- November 6, 2024
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The Matanzas Pirates boys basketball team lost in its first-ever district championship game Saturday, Feb. 12.
Top-seeded Palatka High School (23-3) defeated No. 7-seeded Matanzas, 64-47, in the District 4-4A championship game.
Matanzas (15-13) was led in scoring by Jalen Hancock (13 points) and Wendell Powell (10 points), but Palatka’s full-court press caused fits for the Pirates, leading to numerous fast-break points for the Panthers.
Palatka took a 31-26 lead into halftime and then broke loose to a 51-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Matanzas will travel to Jacksonville to play Terry Parker (District 3-4A champion) in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals.
This is the first time in school history the Pirates basketball team has qualified for the state tournament.
For more coverage, see Thursday’s edition of the Palm Coast Observer.