Hornets Win District Title Twice in Three Years

The Weeki Wachee Hornets (19-8) overcame the Nature Coast Sharks (11-11) to win the 4A District 9 championship 33-22 at the Hornets’ Nest on Friday night, Feb. 9. The home team nabbed their second district title in three years thanks to a second-half comeback orchestrated by a pair of freshmen: Joelys Rodriguez and Marlee Schumacher. The Green and Black utilized a strong third quarter to gain the lead and never trailed the Sharks again. Weeki Wachee Girls Basketball Head Coach Billy Hughes discussed the challenges his team has faced throughout the season and what they have done to help develop players like Rodriguez and Schumacher.

“It was a great game from both teams to the very end,” Coach Hughes said. “All season long, teams have always been keyed in on [Senior Paige Atwater] because of how dangerous she is on the court. Every game, other players have had to step up, and in the district final, our two freshmen stepped up big for us […] “We have a great senior class that are the big sisters to our younger freshman players. [They] help guide them to success. They set the bar and expectations for the young players to live up to. We don’t ever settle.”

Rodriguez was everywhere as she logged a team-high 10 points to go with 7 steals and 6 rebounds on Friday. Not to be outdone, Schumacher scored 9 points with 4 steals and tied for a game-high 13 rebounds. Coach Hughes also pointed to the efforts of Junior Reese Halter who “absolutely dominated the glass” with her 13 rebounds that tied Schumacher’s total on the evening. Halter also added two steals and four points to help her squad to the 11-point title victory. Listed as Isabella Castillo O on Maxpreps, the Nature Coast senior knocked down a game-high 13 points and 2 assists, but it would not be enough to overcome Weeki Wachee’s many weapons.

The Hornets’ coach noted that winning the district championship was his team’s “most important goal from day one of the season.” Weeki Wachee’s trio of captains, Seniors Linsey Orr, Paige Atwater, and Gabby Scott, have been with the team since their last district title and provided the leadership needed to see the squad to a second title. “I cannot tell you how proud I am of this group of ladies […] We have overcome so much adversity and still came out on top,” said Coach Hughes. “So, so proud of them and their fight to win.”

Coach Hughes is proud of what they accomplished, especially considering the schedule they had to face over the final third of the season which included three games against the Sharks and a showdown with the Eagles. Since their loss to the 6A District 4 runner-up, Weeki Wachee has rattled off eight wins to one loss.

Up next for the Hornets, they will play host to the Academy of the Holy Names Jaguars (20-8) in the regional quarterfinal on Wednesday night, Feb. 14.. They will look to slow down Senior Lucy Morey (14.5 points per game) and company at 7 pm.