Elbert scores 17 in Naples’ win over Dunbar

This was a time when leaders step up. And the Naples High School girls basketball team’s two senior leaders did just that.

The Class 4A No. 9 Golden Eagles could never put away pesky Fort Myers-Dunbar.

But senior Marlena Elbert scored 13 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Jessica Gary took care of the ball and had a handful of assists down the stretch in a 51-41 victory in the regional quarterfinals.

“She was amazing,” Naples head coach Dave Walker said of Elbert. “We expect that out of our seniors, and we expect that out of Jess and Marlena.

“Our other kids do a good job of filling their roles.”

Naples (23-3) advanced to host Lakeland- Kathleen, which upset previously unbeaten Sebring 48-47 in the regional semifinals on Tuesday. Dunbar finished 16-11.

“That’s a tough one,” Dunbar coach Dwayne Donnell said. “I thought we were right there, point blank. ... We get two shots at the rim right there, but we miss them. I guess (it’s) our inexperience of not being here.”

Elbert scored six of her team’s final eight points and had the assist on the other basket — a pass to Gary after stealing the ball.

“I was just trying to get back in my game,” said Elbert, who had four points and three fouls in the first three quarters.

A lack of fouls came back to haunt the Tigers.

With only four team fouls and trailing 45-41, Dunbar’s Erica Irvin missed a shot in the lane.

Naples rebounded and tried to run the clock.

Donnell instructed his players to foul, and they did twice. But the third time was a little too strongly. Mystique Reed lightly shoved Elbert with two hands and didn’t go for the ball. It was just enough for an intentional foul to be called with 32.4 seconds left.

Elbert made both free throws, was fouled on the inbounds play, and made two more to seal it.

“I don’t think one of them even got close to the rim,” Walker said. “That shows a lot of poise, a lot of self-control on her part.”

Every time Naples tried to pull away, Dunbar would come right back. The Tigers took a two-point lead early in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer by Gary started an 11-2 run.

Dunbar drew within 36-33, but Elbert made a driving layup, then drained a 3-pointer, and scored off a turnover for a 43-34 lead with 4:05 left. But the Tigers put on their full-court pressure, forced two turnovers and got back in it.

NAPLES: 51 -- DUNBAR: 41

DUNBAR (16-11)

Fuller 1 0-0 2, Griffin 6 3-3 17, Irvin 4 4-6 12, Brown 0 1-2 1, Edwards 3 0-0 8, Dickey 0 0-0 0, Glenn 0 0-0 0, Gilmore 0 0-0 0, Brunson 0 0-0 0, Reed 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-12 41.

NAPLES (23-3)

Daffin 4 1-2 9, Delk 0 0-0 0, Kobza 3 0-2 7, Gary 7 0-0 16, Elbert 6 4-4 17, Hawley 1 0-0 2, Aurelio 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-8 51.

Dunbar: 10 - 12 - 7 - 10 — 41

Naples: 14 - 9 - 11 - 17 — 51

3-point goals: Dunbar — Griffin 2, Edwards 2; Naples — Gary 2, Kobza, Elbert; Team fouls: Dunbar 13, Naples 16; Fouled out — None; Technicals — None.