- December 23, 2024
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Matanzas point guard Grace Norris, left, and coach Brittany Marts. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Grace Norris shoots a free throw in a game against Fleming Island last season. File photo
Matanzas' Grace Norris drives to the basket in a game against Fleming Island last season. File photo
Matanzas girls basketball player Grace Norris did not want to miss her junior season last year, so she held off hip surgery to repair cartilage until after the season.
She underwent physical therapy and played through the pain. She said her doctor told her "it would be a good idea," to have the surgery sooner. Her parents didn't try to change her mind.
"They knew they couldn't keep me away (from the basketball court) either," she said.
Norris seems to be at full strength this year. She has scored nearly half of the Pirates' points through their first three games. After scoring 10 points in a 33-24 loss to Seabreeze on Thursday, Nov. 17, the senior guard was averaging 11.3 points per game. As a team, Matanzas (0-3) was averaging 23.3 points before visiting St. Joseph Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
"Grace has stepped up to the plate. We moved her to point guard this year, so she has the ball in her hands a lot more. She plays with heart. You can see her passion."
— BRITTANY MARTS, Matanzas girls basketball coach
"Grace has stepped up to the plate," said Matanzas coach Brittany Marts. "We moved her to point guard this year, so she has the ball in her hands a lot more. She plays with heart. You can see her passion."
Norris said she is adjusting to the new position. Through three games she converted 15 of 19 (79%) from the free throw line and 5 of 14 from the 3-point arc.
"It's a new skillset," she said of playing point guard. "I'm getting used to it. So far, I enjoy it."
Seabreeze's Sarah Randolph scored a game-high 13 points in the win at Matanzas as the Sandcrabs won their second straight to improve to 2-1. Randolph scored 18 points in Seabreeze's 55-39 win at Calvary Christian on Nov. 15.
Mainland improved to 1-1 with a 65-33 win over Deltona. The Bucs opened the season with a 72-43 loss to Montverde Academy, the third-ranked team in the nation, according to MaxPreps.
Flagler Palm Coast has won its first two games of the season with an average margin of victory of 38.5 points. Brynn Gifford led the Bulldogs with 17 points in their 60-23 win over DeLand. Alexandria Connerton had a game-high 15 points in FPC's 50-10 thrashing of Altamonte Christian. The Bulldogs amassed 30 steals in the game.
The Flagler Titans Pop Warner Football and Cheer League grew from 120 participants last year to 208 this year. All six football teams played in the first round of the East Coast Conference playoffs with four teams advancing to the second round and three going to the championship game.
The 11U team won the ECC championship and advanced to the first round of the regional playoffs. All five cheer teams won at the ECC competition and are moving on to regionals Nov. 25-27.
