Top-ranked, unbeaten PHS ends Lady Dolphin basketball season
Girls finish season 8-15, winning five more than last season
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of athletesfeatsphotography.com Whitney Harris is one of only two seniors on this year's team.

The Gulf Breeze Lady Dolphins basketball season ended on Friday with a 61-32 loss to 22-0 Pensacola High in the District 1-4A Tournament semifinals at W.J. Woodham Middle School.

The Dolphins finished the '07-'08 season with an 8-15 record. There is, however, a silver lining. The Lady Dolphin had only two seniors on this year's squad. They also had four freshman and sophomores seeing regular playing time.

The Lady Tigiers stormed out of the gates and quickly found themselves trailing 18-1.

Gulf Breeze had a tough time with the full-court press, and was forced into nine turnovers in the first quarter alone. Gulf Breeze was unable to run a single offensive set in the quarter.

Each possession ended with a turnover or quick shot. After making only two field goals in the quarter - a Christine Hay three pointer and a Natalie Alverson jumper - the Dolphins trailed 29-6.

The second quarter began much better than the first. Alverson opened the scoring by nailing a jumper and Jamie Beeler followed immediately with a steal and lay-up. PHS, however, kept up its defensive intensity, and forced the Lady Dolphins into six more turnovers. The turnover-ridden first half ended with the Lady Dolphins trailing 50-16.

In the second half, PHS finally loosened the grip of the defensive noose that had been around the Lady Dolphins necks in the first half.

With the ability to walk the ball across half-court, Gulf Breeze was able to relax offensively. But the Lady Dolphins only managed five baskets in the third.

The fourth quarter was all Gulf Breeze. Sallie Papajohn blocked a shot and came up with a steal to help the Lady Dolphins keep PHS from scoring a single point in the final frame.

Gulf Breeze ended the game on an 11-0 run on PHS, who would eventually win the District Tournament by beating Washington on Saturday.

Beeler led the Dolphins with 10 points. Alverson added eight, Sarah Munsch had seven and Hay scored three.

Lady Dolphins 57,

Milton 52

Alverson scored a careerhigh 23 points on 6/8 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Gulf Breeze to a victory in the first round of the District Tournament.

Hay also added a careerbest 13 as the Dolphins avenged two regular-season losses to Milton. Beeler added nine points and six rebounds in the win.