- December 26, 2024
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FPC's Nateshawn Royal looks to pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Jasiah Sanders (1) battles Raines' Adrian Brown under the basket. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Jack Wronowski takes a shot over Raines' Jesus Rice. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC boys basketball coach Greg Shirley gives directions to his team. Photo by Brent Woronoff
This story was updated, Nov. 21 with Nov. 19 games.
Two of four new basketball coaches won their openers on Monday, Nov. 18. Coach Zykia McNair’s Mainland girls team defeated Pine Ridge 48-24, and Asti Tucker’s Calvary Christian Academy boys team defeated Titusville High School 51-33.
Flagler Palm Coast with new coach Greg Shirley, and Matanzas with new coach Eric Guerrero, fell to a pair of high quality programs.
FPC lost 50-30 to Raines of Jacksonville in front of a Bulldogs home crowd. Matanzas traveled to Ponte Vedra and led by one at the half before succumbing to the Sharks’ superior depth, 77-59.
Nateshawn Royal was the only player to score in double figures for the Bulldogs with 16 points. Shirley was pleased with FPC’s defense.
“We held Raines, which is a very high scoring team, to 50 points,” he said.
FPC trailed 37-27 after three quarters, but Raines outscored the home team 13-3 in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs will be getting help from football players R.J. Watson, Braylyn Simmons and Roman Caliendo, Shirley said.
“I believe we're going to figure it out. And I think this team will continue to grow throughout the year,” he said.
Six-foot-9 center Alex Davis led Matanzas with 27 points and 15 rebounds while holding 6-8 forward Trace Westercamp to four points, including two huge blocked shots. Freshman Jemel Guerrero added 12 points, while Ladarien Baker grabbed 11 rebounds.
Ledaruen Wiggins led Calvary with 12 points and eight rebounds. Ten players scored for the Lions.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, another new coach came away with a win in his debut. Ethan Buchanan's Matanzas girls basketball team defeated St. Joseph Academy 59-37 at home. Katelynn Smith led three Pirates players in double figures with 20 points. Kaylina Vitt and Ruby Fogel added 13 points each.
Mainland's boys opened its season on Nov. 19 with an 85-63 victory at Deltona. Seven Simmons led four players in double figures with 18 points. Seabreeze's boys lost at East River 64-27 on Nov. 19 but played better in its home opener the next night, losing by seven to Beachside, 59-57.
First Baptist Christian Academy girls won their opener on the road on Nov. 19, 47-28 against First Coast Christian. Julia Rose led the Crusaders with 14 points.
