10 Best: Land O’ Lakes vs. Nature Coast
Nature Coast stayed perfect on the season with a 61-35 win over Land O’ Lakes in the first round of the Nature Coast Christmas Tournament on Wednesday. Kaine McColley led the way for the Sharks (12-0) with 17 points while…
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Continue ReadingNature Coast stayed perfect on the season with a 61-35 win over Land O’ Lakes in the first round of the Nature Coast Christmas Tournament on Wednesday.
Kaine McColley led the way for the Sharks (12-0) with 17 points while Trivone Hill added 14 points for Land O’ Lakes (9-2).
MVP: Kaine McColley (Nature Coast)
Kaine McColley nearly finished with a double-double as he scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The 6’5″ senior forward made it happen all over the floor and will look to guide the Sharks into Friday’s final with yet another win.
Best offensive performance: Anthony Valante (Nature Coast)
From outside, Anthony Valante made it look easy. The senior guard recorded 14 points on the night for Nature Coast and really helped build the team’s confidence in the early going. He’s a big part of the Sharks success.
Best defensive performance: Jordan Baxter (Nature Coast)
Senior power forward Jordan Baxter hauled in a game-best eight rebounds. He had two points and a block as well. Baxter isn’t afraid to mix it up down low for an offensive or defensive rebound.
Best guy off the bench: Robert Mcafee (Nature Coast)
Robert Mcafee did his part off the bench for the Sharks. The junior guard added six points and kept up his team’s solid play with the second unit. Mcafee is someone Nature Coast will lean on this season.
Best intangibles: Trivone Hill (Land O’ Lakes)
A 6’2″ senior, Trivone Hill is the heart and soul of this Gators team. He scored a team-high 14 points and made some flashy plays down low. Hill is a very solid attacker and when he finds holes in a defense, watch out.
Best under-the-radar performance: Trey Reiser (Nature Coast)
Junior guard Trey Reiser stands at 5’9″ and uses his speed to his full advantage. In this game, Reiser added four points, three rebounds and a steal. He pushed the floor and help the Sharks tempo more often than not.
Best catch and shoot guy: Austin Rivera (Nature Coast)
Undersized at 5’5″, junior guard Austin Rivera finished with 11 points for Nature Coast. He was lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on all three of 3-point attempts on the night. Rivera certainly doesn’t draw too much concern from opposing defenses which helps open up his distance shooting.
Best underclassmen: Mekhi Perry (Land O’ Lakes)
A 5’10” freshman, Mekhi Perry had five points and three rebounds for Land O’ Lakes. In his first varsity season, Perry looks very comfortable and there is a big chance for him to improve ten-fold by the end of the year.
Best energy: Nick Poore (Land O’ Lakes)
For the Gators, junior guard Nick Poore brought some good energy to the lineup when he came into the game. The 6’3″ 2018 prospect finished with only four points, but he made his team better when he was out there.
Best athlete: Kaine McColley (Nature Coast)
The 6’5″ senior forward made things happen for the Sharks all over the floor. Whether he took a shot from outside or drove to the rack, McColley was a strong asset for Nature Coast. He looked the part.