Addison's 32 points not enough as FPC falls

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The Flagler Palm Coast Lady Bulldogs basketball team lost to Orange Park, 72-56, Thursday, Feb. 10, in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A state playoffs.

The Lady Bulldogs came into the game after losing to DeLand in a hard fought District 2-6A championship game Saturday night.

Senior guard Ty’Neka Addison, who has been virtually unstoppable over the past few weeks, was in foul trouble most of the game Thursday night. In fact, midway through the second quarter, Addison was called for her third personal foul.

“It was a tough game,” FPC coach Javier Bevacqua said. “(Orange Park) came out early and nailed four or five 3-pointers and we were behind the whole time. It was one of those nights when you look up at the scoreboard and say, ‘It’s already the fourth quarter?’”

Addison — who played only 21 minutes because of foul trouble — still had a game-high 32 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Addison neared the 1,700-point mark for her high school career. Desirea Hurley (seven points) had one 3-pointer, giving her a school and area record 101 3-pointers for the season. Diajah Davis added nine points, six rebounds and three assists.

Orange Park (19-6) had a 21-point lead at halftime and upped the lead to 25 but then Addison went to work. FPC’s all-time leading scorer put the game in her hands and single-handedly cut the lead from 25 to eight, scoring 17 straight points for the Lady Bulldogs.

But with four minutes left to go in the game, Addison fouled out after picking up her fifth personal foul. The lead was cut to seven at that point. Orange Park was able to pull away again for the win.

Orange Park, who lost to FPC earlier in the season, has now kicked FPC out of the state playoffs two-consecutive seasons. Additionally, the Lady Bulldogs will lose six seniors, including school record-setters Addison and Hurley.

“(The players) were bummed out but it was a tough night with a lot of fouls called and it was hard to get into a rhythm,” Bevacqua said.

The Lady Bulldogs ended their season with a 21-8 record — the best record in school history, and a team Bevacqua said he’s definitely proud of.

“Desire,” he said. “Their desire is the first thing that comes to mind with this team. We fought hard to the end and the girls never gave up on us.”

Contact Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].