Flagler Palm Coast boys basketball rallies from 12-point deficit to knock off Matanzas

The Bulldogs hit 25 of 33 free throws to defeat the Pirates 56-48.

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Flagler Palm Coast basketball player Zac Murphy was unable to play against rival Matanzas on Friday, Dec. 13, because of an injury, but he had a role in the Bulldogs’ 56-48 comeback victory, FPC leading scorer Anthony Hampton said.

Murphy’s motivational speech at halftime helped FPC rally from a 28-16 deficit at a packed Pirates' gym, said Hampton who scored 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half.

“Zac talked to us in the locker room,” Hampton said. “He uplifted us. He gave us confidence. He told us to pick our heads up and be aggressive.”

FPC's Anthony Hampton drives to the basket and hangs in the air for a layup. Courtesy photo by Keishia McLendon

The Bulldogs (4-4) won their fourth game in a row after starting the season at 0-4. Matanzas fell to 2-6. The win snapped FPC's two-game losing streak against its rival. 

Nateshawn Royal, who added 14 points, hit a free throw at the end of the third quarter to pull the Bulldogs within a point at 36-35. After Matanzas freshman Jezrahiah McCoy scored on a driving layup, Royal knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the score at 38-38.

The teams battled battled back and fourth until FPC pulled away in the final two minutes. The difference came at the free throw line. The Bulldogs hit 25 of 33 foul shots, including 11 of 14 in the fourth quarter. Hampton was a perfect 6 for 6 from the line in the game. The Pirates, meanwhile, struggled from the line, hitting 9 of 23 free throws. They were 4 of 10 in the fourth quarter.

Six-foot-8 junior center Alex Davis led Matanzas with a game-high 25 points. Davis was playing in just his fourth game of the season and his second game since Nov. 20. He missed most of the second half after getting called for his fourth foul. He and McCoy (11 points) both eventually fouled out. LaDarian Baker and Nate Perry (10 points) each finished with four fouls.

“We lost a lot of momentum when we had four out of five starters (leave the floor) with four fouls,” Matanzas coach Eric Guerrero said. “That kind of hurt us little bit and (FPC) took advantage of every opportunity. By the time, they were able to get back in and get warmed, (FPC) already had too much momentum.”

R.J. Watson added 12 points for the Bulldogs and also went 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

“Give their coach credit,” FPC coach Greg Shirley said. “They came out in something that we hadn’t seen. We made some adjustments at halftime. “

FPC also battled with foul trouble. Watson, Siah Sanders and Roman Caliendo all fouled out.

“All three of our bigs fouled out, but other guys stepped up,” Shirley said. “I’m so very proud of them. We kept making stops, even in the first half when we were really struggling to score. We adjusted and hit some big shots and made all of our free throws.”

 

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