When the Land O’ Lakes High School girls’ basketball team reached the state semifinal last year, it might have looked like a bit of good fortune. They hadn’t approached that level of success during coach Phyllis Crain’s tenure, so it seemed to come out of nowhere. People could have wondered if it was a fluke or a lucky run.
Nobody is wondering that anymore.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)
The Gators followed up last year’s tournament berth with another one just like it: For the second straight year, they won their region and reached the state semifinals.
And while, like last year, the team’s season ended before the state title game, the team and coach are very proud of their accomplishments.
“I’m very happy about that (making it back to the state tournament),” said Crain, who just completed her fourth season as coach. “It’s an accomplishment for the girls. They wanted to see that they could do it.”
They did it with a 28-4 record, even better than last year’s 24-5 mark. They also did it with more success along the way. Last season, Land O ‘ Lakes was district runner-up before winning its region. This season the team claimed district and conference championships on its way to another regional title.
The end of the season, however, was not a high point.
In fact, the Gators were overwhelmed last month in a 56-13 semifinal defeat to Paxon.
The margin of defeat reflected a combination of playing a great team, while the Gators were not performing well, Crain said.
The Golden Eagles, from Jacksonville, started out strong, and the game got away from the Gators before halftime.
Despite the loss, the team showed an ability to overcome adversity during the playoffs. They built leads, lost them and came back from behind to win games throughout their run. They found a way to win by pulling together and working together as a unit, a trait the coach said was their strongest quality this season.
“It’s a team game. We win and lose and play as a team,” Crain said.
They’ll do the same next year, though the team will look a little different. This year’s roster had seven seniors, including two starters, who will need to be replaced.
Departing players include standout player Jhade Hayes.
Coach Crain will rely on returning players such as Gabby Mills and Mikala Canada to pick up the slack.
“We’re losing a big part of us with Jhade, but Mikala’s coming back, and she’s going to be our floor leader next year,” Crain said.
Canada is ready to be that leader. While she has the talent to score, the point guard enjoys finding holes in the defense and getting the ball to the teammate who has the best chance to put points on the board. She’s fine with other players getting the points, if it achieves the team’s goals.
“I like to bring the ball down the court, and get my other teammates to score,” Canada said. “My coach calls me the quarterback of the team. I’ve got to make everybody else look good.”
While she’ll help the new starters look good, Canada said it’s up to the returning team members to show them how to fit in.
The Gators have been good at utilizing each other’s strengths and compensating for weaknesses, and while Canada’s ready to score a little more when required, she’ll still look to pass the ball to the most-open player.
But that’s next season.
For now, Canada is able to look back on what the team accomplished with pride and a sense of satisfaction that for the second straight year, they were one of the last teams standing.
“We had a really good season,” she said.
“In Pasco County, not a lot of teams go to state. So when we did it the second time in a row, it’s a big accomplishment,” Canada said.
Crain also feels that same pride, but it’s not for herself.
Even though the coach has built a strong program, she’s more focused on the experience for her players, many who will be playing in their last organized basketball league.
“It’s for the girls. It’s not about me,” Crain said. “I just love to see them, because this might be the only time they’re going to play basketball.”
Published March 11, 2015