor with her jump shot, protect the rim and rebound effectively gives the Noles a unique piece in its lineup.

McKinnon, who is just shy of 6 feet, should play a more important role in Tuesday's regional semifinal against Fort Myers Dunbar, which will also be played at Narbut Gymnasium. Dunbar features a pair of 6-footers in its frontcourt, plus a 5-foot-10 center.

"(McKinnon) fills out our strength, size," Harder said.

Her first basket in a Southeast uniform came midway through the first quarter, when the Seminoles had a 13-4 lead on Cypress Lake. Southeast's Faith Mays set up in the

high post, and the Panther defense collapsed around her. McKinnon stepped to the top of the key, and Mays found her newest teammate for the Noles' second 3.

Mays carried the Seminoles during the first quarter, scoring six of the Noles' first nine points and helping Southeast take a commanding 36-19 lead into halftime at Southeast High School. She finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.

"They applied good ball pressure," said Cypress assistant coach Megan Dusenberry, who filled in for absent head coach Paul Murphy. "They knocked down their shots, they knocked down their free throws. They've got a deep team. That's what helped them out a lot."

Shauntavia Green led the Seminoles with 18 points and seven steals. Marline Valcin chipped in 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. Breyonna Reed, who shares the backcourt with Green, finished with seven points and a game-high seven assists despite fouling out during the fourth quarter.

Reed was voted the area's Class 5A Player of the Year by local coaches, but while she battled foul trouble Green got her opportunity to carry the offense. She dropped nine in the first half and scored six quick points early during the third quarter to help the Noles pull away.

And midway through the second quarter, Harder saw his new look lineup can jell.

Green beat her defender off the dribble and kicked back out to McKinnon, who dropped in her second 3 of the game to push the Seminoles' lead up to 15 points.

"My goodness, she played well," Harder said. "We have that awesome backcourt of Tay Green and Breyonna Reed, and this just gives us another weapon that can shoot from the outside and still rebound."

David Wilson, Herald sports writer, can be contacted at 941-745-7057 or on Twitter @DBWilson2.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Girls Basketball | Southeast's starting lineup rounds into form during blowout win against Cypress Lake in region quarters ."