Pirates edge Sandcrabs 65-63 for first win of the season

There was no boisterous celebration after the Pirates' first win of the season.

One day after suffering an emotional two-point loss to arch-rival Flagler Palm Coast, the Matanzas boys basketball players were subdued after ending a 12-game losing streak.

The Pirates held off a feisty Seabreeze team 65-63 on Jan. 13 at Matanzas.

"They're just relieved. There was nothing to celebrate," said Matanzas first-year coach Henry Robinson. "But it feels good to finally get it. Our record doesn't indicate what kind of team we have."

The Sandcrabs, meanwhile, came up just short in their quest to notch their first win of the season. Down 65-63, Seabreeze had two chances in the final seven seconds. Cole Nettles missed a driving layup. Gio Mitchell grabbed the offensive rebound but couldn't convert at the buzzer.

Seabreeze led for most of the game, which was reminiscent of its three-point overtime loss to Fort Myers Bishop Verot on Dec. 30.

"This has been a pretty rough season," Seabreeze coach Pepper Johnson said. "We just have to get over the hump. We have two guys who came in with varsity experience, so we're just going through growing pains. I'm going to keep coaching hard, and keep motivating."

Sophomore Tariq Shakir led the Pirates with a career-high 25 points and eight assists. Jude Lukaszewki added 11 points, and Ty Smith scored 10.

 Cole Long led the Sadncrabs with 17 points, while Mitchell had 15 points and Jordan Calder scored 14.

The game was the second of a grueling six-game stretch over eight days for Matanzas.

Seabreeze fell to 0-13 with a loss to Atlantic on Jan. 14.