- November 25, 2024
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Mainland's Johnny Brown dunks a ball during a fast break. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Jalen Willis shoots a floater against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Johnny Brown dunks a ball during a fast break. Photo by Ray Boone
The Buccaneers' Jordan Sears attempts a layup against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
The Buccaneers' Jordan Sears drives past a defender. Photo by Ray Boone
A Mainland player throws a pass to a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Rodney Rhoden finishes a dunk against Seabreeze. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Rodney Rhoden shoots a 3-pointer over a defender. Photo by Ray Boone
The Buccaneers' Rodney Rhoden drives past a defender on the way to the basket. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Avery Randolph drives to the hoop against Mainland. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Jonathan Jaisingh shoots a 3-pointer against Mainland. Photo by Ray Boone
The Sandcrabs' Mitchell Miller attempts a 3-pointer against the Buccaneers. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze coach Pepper Johnson watches the game from the bench. Photo by Ray Boone
Seabreeze's Tyler Lightburn shoots a 3-pointer over a defender. Photo by Ray Boone
Despite a dominant performance by the Buccaneers’ boys basketball team in Mainland’s 66-33 victory over crosstown rival Seabreeze on Friday, Dec. 7, Buccaneers head coach Joe Giddens was unsatisfied.
That’s been Giddens’ mood after every game so far this season for the Buccaneers — they’ve only lost one game.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a tough coach,” he said. “I saw some good stuff, and I saw some stuff that we need to work on. We still have a long way to go. It’s going to take us some time. It’s a marathon — not a sprint.”
Buccaneers guard Jordan Sears scored a game-high 19 points and dished out 2 assists, and fellow guard Rodney Rhoden chipped in 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The Sandcrabs were lead by Mitchell Miller, who scored 14 points and connected on 4-of-6 3-pointers.
“No one on this team is really satisfied at all right now,” Sears said. “We’re just trying to find our rolls and how we fit in.”
To improve on-court chemistry, Mainland’s players have tried to spend more time together off the court, as well. For Giddens and the rest of the Buccaneers, the breakthrough is only a matter of time.
“I knew it was going to be rough. They are so much bigger than us and more athletic that I knew it was going to be tough to beat them tonight. I thought we played well. We had a chance before halftime to cut into their lead. We’ve just got to play smarter.”
Seabreeze head coach Pepper Johnson
“I’m looking forward to when it does happen. But I’m not in a rush for it,” he said. “I don’t want us to be playing at a playoff-level now. I want us to really get the ball rolling come January.”
The plan is to take the season one game at a time. That might be a difficult task with a marquee matchup with Atlantic on Dec. 14 — two days after a meeting with winless Father-Lopez.
“Play one game at a time and never look too far ahead,” Giddens said. “A lot of times when you look ahead, you forget the little stuff.”
Taking things “one game at a time” might be even more difficult for Sears, who transferred to Mainland after two seasons at Atlantic.
“It creeps into my mind a lot,” he said. “I have that game circled on my schedule.”
