- April 17, 2024
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Coach Gary McDaniel and Frank Clark embrace after the Bulldogs win their first postseason game since 2008. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Joell Wright knocks down a jump shot from the top of the paint against Seminole. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Fethener Aime gets past his defender and finishes a layup. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Coach McDaniel hopes his first playoff win will propel the Bulldogs to more postseason victories going forward. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Gary McDaniel became the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs head coach in 2011. He had taken the Bulldogs to the playoffs four times — two straight years before this season — but had never won a postseason game, until now.
After a surprising district championship win, FPC (17-12) went on to beat the Seminole Seminoles (21-7) 68-54 in the 9A region quarterfinals on Thursday, Feb. 16, at FPC.
“It felt like an attrition of patience and sticking to the play, and we finally broke through,” McDaniel said. “The kids were terrific. We've been knocking on the door and thank God we finally got it open. Hopefully we can knock it off the hinges."
In the two previous seasons, the Bulldogs led both of their opening-round playoff games but couldn’t finish in the end. This time around, they pulled away at the end to secure the win.
FPC now eliminated
FPC was eliminated in the region semifinals against Oviedo 64-59 on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Oviedo.
"We've been knocking on the door and thank God we finally got it open. Hopefully we can knock it off the hinges."
GARY MCDANIIEL, FPC's head basketball coach on getting his first postseason victory
Overachievers
Having lost in an exhibition game against crosstown rival Matanzas, FPC went into this season with lowered expectations. Even McDaniel admitted that this particular team didn’t pack as much talent as he has had in the past.
“They’re very different,” he said. “They require a lot of detail. But, we got them to a place where they believed in what we were doing. I’ve had more talented teams by far here, but basketball is played a couple of ways. This team is full of dedicated players who know the season.
Rebuild?
Going forward, FPC will lose four of its five starters to graduation. Only D’mahgio Warren will return next season.
