- April 20, 2024
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The Bulldogs set the school’s single-season record for win percentage, ending the regular season 21-4.
After battling injuries and back-to-back losses last week, Flagler Palm Coast got back to its winning ways Friday, Feb. 3, when the Bulldogs knocked off crosstown rival Matanzas, 59-29, at FPC.
FPC coach Gary McDaniel started the game off a tad different from most games this season. It was senior night at FPC, and so the four seniors on the Bulldogs’ roster got the starting nod. Starting the seniors on senior night is a personal tradition for McDaniel.
Seniors T.J. Alexander, Sage Snyder, James Pate and Brendan McFarlane helped the Bulldogs to a 16-4 first-quarter lead.
Matanzas (8-17) couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively until late in the fourth quarter, when the deficit was too large to overcome. The Pirates managed to score only six points through the first three quarters of the game. A tough defense by FPC was key as the Bulldogs had a season-high 21 steals.
Coming out of halftime, FPC junior guard Tyler Hopkins caught fire. Hopkins, who injured his ankle last week in a loss to Spruce Creek, has missed a handful of practices over the past two weeks, McDaniel said after the game. Hopkins missed both of FPC’s two games in that stretch, to get healthy; both were losses.
In the third, Hopkins nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half. At the end of three quarters, FPC led Matanzas, 50-6.
Matanzas managed to turn things around in the fourth quarter, outscoring FPC 23-9.
Hopkins led FPC in scoring with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. DeShawn Barbero had eight points for the Bulldogs.
Matanzas’ Chris Johnson scored 11 points for Matanzas. Matt Powell scored nine, and Ivan Tsabak had six points.
Matanzas was missing senior Shawn White, who was on his official visit for football at the U.S. Naval Academy.
With the win, FPC (21-4) set the school record in winning percentage for a single season. The Bulldogs also improved to 13-1 at home. They will play in the District 1-8A championship Saturday, Feb. 11, against the winner of the semifinal game Friday night between Sandalwood and Mandarin. FPC has beaten both teams twice this season, although the margin of victory wasn’t substantial. FPC beat Sandalwood by a combined four points, Mandarin by a combined seven.
McDaniel said the team will focus on its half-court execution this week in practice, but the biggest thing is to get healthy.
“As you can see, when we get toward the end of our rotation, there’s a falloff there,” he said. “We have to keep our players healthy who really do it for us. But we’re excited, I’ll tell you that.”
For FPC, having Hopkins on the floor leading the way has been a large part of the team’s success. But losing back-to-back games so late in the season might have been a dose of reality for the young Bulldogs.
“When you win a lot of games, kids — particularly young kids — get a little bored with the season, bored with practice,” McDaniel said, adding that the two losses were “humbling.”
Either way, McDaniel plans to have his team ready Saturday night. The district tournament will take place at Mandarin High School. With a win, FPC would host the first round of the Class 8A state playoffs next week.
“I think we’re primed to play in tough games and in tough environments,” he said.
Matanzas played in the District 4-5A tournament Tuesday night. Visit www.PalmCoastObserver.com for updates.
MATANZAS RESULTS
Record: 8-17
Nov. 21: Deltona, Win 55-51
Nov. 25: North Florida Institute, Loss 61-47
Nov. 26: Interlachen, Win 63-57
Dec. 2: Pedro Menendez, Loss 67-54
Dec. 6: St. Augustine, Loss 58-38
Dec. 9: Nease, Loss 54-39
Dec. 13: New Smyna Beach, Loss 61-47
Dec. 15: Ponte Vedra, Loss 59-32
Dec. 16: Fernandina Beach, Loss 68-55
Dec. 20: Warner Christian, Win 57-36
Dec. 22: Bolles, Win 64-48
Dec. 27: North Florida Christian, Loss 73-65
Dec. 28: The Villages Charter, Win 77-74
Dec. 29: Meadownbrook Academy, Win 62-49
Jan. 6: Pedro Menendez, Loss 75-63
Jan. 10: Espirit de Corps, Win 56-47
Jan. 13: Nease, Loss 48-44
Jan. 17: Bartram Trail, Loss 72-51
Jan. 19: Calvary Christian, Win 73-54
Jan. 20: Ponte Vedra, Loss 51-41
Jan. 23: Lake Mary Prep, Loss 64-44
Jan. 24: Creekside, Loss 75-31
Jan. 27: Palatka, Loss 74-46
Jan. 31: Orange Park, Loss 61-48
Feb. 3: Flagler Palm Coast, Loss 59-29
FLAGLER PALM COAST RESULTS
Record: 21-4
Nov. 21: Seabreeze, Win 66-47
Nov. 29: Mandarin, Win 60-59
Nov. 30: Father Lopez, Loss 64-53
Dec. 2: University, Win 71-51
Dec. 6: Sandalwood, Win 71-70
Dec. 8: Ponte Vedra, Win 58-40
Dec. 9: Atlantic, Win 53-49
Dec. 13: Pine Ridge, Win 78-43
Dec. 16: Mainland, Win 63-60
Dec. 17: Seabreeze, Win 71-40
Dec. 22: Ponte Vedra, Win 81-56
Dec. 23: Halifax Academy, Win 66-50
Dec. 27: Pedro Menendez, Win 65-51
Jan. 3: New Smryna Beach, Win 71-38
Jan. 6: Deltona, Win 46-21
Jan. 10: Sandalwood, Win 66-63
Jan. 11: Pine Ridge, Win 64-55
Jan. 13: Father Lopez, Loss 74-61
Jan. 17: DeLand, Win 51-48
Jan. 20: Mandarin, 55-49
Jan. 24: New Smryna Beach, Win 76-58
Jan. 28: Spruce Creek, Loss 63-47
Jan. 31: Mainland, Loss 58-56
Feb. 1: Deltona, Win 61-39
Feb. 3: Matanzas, Win 59-29
