Flagler Palm Coast's Alexandria Connerton fights through pain to score 20 in loss to Ocala Forest

The girls basketball team's early-season struggles against quality teams will pay off later, Bulldogs coach George Butts says.

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Alexandria Connerton walked out of the trainer’s room following Flagler Palm Coast’s game with Ocala Forest on Dec. 8 with an ice pack wrapped around her right quadriceps and another wrapped around her left knee.

The FPC sophomore suffered a quad contusion in a loss at Orange Park the night before and bruised her knee in the first quarter of a 52-47 loss to Forest on the first night of the Bulldog Classic.

Connerton took a short rest after hurting her knee, then returned and finished with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds.

I didn't feel it during the game. My adrenaline was running high, my emotions were running high. I was focused on the game and everybody playing as a team. But I’ll feel it after the game.”
— ALEXANDRIA CONNERTON

“I sat for a little bit, but no matter what, you got to play,” Connerton said. “I didn’t feel it during the game. My adrenaline was running high; my emotions were running high. I was focused on the game and everybody playing as a team. But I’ll feel it after the game.”

The Bulldogs trailed by five at halftime, but the Wildcats outscored them 20-5 in the third quarter, going on a 20-1 run to take their largest lead at 52-33. Forest did not score in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats held the ball for long stretches, but FPC could get no closer than five points.

Connerton scored 11 of FPC’s 20 second-half points.

“She’s a baller,” FPC first-year coach George Butts said. “She has that fight in her. She’ll be one of those we’ll be watching on TV someday.”

Connerton is not worried about someday. Her focus is on helping the Bulldogs improve. She scored 21 points in a 62-52 loss to Dunnellon on Dec. 9, the second day of the Bulldog Classic. It was FPC's third loss in three days. The three losses came to teams with a combined 16-6 record.

“They’re learning my system and getting better every game,” Butts said after the loss to Forest. “We’re playing tough teams. That’s the way we schedule it. We’re going to take a few bumps early, but we’re looking down the road. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The girls are doing a great job and working hard.”

The Bulldogs (1-4) are relying on young players. Freshman Ava Works added 11 points and two steals against Forest (5-3), while sophomore Carolyn O’Lear had seven points and eight rebounds.

“We had a tough game (the day before in a 66-47 loss to Orange Park). Everybody was hurting,” Connerton said. “But we still have to play through it. We have a lot of freshmen, and they’re still getting used to varsity basketball, but they’re all contributing to the team. With our offense and defense we have to be in shape. We give it our all, and we keep rotating in players. I love this team, and I love the coaches.”

 

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