Title Run Ends for Indian Rocks Christian GirlsBy Mike MooreThere is good news and bad news. The girls basketball team from Indian Rocks Christian school took another step on the road to the state championship on Thursday, February 7. The Lady Golden Eagles got past a tough Ft. Meade team, 63-55, in the Class 2A regional quarterfinal. But on Tuesday, February 12, the season came to a halt and the title dream ended as the team dropped a regional semifinal game to Lakeland Christian, 67-42. Sometimes things really come together and a team jells at just the right time. It happened for Indian Rocks as they entered tournament competition with a 12-12 record but caught fire. The team won the district title and then the first regional game. The Thursday game was a come-from-behind effort for Indian Rocks. Ft. Meade, showing quickness and using a full-court press, jumped out to a 19-10 first-quarter lead. But sparked by Courtney St. Louis, the Eagles scrapped back to go ahead of the Polk County school, 30-26, by halftime. St. Louis hit for 12 points in the second quarter rally. The teams battled in the fourth and the score was tied at 46 with 6:35 left on the scoreboard. Both St. Louis and Meredith Monti played the final quarter for the Eagles while in foul trouble. St. Louis fouled out but contributed four free throws in the final period. Monti scored in every quarter for the home club and led all Eagle players with 19 points. Senior guard Kindal Farver had 15 points and St. Louis finished with 16. Indian Rocks had 11 fourth-quarter free throws as Ft. Meade repeatedly fouled in an effort to come back. In the season's final game, the Eagles ran into a tall, fast, Lakeland squad. The visitors showed why they entered the contest with a gaudy 22-4 record. But Indian Rocks battled the Vikings all the way. Monti, playing in her last high school game, scored 17 points. St. Louis added 15 points. Indian Rocks Christian finished the season with a 15-13 record.
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