- April 25, 2024
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The Pirates' Dawson Tanner throws a pass at practice. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' David Harris drives to the hoop at practice. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Tyler Smith finishes a layup. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Dawson Tanner drives past Joshua Saucier to the hoop at practice. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas coach Donald Lockhart instructs his team during practice. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Tate Winecoff looks to pass the ball to a teammate. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' David Evans drives in for a layup. Photo by Ray Boone
The Pirates' Joshua Saucier shoots a 3-pointer during a scrimmage. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Kevin Priccaciante dribbles the ball up the court. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas guard David Harris dribbles the ball up the court. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Joshua Saucier shoots a floater over a defender. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Joshua Saucier drives to the hoop at practice. Photo by Ray Boone
Every year, Matanzas’ boys basketball team sets a goal of making it to the district championship. The Pirates came up one game short of that goal last season, losing to Clay 61-45 on Feb. 13. Despite graduating some of their top players, the Pirates, who finished 12-13 in 2018-19, have a renewed focus and identity.
“We’ve got to compete,” the Pirates’ fourth-year head coach, Donald Lockhart, said. “That’s our biggest thing. We’ve got a great nucleus of guys. Those guys are competitors. If we can learn to compete, I think it can take us a long way this year.”
Last season, the Pirates graduated three-year varsity player Branden Gilyard, Darrion Sessions, Keshawn Kemp, Maleik Gibson-Nelson, Tre’Von Harris and Marquice Hill.
The Pirates have a mix of youth and experience this season, led by seniors Joel Whittick and David Evans.
“I’m just doing what the seniors before me did,” Evans said. “They pushed me every day in practice. They made sure I did my best. That’s what I expect out of the younger guys now.”
"We have to do the little things and listen to each other. We have to let coach lead us because he's going to get us there in the end."
JOEL WHITTICK, Matanzas basketball player
The Pirates don’t have the biggest of players, but they do have a lot of athleticism, particularly in Whittick.
They plan to be a fast-paced team that aims to score in transition.
But they will continue to hang their hat on defense.
“We want to stop you from scoring, but if we need to score in bunches, we’ll do that,” Lockhart said. “There’s a little more excitement than in previous years.”
