Eyes on the prize: Mainland maneuvers strategically through tough season

The girls basketball team's tough schedule will pay dividends down the road, Buccaneers coach Brandon Stewart says.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 7:16 a.m. January 11, 2024
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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The Mainland girls basketball team fell 56-31 to No. 1-ranked IMG Academy (15-1) in a home game on Friday, Jan. 5, dropping the Bucs’ record to 5-9. The Ascenders traveled 186 miles from South Bradenton to play the 2023 Class 5A state champions.

Mainland coach Brandon Stewart is not fazed by his team’s record.

“Now we are 5-9,” he said. “With us being 5-9, I talk to the girls a lot about the vision of what we’re trying to do and how our schedule sets us up to make another playoff run. I think that’s what’s most important. Most coaches, after the regular season, they tell their team that the records don’t matter anyway. So, for us, we just have to live through this moment. Our moment in the playoffs will be different because of what we are going through now. I truly believe that.”

Stewart admitted he stacked his team’s schedule with even more challenges this season. The Bucs have played four teams ranked in the state's top 10 by MaxPreps — IMG Academy, ranked No. 1; Montverde Academy (14-1), No. 2; Orlando Colinial (17-4), No. 5; St. Thomas Aquinas (11-4), No. 6. They also played Archbishop Wood (8-3), ranked No. 6 in Pennsylvania.

“(The schedule) is 100% crazier this year compared to last season,” he said. “No, it was not a mistake. Last year it ended up working out. I think this year, just preparing the girls for anything that we may have to face is important. That’s what I think we’re doing right now. I’m not going to take away from things that may seem hard in the moment that, in the end, are worth it.”

We are becoming a really good basketball team right now. Everybody is doing their job. This year it is happening organically again and at the right time. I think that’s most important. Last year, we had a Dodge Charger and this year we have a Chevrolet Corvette. We’re still driving, but I think this year it’s with more finesse and more methodical.
— Brandon Stewart, Mainland girls basketball coach

Mainland’s schedule has included multiple current and former state champions. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (9-5) has won 10 state title, Winter Haven has won five, St. Thomas Aquinas has had back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023 and Jacksonville Bishop Kenny was a powerhouse in the 1990s with three state trophies. Last year, after winning 30 games, Bishop Kenny fell to Lake Highland Prep in the Class 4A state final. 

The Buccaneers will also face Dr. Phillips on Jan. 30. The Panthers have won six state championships, including the last two in 2022 and 2023.

“Today's game was 100% worth it because every game is not going to be easy,” Stewart said. “Some games are going to be easier than others. I think this game was one of the games that was harder. We played against a really talented team. At the end of the day, we didn’t quit. We didn’t back down. I can’t ask them for anything else.”

Buccaneers guard Shilah-rayn Lord said she and her teammates try to stay positive and keep going no matter the battle or challenge. She has a lot of resources that help her stay motivated — her mom, family and especially her teammates.

“You always have that voice in the back of your head that tells you to keep pushing,” she said. “You have a choice to listen to it or not. I just choose to listen to it.”

Lord said it the contest with IMG was a good game, but her team would have won if it had played to its full potential. 

“I’m already ready for states,” she said. “We’re prepared, whether nobody thinks it or not, we’re prepared.”

Simply put, Stewart said he believes in his team. His players know the vision and understand the bigger picture. He talks about the bigger picture every day and occasionally plays footage from their state championship game last year to give them a visual of the end-goal, so they can stay focused. 

“We are becoming a really good basketball team right now,” he said. “Everybody is doing their job. This year it is happening organically again and at the right time. I think that’s most important. Last year, we had a Dodge Charger and this year we have a Chevrolet Corvette. We’re still driving, but I think this year it’s with more finesse and more methodical. This is the perfect time for us to start going on our way up.” 

The Bucs fell to Colonial (17-2) on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 10, to fall to 5-10. The Grenadiers poured it on in the second half to win 62-25. Mainland returns to action on Friday, Jan. 12, in a home game against Palm Bay (11-4).

 

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