Pirates fall short in Cinderella story

By Andrew OBrien
| 5:00 a.m. February 14, 2011

Matanzas' Shawn White had nine points in the District 4-4A championship game Saturday, Feb. 12.

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The Matanzas Pirates boys basketball team lost in its first-ever district championship game Saturday, Feb. 12.

Top-seeded Palatka High School (23-3) defeated No. 7-seeded Matanzas, 64-47, in the District 4-4A championship game.

Matanzas (15-13) was led in scoring by Jalen Hancock (13 points) and Wendell Powell (10 points), but Palatka’s full-court press caused fits for the Pirates, leading to numerous fast-break points for the Panthers.

Palatka took a 31-26 lead into halftime and then broke loose to a 51-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Matanzas will travel to Jacksonville to play Terry Parker (District 3-4A champion) in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals.

This is the first time in school history the Pirates basketball team has qualified for the state tournament.

For more coverage, see Thursday’s edition of the Palm Coast Observer.