- November 22, 2024
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Remi Montgomery brings the ball downcourt against Oviedo. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Remi Montgomery drives to the basket. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Point guard Brynn Gifford sets up the offense. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC coach Anthony Wagner talks to his squad during a timeout. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Hailey Lenz passes the ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Remi Montgomery takes the ball to the hoop. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Remi Montgomery looks to shoot. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Brynn Gifford drives to the basket. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Lexie Jarvis at the free throw line. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Shyleigh LeBlanc looks for an opening. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Brynn Gifford makes a pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Naria Hill (10) in-bounds the ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast's Remi Montgomery knows she's not the same basketball player she was last year.
"I was very quiet, timid and slow last year," said the 5-foot-9 wing. "I feel like I'm starting to break out of my shell."
Indeed, Montgomery has become a regular extrovert on the court. She certainly is not someone opponents can ignore.
Montgomery scored 34 points in the Bulldogs' first two games this season, including 21 in a 57-42 victory Nov. 19 at Orange City University.
In 20 games last season, Montgomery scored a total of 74 points. She's nearly halfway to matching that already.
As FPC's only returning starter, the senior knows a lot is expected of her this season, and she's ready to deliver.
"I did a lot of change-of-direction and change-of-speed drills (in the offseason). And I worked on limiting my dribbles," she said.
"Last year I couldn't read plays, I couldn't get to the basket. Now I'm going straight to the basket and drawing the foul, instead of taking two wasted dribbles."
Point guard Brynn Gifford added 13 points against University, while Shyleigh LeBlanc scored 10 as FPC evened its record to 1-1 after falling to Oviedo 32-31 in its season opener the previous night at the Bulldogs' gym.
Trailing 31-28, FPC turned the ball over with 1:05 remaining against the Lions. With a foul to give, FPC fouled to force Oviedo to in-bounds with 13.8 seconds left. But the Bulldogs were called for a technical foul for touching the ball while the inbound passer still had it in her hands.
"Last year I couldn't read plays, I couldn't get to the basket. Now I'm going straight to the basket and drawing the foul, instead of taking two wasted dribbles."
REMI MONTGOMERY
Oviedo's Samantha Male made one free throw to put the visitors up by four. FPC's Eimy Ayala hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer -- her only basket of the game. The ending could have demoralized the Bulldogs, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.
"I think we did what we needed to do offensively and defensively," Montgomery said after the game. "We're growing a lot."
The team has already had a lot to overcome. Longtime coach Javier Bevacqua resigned a week into the school year. Two players, including last year's leading scorer, Lauren Stewart, transferred at the beginning of the school year. Two more players transferred last month.
And on Sunday evening, Nov. 14, four days before the season opener, a valve broke on a hot water tank in the gymnasium, flooding the court with gallons of water.
"It was gushing out from under the door. There was standing water on parts of the floor," said coach Anthony Wagner, who happened to be in the building at the time. Maintenance workers spent four hours pumping the water out that night, athletic director Steve DeAugustino said. Days later, blowers set up against the walls continued to dry under the floor.
"We've gone through a lot of adversity already," Wagner said after the opening loss. "But I'm happy with the effort. The girls didn't quit."
The Bulldogs had 11 days to savor their first win. After Thanksgiving break, they resume their season Nov. 30 at Oviedo Hagerty.
