published: Sunday, December 30, 2012

DeSoto tops Streaks for Taveniere title

By DAN HOEHNE

daniel.hoehne@newssun.com

SEBRING - It was more hustle and bustle than hustle and flow Saturday as the Taveniere Tournament title game saw DeSoto outlast Sebring 57-47.

The host Blue Streaks, having won both of their previous outings in the three-day event by double figures, looked to set the tone early, with and inside bucket from Luke Ancrum and two from Gary DeMarest.

But the visiting Bulldogs, having seen both their previous wins come down to the wire, including Friday's double-overtime victory over Homestead, were not going to go away easily.

They fought back to even things up, in a low-scoring first quarter, at six-apiece, before Decaris Jones hit two free throws and a three to close out the first period and stake the Streaks to an 11-6 lead.

But from then on, it was DeSoto that kept pulling away, though not exactly in demonstrative fashion.

Both teams ratcheted up the defensive pressure, and yet both offenses kept racing out at breakneck speed.

Racing too rapidly, whipping passes into too-tight windows or lofting passes that leaping defenders swooped in to steal.

Yet the Bulldogs were able to inch their way further and further ahead, riding a 20-13 second-quarter tilt to a 26-24 halftime lead, and a 14-9 run to make it a 40-33 game after three.

Sebring had its' share of chances at the line during the final eight minutes, but went just 4-of-11 on freebies and went just 12-of-30 for the game.

Though DeSoto wasn't doing itself any favors with a 5-of-17 from the line in the fourth and 11-of-29 for the game.

But the Bulldogs solved the Blue Streak press for enough breakaway baskets to maintain the lead and arrive back in Arcadia with the Taveniere Tournament title.

Sebring is back in action Friday, Jan. 4, with a cross-county contest at Avon Park.