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Schools

Seffner Christian's Run Ends in State Basketball Semifinals

Young Crusader girls run out of steam against veteran Trinity Christian, 72-55.

All wasn’t lost for Seffner Christian in its 72-55 loss to Trinity Christian in the Class 1A state semifinal girls’ basketball tournament at the Lakeland Center on Feb. 23.

The Crusaders (23-8), comprised of solely freshmen and sophomores, saw in Trinity Christian (23-4) what they hope to be in years to come: a veteran team that can handle the nerves and heightened pressure of a state tournament.    

Seffner Christian acquitted itself well, led by sophomore Tesha Hanson, who produced a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Sabrina Whiting, with 20 points. But the Crusaders couldn’t keep pace athletically with the stronger and quicker Warriors, who placed four players in double figures.

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“I knew that we were going to be outmatched athletically from top to bottom,” Seffner coach Greg Fawbush said. “But I was proud of how the girls stuck in there and played hard.

“You take the freshmen and sophomores that have never been to this, and put them together (and you get) a mismatched team,” Fawbush said, noting  Hanson, who played junior varsity at Wharton High School last year, and Lois Hegarty, “who played big minutes today (Feb. 23).”

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“Put everything together,” Fawbush added, and "I’m proud of how they kept fighting.”

Trinity, which lost in the state semifinals last year, smothered the Crusaders with defensive pressure from the beginning, jumping to a 15-6 first-quarter lead. Fawbush said his team wasn’t as nervous as he expected, but 22 turnovers for the game indicated the Crusaders’ youth played a factor.

“By far, we did not play good basketball today,” he said. “Nowhere near what we normally do. But that’s just part of it [the learning curve].”   

Some of that came through in the second quarter, when the Crusaders steadied themselves and outscored the Warriors by a point to trail 27-19 at halftime.

Hanson and Whiting heated up early in the third quarter as the teams traded baskets. Hanson knifed through the Trinity defense on slashing drives to the basket, and Whiting’s three-point baskets gave the Seffner faithful in attendance some hope.

But Trinity’s press took over again, forcing numerous turnovers during a 17-4 run to conclude the period.

Seffner got as close as 12 with 2:30 to play, but Trinity’s Crystal Connors (18 points and 15 rebounds) and Amber Shuler registered several key baskets to pull away.

Trinity coach Luke McCray was impressed with both Hanson and the Crusaders.

“Our hats go off to Seffner; they’re very tough for a team of sophomores and freshmen,” McCray said. “You can’t take anything from them. Next year they’ll be right there in it.”

And Hanson will be leading the way.

“Very talented,” McCray said. “She’s got a very bright future. I kept telling my girls to back off and square up on her because when you turn sideways you’re giving her an open lane and she took advantage of it every time. That’s somebody that’s been well coached and well trained.”

Trinity will play Hollywood Christian for the Florida High School Athletic Association state championship Friday at noon. Hollywood Christian defeated FAMU High, 63-27, in the other Class 1A semifinal.

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