Lady Dolphins lose Playground Tournment opener to Raines
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Lady Dolphin basketball coach Jarrod Denmon talks with Natalie Alverson in a recent game.

Jacksonville Raines used 16 second chance points and 20 points off turnovers to beat Gulf Breeze 78-55 in the opening round of the Playground Tournament Thursday at Choctaw.

Raines (10-9) scored on five of its first seven possessions to take an early 11-1 lead. Jamie Beeler, who scored nine points, scored GBHS' first field goal on a three-pointer.

Raines would close the first quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 23-6 lead heading into the second quarter.

Gulf Breeze also had to contend with some foul troubles in the first half. Despite pressing most of the game, Raines was in the bonus in both halves, while Gulf Breeze failed to reach the bonus the entire game.

Tobie Bass, who led Gulf Breeze with 13 points, scored off a Natalie Alverson pass to make it 42-20. Alverson also had 13 points as well as eight assists.

Sarah Munsch added six points, while Deannette Zuniga and Morgan Bass had four each, Christine Hay three, Sallie Papajohn two and Jordan Smith one.

Despite the lopsided win, Raines was outrebounded by the Lady Dolphins 42-38, led by Tobie Bass' 14. Zuniga added seven boards, while Smith had five.

The Lady Dolphins played Northview, Ga. Friday (after the News' early deadline). Look for that game, as well as this Saturday's game with Catholic in the Jan. 10 issue.