Fast start propels Panthers past rival Sharks

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Anytime Nease and Ponte Vedra meet there is a certain intensity that surrounds the game, no matter what sport it is.

Most recently, two schools met on the hardwood for a Jan. 13 girls basketball contest where the host Panthers defeated the Sharks 51-39.

“This game had been on our calendar for a while now,” Nease senior Sydney Gomes said.

For Allison Fifield and the rest of the seniors that have been in the program the past four years, they can now proudly say that they never lost to Ponte Vedra during their high school career.

“All four years,” Fifield said. “I love playing this game and it’s always close no matter what because it is a rivalry.”

The Panthers (15-3) never trailed on the night and stormed out to a 13-1 lead following the tip-off.

Gomes had 10 points in the first quarter and the Panthers hit four three-pointers, including a pair by Camryn Robinson, the second of which beat the buzzer to give the Panthers a 21-11 lead.

“We knew Ponte Vedra can shoot threes, but we don’t usually shoot that many, so hitting those ones right before the quarter was key,” Nease head coach Sherri Anthony said.

Contributing to the lead was that the Panthers started the game in a full-court press and forced the Sharks (11-7) to speed up their play at times, which allowed the Panthers to jump into passing lanes and find points in transition off the turnovers.

Not only did the Panthers have success with their press, but they also demonstrated a suffocating half-court defense that really took away driving lanes for the Sharks and forced them to take jumpers on many occasions.

“We’re playing so much more together, and it’s just smooth out there,” Fifield said. “Our final goal is to win, and it’s just been working out really well.”

However, the Sharks clawed their way back thanks to lights-out shooting from beyond the arc.

Ponte Vedra’s Morgan Gavazzi hit a pair of shots from long range to help cut the Sharks’ deficit to five, 31-26, at halftime.

She hit four three-pointers on the night and finished with a team-high 14 points.

However, the Panthers were able to keep pace and hit their share of shots, as the sister pairing of Sydney and Savannah Gomes had a huge night.

“Tonight, I was definitely soaking it in, because we haven’t had a crowd like that since I’ve been here (the last two years), so that was pretty cool,” Sydney Gomes said.

She was unstoppable at times and appeared to be everywhere on the court as she led all scorers with 30 points.

“They came out in man, so I knew I could probably beat them off the dribble and get to the rim and finish,” Sydney Gomes said. “I hit most of my layups today, which hasn’t happened in a while.”

Savannah finished with eight points and knocked down a pair from bonus land, which was a sign that her confidence is continuing to grow since returning from a knee injury last season, which took place against the Sharks.

“We all really stepped up tonight, and I just couldn’t be happier,” Savannah Gomes said.

According to Savannah, although driving to the basket may be a little different following the injury, her shot has always been something she can rely on.

“That never went away,” she said.