- November 23, 2024
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Coming back from an ACL and meniscus tear, senior guard Armani Walker couldn’t have imagined this season to go any better than the direction it’s headed. The Flagler Palm Coast Lady Bulldogs defeated the Orlando Boone Braves, 40-35, to advance to the Class 8A State Final Four for the first time in the school's history.
"We fell short my freshman and sophomore year, and then I missed my entire junior season, but now it's my senior year and everything's coming together," Walker said. "It's just a good feeling getting this far, but it'll be an even greater feeling if we win it all."
FPC (25-4) got off to a sluggish start, missing layups and uncharacteristically turning the ball over in the first quarter, which led to a 9-6 lead for the Braves going into the second.
In the following quarter, however, coach Javier Bevacqua called for a full court press, and FPC began to force their usual turnovers and convert them into layups. The Bulldogs outscored Orlando Boone 16-6 in the quarter to lead 22-15 at halftime.
“We consider ourselves a defensive team, and that’s what we go over in practice,” Bevacqua said. “We work more on defense than we do on offense. That’s our strength, with our speed, quickness and everything else.”
FPC only gave up another six points in the third quarter, extending its lead to 34-21, and after holding Orlando off in the final minutes of the fourth, the Bulldogs celebrated as soon as the final horn sounded.
“We train hard, so it feels good to win, knowing how you practice,” Bevacqua added. “This is a journey we started months ago, and to see it come to fruition is amazing.”
Walker played her last game on FPC’s home court, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
“Armani’s finally healthy, and she put the team on her shoulders and told us that she wasn’t going to allow us to lose this one,” Bevacqua said. “She did what she had to do.”
Junior forward Tamara Henshaw had a monster game, leading all players with 16 points, 15 rebounds, seven steals and six blocks.
“Getting to the Final Four means the world to me,” said an ecstatic Henshaw. “I’ve waited so long to be here, and now that I’m here, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Tamara came up big for us with her rebounding and defensive plays,” Bevacqua added. “That’s what you do, when you’re 6’2 and can play ball.”
FPC will play the Colonial Grenadiers, the top-ranked team in the state, according to Maxpreps.com, at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Lakeland Center at 701 West Lime Street in Lakeland. If the Bulldogs win, they’ll play the championship at 1:35 p.m. the following Saturday.
“We beat Colonial earlier in the year by two points, and it was a tough game,” Bevacqua said. “I know they’re hungry to see us again, so we know it’s going to be another good game.”
