Paiden Hickman drops 27 points to lead Matanzas girls basketball over Atlantic

The freshman drained 4-of-9 shots from 3-point range in the Pirates' home opener.

  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Sports
  • Share

Matanzas freshman Paiden Hickman had scored a total of 22 points in her first two games. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, she poured in 27 points to lead the Pirates to a 43-22 victory over Atlantic in their home opener.

“I knew coming in she’d be a key piece for us this year,” Matanzas first-year coach Cory Curtis said. “She played (a team-high) 30 minutes tonight.”

Hickman hit 4 of 9 from behind the 3-point arc and connected on 11 of 19 field goals overall. She played varsity basketball as an eighth grader last year for First Baptist Christian Academy, where she averaged 9.6 points per game.

“I’ve been playing basketball since I was 5 years old,” she said, adding that until this summer she mostly had been an inside player.

“I never really took (3-point) shots for my AAU teams,” she said. “This summer, I got out of the paint and started shooting. I feel more comfortable (on the perimeter).”

She is shooting 54.5% (6 of 11) from 3-point range after not attempting any 3-pointers for the Crusaders last year.

The Pirates improved to 2-1, while the Sharks fell to 2-2. Atlantic went to the free throw line 22 times, but connected on just seven free throws.

Santana Dixon led Atlantic with nine points. Senior Katelynn Smith added seven points and a team-high 12 rebounds for Matanzas.

“She’s our point forward. She makes our offense go,” Curtis said of Smith.

Smith, Ruby Fogel (nine rebounds) and Kaylina Vitt (three assists) are the only seniors on the team. The Pirates also have two juniors and eight freshmen with Hickman and 6-foot-1 freshman Kyleigh Rainey playing key roles.

“We’re looking forward to Paiden and Kyleigh sliding into leadership roles. Those girls are the future,” Curtis said.

After taking Thanksgiving week off, the Pirates had three games scheduled this week. Matanzas hosts Seabreeze on Thrusday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. and then visits county rival Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.

FPC opened its season with a 63-13 win at Unversity on Dec. 2.

“I know FPC is going to be a tough game, but it’s not going to be like last year (when the Bulldogs won 58-31),” Curtis said.  

 

Latest News

  • December 13, 2025
A mark of honor: Ormond Beach DAR chapter holds annual Wreaths Across America ceremony
  • December 12, 2025
Flagler detective suspended without pay for 'unbecoming conduct' following Dec. 4 arrest
  • December 12, 2025
Ormond Beach Planning Board OKs new commerce park development on North U.S. 1
  • December 11, 2025
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office implements AI language translation technology for body cameras
×

Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.