- April 24, 2024
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Buccaneers guard Jordan Sears lays the ball in against Atlantic. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland guard Jordan Sears celebrates after a Sharks player turned the ball over. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Jordan Sears pulls up for a jumper against Atlantic. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Taron Keith (No. 4) passes the ball to an open shooter against Atlantic. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Johnny Brown charges back down the court after a Sharks turnover. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Jordan Sears celebrates after a teammate sank an open 3-pointer. Photo by Ray Boone
Buccaneers guard Taron Keith lays the ball in against Atlantic. Photo by Ray Boone
The Buccaneers' bench celebrates after a 3-pointer. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's R.J. Rhoden pushes the ball up the court on a fast break. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Jordan Sears dribbles the ball down the court against Atlantic. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's R.J. Rhoden finishes a layup on a fast break against the Sharks. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's R.J. Rhoden finishes a layup on a fast break against the Sharks. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Taron Keith looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to. Photo by Ray Boone
Buccaneers forward Johnny Brown shoots a 3-pointer against the Sharks. Photo by Ray Boone
Mainland's Taron Keith attempts a pair of free throws in the final minute of regulation. Photo by Ray Boone
For the opening 16 minutes of Mainland’s contest against rival Atlantic on the night of Friday, Jan. 25, the Buccaneers couldn’t do anything right.
The tough defense, the ball movement and the timely shot-making that propelled the Buccaneers to victory in their previous 21 games was seemingly absent.
Down 30-18 at half time, Buccaneers head coach Joe Giddens unleashed fury when his team entered the locker room at Mainland High School.
He needed to inspire them, so with a solid kick, he sent the nearest garbage can flying. Then, he challenged them.
“They had to show me that they wanted it more than the other team," he said.
Leading scorer Jordan Sears, who scored just 2 points in the first half, was the first to get the message.
The barrage began nearly 3 minutes into the third quarter. Sears was set to inbound the ball under the Sharks’ basket. With no teammate open to pass it to, the junior guard bounced the ball of a defender’s back and laid it in. He scored on three straight possessions to bring the Buccaneers within striking distance.
“I can’t just not shoot,” Sears said. “I just had to keep playing my game and believe things would fall into place.”
When senior guard R.J. Rhoden exited the game with 4 minutes to play in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury, fellow guard Taron Keith joined Sears in picking up the slack.
After falling behind by as much as 12 points, the Buccaneers entered the final period down 3.
Sears scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, and Taron Keith chipped in with 15 points. When the Buccaneers seized the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter, both players were integral in the Buccaneers maintaining that lead.
For the game, Sears went 9-for-10 from the free throw line, and Keith went 5-for-6.
“When a big player like R.J. goes down, Jordan and I have to step up,” Keith said. “We have to be weapons.”
The Buccaneers held on to beat Atlantic 55-46. It was their fourth straight win over the Sharks and their 22nd win in a row this season.
“We’ve been working hard, and they’re buying in,” Giddens said. “They’re having fun. They’re treating each other like brothers. It’s a family environment. That’s been the difference.”
