BAKER — A quality win early in the season can help build a foundation for a successful season. If it turns out to be a come-from-behind, overtime win that’s all the better.

Baker School’s boys basketball team notched such a win Monday night against Pensacola Christian Academy.

Baker trailed the Warriors by 13 points with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter.

A 3-point basket by Baker’s Kalee Ciurleo with 10 seconds left in regulation tied the game 72-72.

The overtime period belonged to Austin Walters as he scored 12 of his game-high 26 points in the extra period to give the Gators an 88-85 win. Fittingly, Walters scored the game winner with 1.5 seconds left in overtime. Baker fans then held their collective breath their collective breath as the Warriors tried a final frantic shot.

Baker Coach Janavor Weatherspoon called a timeout early in the fourth quarter with the Gators trailing by 13. Rather than plotting some great strategy, Weatherspoon chose to let the players plot their own course.

“At the half (with Baker trailing by 13) I told them they had to come out and find a way to win,” Weatherspoon said. “I called a timeout and didn’t say nothing to them. They had to figure it out.

“I find that is good to do with a group of kids so they can learn how to play and find a way to win.”

The strategy worked as freshman point guard Derek Peoples scored 13 of his 21 points to lead the Gator rally that sent the game into overtime.

The Gators used a stifling press to force Warrior turnovers that allowed Baker to get back in the game.

Much of what Baker did late in the game with the press and pressure defense was the same strategy the Gators used in the first quarter as the teams were tied 13-13 at the end of the opening period.

The Gators actually led 13-9 when Jamaal Day hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 left in the first quarter. At that point the Warriors started working the ball inside to big men Alex Dickerman and Patrick Murphy.

The Gators had a hard time finding an answer to counter the size of the Warriors.

Pensacola Christian went on a 19-2 run to take a 28-15 lead with 3:58 left in the half. The Warriors (1-5) led 41-28 at the half and still held an 11-point lead at the end of the third.

PCA    13  28  14  17  13 — 85

Baker  13  15  16  28  16 — 88

PCA (88)

Micah Johnson 3, Austin Lewis 7, Tyler Henderson 4, Cole Riegsecker12, Elliot Lockett 21, Nathan Middleton 19, Austin Flack 2, Alex Dickerman 15, Patrick Murphy 2. Totals 25 3 26-46 85.

BAKER (88)

Derek Peoples 21, Jamaal Day 12, Hunter Newton 9, Kalee Ciurleo 12, Austin Walters 26, Matt Samuolis 3, Logan Rickmon 2, Bubba Ellis 3. Totals 16 13 17-28 88.

Baker-PCA basketball baox

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker rallies past Pensacola Christian (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL  – Expectations are high for Laurel Hill School's boys basketball team.

With a blend of youth and experience, the Hoboes could make some noise in an always tough District 1-1A.

Malone High School came out of the district two years ago to win the state championship. Add always tough teams in Paxton and Ponce de Leon, and the seven-team district could be one of Florida's most competitive small-school districts.

Hobo Coach Kent Zessin, who enters his 13th season helming the program, likes who he has on his team.

“We’ve had some good guys come and go,” he said. “At 1A, you are kind of up and down (talent goes in cycles). I think we are kind of on an up-climb right now.

“We have a well-rounded team. We are not guard heavy and we are not post heavy. We have a team that has a lot of interchangeable players.”

Zessin said that out of his roster's 10 players, eight can probably have any position on the court.

“That’s nice for a coach trying to make a lineup,” he said. “There are so many options you (have) if foul trouble should occur. Or even if they are not having a good game — it’s going to keep the intensity up.

“It’s going to create a competitive atmosphere during practices, and it should show on the court (in the game).”

Cameron Gordon and Riese Edge are the team's two seniors. Juniors Bryson Cooper, Lane Alford and T.J. White played valuable minutes as sophomores. Another junior, Dakota Bly, didn’t see as much action on the varsity last year, but he’s stepping up his game.

Sam Durm, a sophomore, led the team in scoring in the season opener against Escambia Charter. Durm is in his first year on the varsity, as is Justin Simmons.

“Sam has done real great so far,” Zessin said. “I’m happy with the way he’s playing.”

Mason Cooper, Bryson’s younger brother, is just in the eighth grade, but stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and is expected to have a big role on this year’s team.

“Mason Cooper has a lot of potential and upside,” Zessin said. "He’s the kind of player that is like a sponge that wants to improve and always is asking what he can do to get better.”

Zessin believes having so many interchangeable players is the team's strength.

“Being able to play so many players not only gives you depth at some positions, it gives you depth at several positions,” he said.

“It’s going to be like some of my teams that in the past that loved to get after you defensively and then feed off that and run and score the bucket.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill boys basketball team on the upswing

CRESTVIEW — George Stakley, Crestview High School’s first-year boys basketball coach, understands the challenge facing the Bulldogs.

“There are high expectations coming off back-to-back Elite Eight champions,” he said. “We went into the preseason and got to see players in certain situations we wouldn’t normally see them (in).

“I thought we did well overall as a team.”

The Bulldogs should again be a talented squad, with returning starters Rusty Moorer, Andrew Adkins and Marquis McClain leading the team. (At least, McClain is expected to be one of the leaders when he recovers from a preseason injury in a couple of weeks.)

Bryant Berry and Ryan Weekley also return from last year’s team, and Stakley likes what both players offer.

“I love Bryant,” Stakley said. “He’s going to play defense and do whatever the coaches ask him to do. I expect big things from Bryant.

“Ryan Weekley, I just want him to go in and shoot. I expect some big shots from him."

An influx of new talent joins the Bulldog veterans.

“Freshman Marcus Purcell, he’s going to be starting,” Stakley said. “He’s big for a freshman. He plays a two guard.

“Chris Bryant just moved from Kansas. He’s a big help on the boards. He is going to fill a void rebounding.”

Capri Jones, a Crestview football player, also will help the basketball team. Stakley said Jones is an effective defender who uses his football mentality to push people around.

After back-to-back District 1-7A championships, the Bulldogs will play in the new District 2-6A with Okaloosa County rivals Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach.

“Choctaw is very young,” Stakley said. “They have about four freshmen on the varsity. They are not very big, but they are quick and high energy.

“Fort Walton Beach is always a (coach) 'John Lavin team' (in their aggressive style of play). I watched them play in the preseason, and they are bigger than they were last year. I can see them improving as the year goes along.

“It’s going to be a dogfight with both of them.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lofty expectations remain for Crestview

CRESTVIEW — First-year Crestview High School boys basketball coach George Stakley won’t have to wait for his first win until after the Thanksgiving holiday break.

The Bulldogs took care of that piece of business Monday when they hosted Pensacola High School.

Rusty Moorer and Marcus Purcell combined for 45 points as the Bulldogs beat the Tigers 54-45 in Stakley’s second game calling the shots.

“We needed this one at home,” Stakley said. “This was a big win for us.

“We just want to improve game-to-game. We haven’t played much together. Overall, it was a big win and we played better together.”

Crestview won the game at the free throw line and by hitting shots behind the 3-point line. The Bulldogs were 17-of-21 from the charity stripe and hit five 3-pointers.

The Tigers hit 13 2-point baskets compared to 11 by the Bulldogs. But Pensacola on hit two 3-point baskets and was only 13-25 from the line.

Tiger big man Bryant Davonchae gave Pensacola a quick 5-0 lead in the first 80 seconds of the game.

Andrew Adkins hit the first Crestview’s 3-pointers with 6:21 left in the first quarter and the Bulldogs were off and running behind the strong play of Purcell, a freshman.

Purcell scored nine of his 20 points in the first quarter as Crestview erased the early deficit and led 19-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team did much on offense in the second quarter as the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 29-19 at the half.

Crestview (1-1) led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter. The Tigers preceded to go on a run that saw them close the lead to 41-38 late in the third quarter.

A 3-pointer by Moorer with 27 seconds left in the period extended the Crestview lead back to six points.

Moorer and Purcell teamed up to put the finishing touches on the Bulldog win in the fourth quarter. Moorer scored six points, all from the free throw line. Purcell hit a pair of free throws and hit a 2-point basket as Crestview closed out the win.

Pensacola     12    7  19    7 – 45

Crestview     19  10  15  10 – 54

PENSACOLA (45)

DeAndre Norman 2, Devin Gadson 5, Jameriquo Johnson 3, Javon Grimsley 2, Robert Reeves 5, Car`driques Baggage 8, Bryant Davonchae 20. Totals 13 2 12-15 45.

CRESTVIEW     

Rusty Moorer 25, Andrew Adkins 7, Marcus Purcell 20, Tyrese Seals 2. Totals 11 5 17-21 54.

Crestivew-Pensacola basketball box score

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Stakley gets first win as Crestview coach (PHOTOS)

BAKER – If Thursday’s season opener is any indication of things to come for Baker School’s girls basketball team fans should be in for a treat.

Defense, sharp shooting and rugged play in the paint were all on display as the Gators hosted Vernon. The Yellow Jackets were on the receiving end of an Okaloosa County beat down.

Three Baker players scored in double figures as the Gators rolled to a 75-37 win.

“I think we played real well on defense,” Baker Coach Jamie Kerrell said. “We’ve really been preaching if you play lock down defense it creates easy baskets.

“It also helps if you shoot the 3 very well and we were very hot (shooting the 3-point basket) tonight.”

To say the Gators were hot shooting the 3 might be an understatement as Baker made 14 shots from behind the arch.  

Izzy Cain led the Gators in scoring with 21 points. Right behind her was Amanda Parisi, who hit six 3-pointers on the way to scoring 20 points. Ayjah Coleman was the final piece of Baker’s three-headed scoring monster with 19 points.

The Gators jumped to a quick 9-0 lead with Coleman leading the way scoring four quick points. Kaitlyn Watts added a 3-point basket and Parisi scored her only 2-point basket of the game in Baker’s opening. 

Vernon withstood the outburst and come back to outscore the Gators 9-6 to close out the first quarter.

A Coleman 3-pointer put Baker up 18-9 seven seconds into the second quarter. Vernon then scored the next eight points to close the Gator lead to 18-17 on a basket by Gracie Whitener with 5:58 left in the half.

The rest of the game belonged to the Gators. Baker scored the next 17 points to turn a close game into a laugher.  By the time Whitener scored again for Vernon with 2:05 left in the half the Gators were in control.

Baker led 40-21 at the half and continued to take the game to the Yellow Jackets in the third quarter. The Gators outscored Vernon 22-8 in the period to push their lead to 62-29.

A 3-point basket by Coleman 33 seconds into the fourth quarter put Baker up by 35 points and started the running clock. A short time later Kerrell emptied the bench as the Gators finished off an impressive win.

Cain had four assists to go with her 21 points and Coleman had five assists. Lindsey Stewart led the Gators with nine rebounds.

Vernon      9   12    8    8 – 37

Baker      15   25  22  13 – 75

 VERNON (37)

Roche 7, Leavins 8, Whitener 6, Poppell 12, McClurely 2, Brock 2. Totals 5 9 3-17 37.

BAKER (75)

Alena Banks 2, Amanda Parisi 20, Izzi Cain 21, Ayajah Coleman 19, Kaitlyn Watts 9, Olivia Hurley 2, Cierra Carlan 2. Totals 14 14 5-11 75.

Baker-Vernon girls basketball box

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker plays long ball against Vernon (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL – If Tuesday’s season opener is any indication of things to come, it should be a fun season for the Laurel Hill School boys basketball team.

The Hoboes played relentless defense to spark a high octane offense against Escambia Charter. The end results was an impressive 66-41 win.

“At times, I thought we did some good things,” Laurel Hill Coach Kent Zessin said. “And at times, again, we played a like a team plays early in the season.

“I liked the way the defense came out and took control of the ball game. I thought we shared the ball real well tonight. We had two in double figures, but we had three more that had eight or nine points that could have been in double figures.”

Sam Durm scored the game’s first basket with 48 seconds off the clock in the first quarter and the Hoboes were off and running. Four quick points by Lane Alford pushed the Laurel Hill lead to 6-0.

Marquis Williams put Escambia Charter on the scoreboard hitting a pair of free throws with 5:50 left in the opening period. A basket by Williams pulled the Bulldogs to with two points of Laurel Hill.

The Hoboes kept coming though as brothers Mason Cooper and Bryson Cooper scored to take the action to Escambia Charter.

Laurel Hill led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter and Durm had six of his team-high 19 points at the end of the quarter.

Durm continued to have a hot hand in the second quarter scoring seven more points. Cameron Gordon got untracked in the second quarter scoring six of his 12 points. Mason Cooper also scored six points in the second quarter as Laurel Hill increased its lead to 41-18 at the break.

The Hoboes had the game well in hand by the time Zessin called off the press in the second half. Laurel Hill led 53-31 at the end of the third period and outscored Escambia Charter 13-8 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Durm and Gordon were the only Hoboes in double figures. Gordon had 12 points to go along with Durm’s 19 points.

Williams scored 23 points for the Bulldogs. Curtis Hazard had 14 points

Escambia Charter         9    9    13  10 – 41

Laurel Hill                   18  23   12  13 – 66

ESCAMBIA CHARTER (41)

Hazard 14, Paige 1, Millender 3, Williams 23. Totals 15 11-24 41,

Laurel Hill (66)

T.J. White 7, Mason Cooper 8, Lane Alford 9, Dakota Bly 4, Cameron Gordon 12, Sam Durm 19, Bryson Cooper 7. Totals 21 6 6-16 66.

Basketball box

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill cruises in opener (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW – There is plenty of work to do before Crestview High School’s girls basketball team can make a run at the playoffs for a third straight season.

The Bulldogs got off to a good start for that Tuesday against Rutherford. Tiara Payne led all scorers with 12 points and Crestview turned in a smothering defensive effort in a 40-17 win.

Bulldog Coach Kathy Combest saw plenty of room for improvement, but she also saw some things that she was pleased with.

“We were a little sloppy,” she said. “But we hustled and made some defensive stops with steals. Those things you don’t normally get (the first game of the year).

“We were taking some charges and doing the things you are supposed to do on defense. This game gives us what we need to work on taking care of the ball and not getting mentally tired.”

The Bulldogs scored their first point of the game before the clock even started. The Rams were hit with a technical foul when the number of one of their players was incorrectly given to the official book.

Lakayla Robinson hit one of two free throws and the Bulldogs (1-0) were off and running. Crestview led 11-0 at the end of the first quarter and led by double digits the rest of the game.

Netaya Winston scored all four of her points in the first quarter to spark the early Bulldog run.

Payne scored six points in the first half as the Bulldogs led 23-6 at the half.

Crestview stretched the lead to 30-6 early in the third quarter as Robinson scored on a pair of layups and K.K. McTear hit a 3-point basket.

The Rams (0-1) matched the Bulldogs point-for-point in the last 11 minutes of the game, but it was too little too late as Crestview coasted to the win.

Rutherford    0    6      9   2 – 17

Crestview    11  12    11  6 – 40

RUTHERFORD (17)

Tiara Bell 3, Kira Spani 2, Kara Spani 4, Tee Tee McElroy 2, Jasmine Patterson 6. Totals 4 1 6-8 17,

CRESTVIEW (40)

K.K. McTear 5, Amia’h Banks, 4, Lee Lee Brown 2, Lakayla Robinson 5, Tiara Payne 12, Nyquaja Collins 6, Dionjenae Hendrix 2, Netaya Winston 4. Totals 17 1 3-7 40.

Crestview-Rutherford girls basketball box

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview girls open season with win over Rutherford (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL — The Laurel Hill School girls basketball team still has a lot of work to do.

But at least Coach Ronnie Smith has a better grasp on some the things the Hoboes need to work on after Monday’s season opener with Freeport.

A young Hobo squad did what it could to keep things close before the depth and experience of Freeport kicked in as the Bulldogs rolled to a 45-22 win.  

“We are really young,” Smith said. “We haven’t had enough practice days. A lot of the girls played volleyball and we’ve had about two weeks of practice.

“We are in the same boat as everybody else. We don’t look very good right now, but I still think there is some hope.”

Kaylee L’Homme scored the game’s first basket for Laurel Hill. The next nine points were scored by Freeport as the Bulldogs took a lead they held the remainder of the game.

Freeport led 13-6 at the end of the first quarter. The closest the Hoboes got the rest of the night was midway through the second quarter. A Graceland Reese bucket for Laurel Hill cut the Bulldog lead to 15-12.

Back-to-back 3-pointers for Freeport by Molly Head and Martha Freeman pushed the lead back to 21-12. Freeport maintained the double digit lead the remainder of the game.  

Head scored a game-high 23 points for the Bulldogs. Freeman added 10 points.

L’Homme led Laurel Hill with 10 points. Kaylyn McLaney scored eight points.

“This team reminds me of the first year I took over from Grover (Hicks),” Smith said. “We are really young and it’s going to be a learning season. We’ve got a bunch of young girls that will try hard and we will see where it takes us.”

FREEPORT 45, LAUREL HIL 22

Freeport       13   8    12    12 – 45

Laurel Hill     6   6      7      3 – 22

FREEPORT (45)

Head 23, Freeman 10. Morrison 3, Freeman 10, Harris 1, Knight 2, Dunnaway 4, Williams 3. Totals 12 5 8-17 45.

LAUREL HILL (22)

Kaylee L’Homme 10, Laney Fugate 2, Kaylyn McLaney 8, Graceland Reese 2. Totals 8 2 0-1 22.                                                                         

Laurel Hill-Freeport box

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill drops opener to Freeport (PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL — Ronnie Smith was a man on a mission Thursday as he put Laurel Hill School’s girls basketball team through a two-hour practice.

The season starts Monday, and there is so much to do with a team that could have three freshmen on the floor at any given time. If Smith was feeling the pressure of the moment, he wasn’t showing it.

Between 2002 and 2004, Smith led Laurel Hill's girls to three straight District 1-1A championships. During that three-year run, his teams posted a 48-24 record.

The Hoboes haven’t won a district championship since Smith stepped down to assist Kent Zessin with Laurel Hill's boys and to coach the boys junior varsity. He’s also been the LHS baseball coach.

Smith downplays the differences between coaching boys and girls. 

“Coaching basketball is coaching basketball — girls, boys it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m teaching these girls the same thing I taught those girls when we were fortunate enough to win some district championships.

“I’m also teaching these girls the same things I was teaching those boys last year when I was Coach Zessin’s JV coach. I’m not teaching anything different.”

Smith enjoys  coaching the girls again.

“I’ve got a great bunch of girls,” he said. “I’ve raised all of these girls since they were kindergarten or maybe Pre-K girls.

“They are girls that are hungry to learn the game of basketball. They are girls that are hungry to win basketball games.” 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Championship-winning coach is back for Laurel Hill girls basketball team