- May 6, 2024
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Pull quote: “I’m confident in my girls, but, at the end of the day, whether it’s free throws or whatever, if you want to win and move on, you’re gonna have to do it.”
JAVIER BEVACQUA, FPC girls head basketball coach
The Lady Bulldogs’ 24-1 record is a bit deceiving. One loss doesn’t justify the bumps and bruises Flagler Palm Coast has endured throughout the season. The girls’ latest bout, against the West Port Wolf Pack, went down to the wire, and they were able to hang on 55-52 to win the District 1-8A championship in consecutive seasons, on Thursday, Jan. 28, at FPC.
A few weeks ago, head coach Javier Bevacqua said the Lady Bulldogs’ opponents have to pick their poison, choosing to stop one player, which opens the door for another to step up. Toward the end of the game, the Wolf Pack were bent on stopping seniors Tamara Henshaw and Ivana Boyd, who each had 15 points, but it was Arielle Wagner who led FPC to victory late in the fourth quarter.
When the Bulldogs struggled to sink a basket or free throws in the final quarter, it was Wagner, who came through with a clutch 3-pointer or a running teardrop to either give FPC breathing room or help regain the lead.
“It seemed like we were all kind of down,” she said, “so I felt like me, going out there and scoring as an underclassman, would get the energy going to make us push harder.”
“I’m never surprised,” Bevacqua said. “She’s one of 10 talented girls we have on the team that’s a matter of who’s gonna show up on that certain night? And, she showed up. She suffered an ankle injury a week ago, but it looks like she’s O.K.”
Wagner didn’t finish the game alone, though. Although she led, also scoring 15 points, her fellow Lady Dawgs were running with her. Henshaw grabbed key rebounds, and Celine Vega scored a basket just before the fourth quarter and also nailed a 3-ball in the final minutes.
Despite another close victory, FPC’s free throw problem continues to loom. The Bulldogs missed over 10 free throws, shooting below 50% on the night.
“All we can do is continue to shoot them in practice,” Bevacqua said. “At the end of the day, it’s up to the players to go up to the line and hit them.”
In spite of their issues at the line, Bevacqua believes he has the necessary weapons to get far and reach the Final Four for a second straight season.
“I’m confident in my girls, but, at the end of the day, whether it’s free throws or whatever, if you want to win and move on, you’re gonna have to do it,” he said.
