Sidelines: Sharks boys basketball remains undefeated

Also in the Observer: Brown, Pope dominate for Sharks; Lady Hawks lose two of last three games; Spruce Creek boys and girls soccer teams draw against Lake Highland.

By Ray Boone
| 9:01 p.m. December 11, 2017

Atlantic's Justin Sears dribbles against Hudson. Photo by Ray Boone

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Despite a road-heavy schedule, the Sharks boys team continued its hot start to the season. Atlantic (5-0) steamrolled Pine Ridge 81-62 on Dec. 7 and edged by New Smyrna Beach 47-40 on Dec. 9 at New Smyrna Beach High School.

Against Pine Ridge, it was the sophomores who got the ball rolling. Guard Justin Sears led all scorers with 16 points, and Kenneth Weatherspoon and Sebastian Spada scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Against the Barracudas, power forward and team captain Kevin Beans had a game-high 17 points, and fellow forward Darshay Tompkins chipped in eight points.

Brown, Pope dominate for Sharks

The Atlantic girls basketball team improved to 4-1 on the season with a 62-23 romping of New Smyrna Beach on Dec. 8 at New Smyrna Beach High School.

Senior point guard Shakawanza Brown dominated both ends of the court for a game-high 22 points, an Atlantic High School single-game record 11 steals, nine rebounds and eight assists. Senior Shania Pope added 16 points and five rebounds, and junior JonKeria Patterson posted 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Lady Hawks lose two of last three games

The Lady Hawks (3-2) dropped the second of their last three games with a 70-50 loss to Nease at the Flagler Palm Coast shootout on Dec. 9 at FPC High School. Spruce Creek fell behind early after a five-point first quarter but bounced back with a 25-point second quarter. But down four points entering the final period, the Hawks were outscored by 14 to end the game.

Spruce Creek boys and girls soccer teams draw against Lake Highland

Spruce Creek's boys team lost its first game of the season to Merritt Island. And since that 2-1 defeat, the Hawks have been on a tear, winning eight-straight games. Playing back-to-back games at home, Spruce Creek blanked Deltona 7-0 on Dec. 6 and Flagler Palm Coast 2-0 on Dec. 8. However, playing on the road at Lake Highland Preparatory School, the Hawks played the Highlanders to a 3-3 draw on Dec. 11.

Spruce Creek's Jordan Di Verniero attempts a kick against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

The girls team (10-0-1) remains undefeated this season but also played Lake Highland to a 3-3 draw on Dec. 11. In addition, the Lady Hawks took down DeLand 7-1 on Dec. 5 at Spruce Creek High School and Melbourne Central Catholic 3-1 on Dec. 6 on the road.