Snakes alive! Cobras bound for playoffs
When the subject of Pasco County's top boys basketball programs arose in the past, Hudson rarely entered the conversation.
Now, the Cobras have entered the annals of school history.
Hudson's 48-44 upset of top-seeded Springstead in tonight's Class 4A, District 8 tournament clinched the program's first playoff berth. The Cobras, 11-91 in Coach Jason Vetter's first four seasons, are 15-12 -- only the third winning season in the school's 35-year history.
"This may have been the first time the parents came out of the stands and said, 'Good game' to me afterward," joked Vetter, a former local sports reporter with no prior coaching experience before taking over at Hudson. "Usually they're coming after me with pitchforks."
The Cobras, who led by three at halftime, managed only one fourth-quarter field goal but made seven of eight free throws in the last 3:31 to seal things. Junior Jarrod Branco led Hudson with 16 points.
"Wow, I don't even know what to say," said Cobras senior Tyler Hooten, who sank three 3-pointers en route to an 11-point night. "I went in the locker room and almost cried."
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Nature Coast/Pasco result?!?!?
Posted by: | February 08, 2008 at 11:59 PM