- November 25, 2024
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Hawks guard Jayla Adams attempts a 3-point shot against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
The Hawks' Alyssa Derrick shoots a midrange jumpshot over an FPC defender. Photo by Ray Boone
Spruce Creek's Danika Hamilton dribbles the ball on a fastbreak against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
The Hawks' Delayna shoots a jumper against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks guard Alyssa Derrick dives for a loose ball against the Bulldogs. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks guard Jayla Adams shoots a floater over the Bulldogs' defense. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks guard Jayla Adams attempts a 3-pointer against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks guard Jayla Adams steals the ball from an FPC player. Photo by Ray Boone
Spruce Creek coach Kelvin Hamm shouts instructions to his team during the district championship against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone
Down three points with 10 seconds to play in Spruce Creek’s district final against Flagler Palm Coast, Hawks senior guard Danika Hamilton had a wide open 3-pointer from the corner that could have tied the game. Hamilton had taken two threes the entire night — both of which were misses — before her third and final attempt.
“I wasn’t shocked that she was so wide open,” Hawks coach Kelvin Hamm said of Hamilton. “I was just surprised she missed it.”
The Hawks had one more shot after Bulldogs guard Brianna Ellis missed the front end of a 1-of-1 from the charity stripe.
However, sophomore guard Peryonna Sylvester’s deep heave clanked off the rim as the buzzer expired.
Spruce Creek fell to the Bulldogs 58-55 on the night of Friday, Feb. 9, at FPC High School. The Hawks’ star guard, Jayla Adams, scored a game-high 20 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Adams scored 10 of Spruce Creek’s 12 points in the third quarter, a quarter that began on a 9-0 run for the Hawks and ended with 42-39 lead.
However, Hamm said Adams didn’t do enough.
“She played OK, but she could have played better,” he said. “We need better from her, and she knows that.”
The loss ended a 14-game winning streak for the Hawks, but Hamm said that if his team were to lose any game, he was glad in was the in the district final.
Both teams — win or lose — advance to the regional tournament.
“Even if we won the district championship today, and they beat us in two weeks, then the district championship wouldn’t matter because they’d advance and we’d go home,” he said. “They played the best game that they’ve played all year, and we played OK. It is what it is.”
The regional quarterfinals begin on Feb. 15, and Hamm said he fully expects to see the Bulldogs, a team the Hawks beat 66-49 earlier in the season, for a rematch.
“The next time we play them, we’ll have a clean game plan,” Hamm said.
