- April 28, 2024
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Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk saves the ball from going out of bounds in the game against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Narayan Thomas (3) attempts to block a shot by Pine Forest's Micah Franklin (21). Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneers Nathan Kirk (1), Keelan Barnes (14) and Narayan Thomas goof around after the Region 1-5A quarterfinal win against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Kade Manley (left) grabs the rebound in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland shooting guard Elijah Clark runs onto the court as he is introduced before the game against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Narayan Thomas (3) and Kade Manley (right) slap hands with their teammates before the game against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk drives in for the first basket of the game against Pine Forest in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland guard Elijah Clark shoots a 3-pointer against Pine Forest's Micah Franklin. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk goes up for a shot against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk goes up for the first basket of the game against Pine Forest in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk saves the ball from going out of bounds to teammates Narayan Thomas (3) and Elijah Clark (24). Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland guard Kade Manley hits a 3-pointer in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach Joe Giddens goes over a play during a timeout in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
DeAndre Newland (21) goes up for a shot against Pine Forest's Jackson Parker and Maurice Smith in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bubba Westbrook (center) guards Pine Forest's Micah Franklin (21) with the help of Seven Simmons (2). Photo by Michele Meyers
Narayan Thomas (3) steals the ball from Pine Forest and takes it down court for a dunk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Narayan Thomas (3) goes airborne on the way to a dunk against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Narayan Thomas (3) goes up for a dunk in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Narayan Thomas (3) slam dunks in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland basketball team finishes its warm-ups before playing Pine Forest in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland boys basketball team celebrates after winning the first round of the state playoffs against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneers Imandre Shack (20), Keelan Barnes (14), Narayan Thomas (3), Elijah Clark (24) and Bubba Westbrook (10) celebrate the 58-41 victory. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pine Forest coach Tychicus McCants talks to his players. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland starters (left to right) against Pine Forest: Kade Manley, Elijah Clark, DeAndre Newland, Nathan Kirk and Narayan Thomas. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk runs onto the court as he is introduced before the game against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk dribbles down court in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer guard Bubba Westbrook jumps above everyone to grab an offensive rebound, resulting in a basket for Mainland. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland point guard Nathan Kirk (1) drives to the basket in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pine Forest's Maurice Smith (1) tries to block Kade Manley's 3-point shot. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Narayan Thomas throws a no-look pass to a teammate. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland guard Bubba Westbrook dribbles the ball past halfcourt in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland coach Joe Giddens (kneeling) focuses on his team during a Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland's Seven Simmons (2) shoots a 3-pointer against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland 7-footer DeAndre Newland dunks in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal win against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Buccaneers and the Pine Forest Eagles follow the ref to the other side of the court after Mainland's Keelan Barnes (14) was fouled with 28.5 seconds left. Barnes hit both free throws. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Seven Simmons (2) flies to the basket for a shot against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneers jump off the seats after teammates make the final baskets in the 58-41 win in the Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach Joe Giddens uses a timeout to motivate his team during the Region 1-5A quarterfinal against Pine Forest. Photo by Michele Meyers
DeAndre Newland dunks in the Bucs' victory over Pine Forest. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Mainland had a comfortable lead against Pensacola Pine Forest in the second half of its Region 1-5A quarterfinal game. Then Bucs point guard Nate Kirk landed on the floor, clutching his knee.
Was coach Joe Giddens worried?
“Oh yeah, of course,” Giddens said.
A few minutes later, the sophomore returned to the game and Giddens breathed a sigh of relief.
“When he came and said he was ready to go, I said, ‘OK, sub in.’ I was a little worried, but I know he’s a tough kid.”
Kirk and Mainland’s two big men, 7-foot DeAndre Newland and 6-foot-6 Narayan Thomas, each scored 15 points to lead Mainland to a 58-41 victory on Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Vince Carter Athletic Center. Kirk, who scored 10 of his points in the first quarter, added a team high seven rebounds, six steals and four assists. Freshman Kade Manley added eight points with two 3-pointers.
“Nate’s been around me for a long time. I've known him since he was young, real young. His mom went (to school) here,” Giddens said.
It’s not a coincidence that Kirk, Thomas an Newland led the way for Mainland. They were all starters last year and cried when the Bucs lost to Miami Belen Jesuit in the Class 5A state championship game, Giddens said.
“Those guys’ focus is a little different,” Giddens said. “They get everybody else prepared. They are important to what we want to do.”
Mainland improved to 20-6 and bounced back from a tight 43-39 win over St. Augustine in the district championship game on Feb. 10. The Bucs led Pine Forest 26-14 at the half and went up by 19 (53-34) with 1:45 left in the game.
“I think the St. Augustine game kind of woke us a little bit,” Giddens said. “We had a great week of practice, and when we came out, we were prepared. Defensively, I thought we did a great job.”
The Bucs, seeded first in the region, host No. 4 seed Pensacola Washington in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. Washington defeated Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 61-58 to advance.
