- December 20, 2024
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Senior guard Tia Dobson brings the ball upcourt for the Bucs. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland coach Brandon Stewart talks to his players after the third quarter. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Anovia Sheals scored a game-high 18 points in Mainland's 62-25 win over Atlantic in the first round of the Five Star Conference tournament. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland guard Samantha Lecas passes to a teammated. Lecas made four 3-point shots in the game against Atlantic. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland's Olivia Olson gets ready to shoot a free throw. Olson went 4 for 4 from the free throw line and scored 16 points. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Atlantics Essence Johnson guards Mainland's Ronneisha Thomas (1). Photo by Brent Woronoff
Samantha Lecas scored 14 points against Atlantic. Photo by Brent Woronoff
In Mel Brooks’ Star Wars spoof, “Space Balls,” light speed wasn’t fast enough, so the ship went to “ludicrous speed.”
A tough schedule wasn’t hard enough this season for Mainland’s girls basketball team — the reigning Class 5A state champion — so coach Brandon Stewart compiled a ludicrous schedule.
The Buccaneers have a 7-11 record, but they are still ranked fourth in the state among 5A teams. On Saturday, Jan. 20, they played a local team for the first time this season, crushing Atlantic 62-25 in the first round of the Five Star Conference tournament at the Sharks’ gym.
“This was the first team we played this year that was not in the final four last year or nationally ranked last year or in the top 10 in the state,” Stewart said.
The Bucs hit on all cylinders against the Sharks (8-9), draining nine 3-pointers and pulling out to a 35-point lead in the third quarter to force a running clock the rest of the way.
Mainland, the second seed in the tournament behind Spruce Creek, is scheduled to meet Deltona (12-4), a 61-29 winner over Flagler Palm Coast earlier in the day, in the Five Star semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Atlantic. The title game is scheduled for Jan. 26.
The Bucs were unable to win the Five Star last year, because Mainland and University were issued a double-forfeit in their first-round game after a fight broke out. Two years ago, the Bucs opted out of the tournament.
This year, they’d like to take home the trophy.
“I’m excited (about the Five Star) because we play against teams from around here,” Bucs guard Samantha Lecas said.
Lecas was one of three Bucs to score in double figures against Atlantic. Anovia Sheals scored a game-high 18 points, Olivia Olson had 16 points and Lecas made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.
Stewart said the Bucs are prepared mentally and physically to make another run at a state title.
“The girls are able to see how the hard games help us in ways we didn’t even know,” he said. “Today we continued to trust each other. Even when we were winning by a lot, they continued to play together.”
“We’re just getting better,” Lecas said.
In the boys Five Star tournament, Mainland defeated Pine Ridge 74-37. Narayan Thomas scored 27 points and Nathan Kirk scored 20 points for the Bucs. They will meet Atlantic on Jan. 25 in the semifinals. The Sharks defeated FPC 68-62.
