Getting a win is always sweet. Getting a win over your rival? That’s the good stuff.
Zephyrhills made sure Friday night belonged to the Bulldogs, knocking off rival Pasco 61-45 on the hardwood behind a game-high 17 points from Zaid Hammad. Sabastian Bernardin also turned in a strong night, finishing with 12 points as Zephyrhills controlled the game from start to finish.
The Bulldogs set the tone early and never let up. Hammad came out firing, scoring nine of his 17 points from beyond the arc in the first quarter to spark an early lead. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Zephyrhills stayed in control and never allowed Pasco to seriously threaten.
“It’s good to get a win when you need it,” ZHS head coach Mike Novak said. “It’s really good to get that win against Pasco. It helps carry some momentum into the holiday break.”
The victory, played in front of an impressive crowd at the Dog House, pushed Zephyrhills to 3-4 on the season heading into the break, while Pasco fell to 4-5. The atmosphere was a throwback to rivalry nights of years past.
“It was a nice crowd,” Novak said. “It harkens back to the old days on a Friday night before Christmas and your arch-rival come to town and you get a big crowd.”
Novak also pointed to the impact of ZHS football players who are still settling into basketball shape and finding chemistry with the rest of the roster.
“They bring energy, don’t they?” Novak said with a grin. “They got some athleticism to them. And then they’ll get better, too.”
For Zephyrhills, the win was more than just another mark in the standings — it was a rivalry statement and a momentum builder heading into the holidays.
