- November 25, 2024
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After a 5-1 start to the season, the Mainland boys basketball team suffered a bit of a setback heading into the holiday break. The Buccaneers lost 53-51 in overtime to Vero Beach on Dec. 22. The Buccaneers were outscored 6-4 in the overtime period. In addition, North Port handled the Buccaneers 67-50 on Dec. 27. However, Mainland (7-3) bounced back with a 47-33 win over American Heritage in the Don Wallen Tournament on Dec. 28 and a 54-50 win over Jupiter on Dec. 29.
And despite closing 2017 with a 60-46 defeat at the hands of Father Lopez, the Lady Buccaneers won five-straight games after dropping a game to Flagler Palm Coast on Dec. 11. Mainland outscored its opponents 313-138 in that time span.
Both the Sandcrabs' boys and girls soccer teams are known throughout the area for their stellar programs. The boys, last year's 3A state champions, are 9-2-3 on the season, and the girls are 13-4-1. But despite the Sandcrabs' consistent 2017-18 campaign, each team closed out 2017 with a loss. Both teams lost to Spruce Creek on Dec. 19, the boys losing 3-1 and the girls losing 3-0.
But while the boys team plays Tavares on Jan. 9 and DeLand on Jan. 10, the girls have already opened up the new year. The Lady Sandcrabs tied Freedom 1-1 on Jan. 5, handled Apopka 5-1 on Jan. 6 and lost to Winter Park 4-1 that same day.
The boys team is 4-10 on the year and lost five-straight games before topping Santa Fe Catholic 85-84 double overtime on Dec. 29. The girls team, which beat Pine Ridge on Dec. 1, hasn't won a game since, dropping their last seven games. The Lady Sandcrabs are 1-10 for the season.