- December 30, 2024
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Matanzas head coach Eric Guerrero. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Diamond McGlocking drives to the hoop. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Ja'Daiya Willis drives in for a layup. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Taina Velazquez drives to the hoop. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Diamond McGlocking shoots a layup. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Taylor Washington shoots a layup. Photo by Ray Boone
For four quarters, Matanzas’ girls basketball team battled back-and-forth before eventually succumbing Jan. 13 to University 58-45. Despite the loss, the Pirates’ first-year head coach, Eric Guerrero, believes his team is right where they need to be.
The Pirates are approaching program history. With 10 wins (as of Jan. 14), the Pirates are already tied for most wins in a season in school history.
“I’m very happy with where we are,” said Guerrero, who was previously an assistant coach at rival Flagler Palm Coast the past few seasons. “We’re competing with tough teams, and that’s the main thing I want to see.”
"They had to go through certain things. They had to learn how to put teams away. Now that they’re starting to understand different parts of basketball and what it takes to be on the floor, they’re doing a really good job. I’m really proud of them.”
ERIC GUERRERO, Matanzas head coach
The results weren’t much of a surprise, Guerrero added.
“When I knew I had a full roster, when I saw the talent and the heart that these girls had, I knew we were going to get to this point,” he said.
The Pirates have struggled mightily the past few seasons. Matanzas went 0-17 in 2018-19 and haven’t won more than four games since the 2011-2012 season. The adversity had been especially difficult on the players.
“Every year has been tough for us to win,” senior guard Diamond McGlocking said. “But we’ve really stepped up our game a lot and learned how to come together as a team.”
She, and other Pirates players, attributed Guerrero in helping the team come together.
“We have a great coach,” FPC transfer Ja’Daiya Willis said. “He’s teaching us how to play as a team, and we’re evolving.”
The Pirates have come a long way so far this season, and their goal of achieving a district championship has become even more attainable.
“We want it,” McGlocking said. “And we’re going to win it.”
