BROOKSVILLE – The Weeki Wachee Hornets are district champions once again! With Weeki’s 48-38 win over the Gulf Buccaneers (13-8) in the 4A District 9 Championship on Friday, the Green and Black became the second squad in school history to win consecutive district titles.
Hornets Head Coach Billy Hughes called his team’s sustained success over the past couple of seasons “a big achievement for all the girls who have been through Weeki Wachee, for the programs that have come through here […] Their legacy will always be remembered, and I am extremely proud of them because they have been working so hard.”
The last time the Hornets had won consecutive district titles was back during their 2018-2019 seasons. They now join an elite sorority of girls in the program’s relatively young history. “It is a lot of very talented, special group of girls that have been through the program,” Coach Hughes added.
As with all great teams on and off the hardwood, the game is not won, and the achievement is not earned that day. It requires months upon months of preparation and dedication. For the Hornets, Coach Hughes noted that this process started all the way back in May with tournaments and team camps.
Their endless hours of practice culminated with yet another district title on Friday evening. At times, it appeared they might run away with the victory, but the Buccaneers would battle hard to give themselves a chance late.
The night got off to an inauspicious start for the home team as they allowed a pair of shots from beyond the arc and failed to score over the first four minutes of the game. Then, as she did all night, Sophomore Joelys Rodriguez (18 points, 7 assists, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) broke the ice.
Her step back trey midway through the initial frame led to 17-straight points and a double-digit lead for the Green and Black with just over 4 minutes left in the second. The talented underclassman logged a pair of steals and fast break layups during this stretch as well.
The Hornets’ coach added that his team has at least three more “animals” on the court as well: Senior Reese Halter, Junior Genesis Beal, and Sophomore Karly Pasmore.
Not to be outdone, Halter (16 points, 14 rebounds) knocked down a trio of baskets during the scoring spree, but Gulf would respond quickly. Over the next 4:39 of game time, the visitors would claw all the way back to a two-point deficit thanks to buckets by a quartet of Buccaneers.
After a brief back-and-forth, Weeki Wachee would pick up the pace again. Who else would be at the forefront of this but Rodriguez and Halter? Leading 23-21, Halter would take a pass from Rodriguez for the score inside, and the sophomore would add a trey, a layup, and two free throws shortly after.
Over a period of five minutes stretching into the final frame, the home team would press its advantage out to a 40-25 lead. The visitors would re-tighten the match with seven straight points punctuated by an Alyssa Galto corner three, but they would get no closer.
With the home team leading by 10 with 1:49 remaining, Pasmore would ice the game with a shot from downtown. The lead would prove to be insurmountable for the visitors to overcome, but Rodriguez would sustain an injury to her finger with less than a minute remaining.
Coach Hughes hopes she will be able to heal up in time for a potential regionals run later this month.
