Buccaneers fall short of state

By IZZY GOULD
Published February 19, 2006

ORLANDO - One Gulf fan shook a sign that read, "Next stop Lakeland."

Turns out the last stop was Orlando.

The Buccaneers' dominant season ended with a mediocre effort Saturday in a 45-33 loss to Orlando Bishop Moore in the Class 4A, Region 2 girls final.

Gulf (29-2) made just one 3-pointer and was 6-of-16 from the free-throw line.

"When you go to another team's gym on the road in the region final and you don't make free throws ... I don't think we made one jump shot outside the key," Gulf coach Mike Quarto said. "Against a team that plays zone, you're not going to make a lot of outside shots. But you have to make enough to make them play honest."

The Bucs trailed most of the night as they tried to decipher Bishop Moore's zone defense and sizeable frontcourt.

It was clear the Hornets (27-3) wanted to force Gulf to the perimeter and limit inside scoring.

It worked.

Bishop Moore set the tempo and used eight different scorers, led by Jacky Nikic's game-high 18 points, to advance to the final four for the second year in a row.

Gulf led once after Tiara Cook scored two of her team-high 16 to go ahead 11-10 with 6 minutes, 33 seconds left in the second quarter.

Bishop Moore quickly reclaimed the lead at 14-11 on a 3-pointer by Chandler McCabe.

When four key players for the Hornets were forced to the bench with fouls midway through the second, Gulf cut the deficit to 19-17 by halftime.

The Bucs stayed within striking distance in the third and even cut the lead to 26-25 on a steal and layup by Cook. But when Dominic English fouled out with 1:28 left in the fourth and Gulf trailing by eight, it was clear the ride was over.

Many of Gulf's players left in tears, including Quarto, who said he would reflect on the season after the final four.

Cook did not cry. She recalled wanting to transfer after her freshman season when Gulf finished 2-19.

Then she realized how far they have come - one win from the final four.

"I'm glad we got this far," Cook said. "We wish we would have got another step or two farther."

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:09:21]