Seahawk hoopsters close regular season with win

Led by their five graduating seniors, all honored before the game, the Seahawks closed out their regular season with a resounding 46-41 win over Florida High Feb. 4.

They now face district foe West Gadsden in the district tournament Friday night in Bristol, but coach Fred Drake doesn’t like what he’s seeing by tourney officials.

He has protested the fact that the Franklin County game, which pits the second and third seeded teams, has been scheduled as the second game of the night at 7:30 p.m., highly unusual in area wide district play. Generally, the top seeded team, in this case Port St. Joe, plays the nightcap.

“I know and understand Port St. Joe is the district coordinator, but Liberty County is the host site,” he wrote in an email to athletic direct Mike Todd. “It's not fair and right that we play the second game. It serves us as an advantage to play the first game while there is not that many people in attendance, and that we hurry up and get our game over with. Then, that gives us a chance to scout them with less pressure off of us.

“Port St Joe will have the advantage to scout us more since their first game will be completed,” Drake wrote. “Also, it serves as an intimidation factor for them to sit in the stands behind us, maybe while they hope and cheer for West Gadsden to win. They really don't want to play us a third time.”

It was not clear whether a change could be made before Friday, and the Seahawks game switched to 6 p.m. “I have never seen a tournament where the number 1 seed is playing the first game,” wrote Drake. “That is unheard of. It is not in our best interest to play the second game. Nobody contacted me nor asked my opinion on this. Also, this was not discussed at the district team meeting last spring.”

Honored before last Thursday’s game were seniors Arron Prince, Austin O’Neal, Derick Rhodes, Tydron Wynn and Zach Jones.

Jones then went on to score the first six points of the game, which had the Seahawks leading 20-16 at the half. Prince led the team with 16 points, while O’Neal added 11.

“It was good for these seniors to carry us for this last regular season game,” said Drake.

After the Seahawks trailed 31-28, Prince nailed consecutive treys early in the third quarter to put the team up 34-31. He then had an assist to O’Neal which brought the crowd to its feet.

“I think my best coaching job that night was helping him stay in the game,” said Drake, referring to a technical foul for fighting that might have had Prince ejected. “They wanted to put both players out of the game. I told the ref “This is this kid’s senior night, the last home game and that was just one isolated incident.’”

The Seahawks continued to lead, but the game got close, until Drake executed the stall with less than a minute to play.

O’Neal hit four free throws in the last minute, and Jones snared a key rebound, to secure the win.

Drake said the team is excited about proving themselves Friday night. “We split during the regular season, they beat us by one at their home,” he said. “It’s going to be a good game. It’s going to be a tough game and there’s no guarantee on either side. Somebody’s season is going to end Friday night.”

Drake said the team is motivated by the loss of their star sophomore Carlos Morris, who has left the team, and possibly Franklin County High School, for another school.

“We are 4-1 without Carlos. A lot of people would have folded,” said Drake. “The kids want to prove they’re a pretty decent team without him.”

Feb. 2 vs. Blountstown

Blountstown     9   6   12  20 – 47

Franklin Co.      19  14  12  14 – 59

SEAHAWKS: Arron Prince 2/13 2s, 0/2 3s, 0/2 FTs, 6 pts.; Dalin Modican 3/6 2s, 0/2 FT, 6 pts.; James Winfield 4/6 2s, 1/3 FTs, 9 pts. Adam Joseph 6/10 2s, 1/1 FTs, 13 pts.; Austin O’Neal 10/20 2s, 3/7 FTs, 23 pts.; Zach Jones 2/4 2s, 0/1 FTs, 4 pts.

Totals: 28/62 2s, 0/4 3s, 5/16 (31%) FTs

Rebounds: Joseph 12; O’Neal 11; Winfield 6; Modican, Prince 4; Tre’kale Turrell 3; Michael Turner 2

Steals: O’Neal, Prince 3; Joseph, Jones 2; Winfield, Modican, Turner, Turrell

Assists: Prince 4, O’Neal 3; Joseph 2; Winfield, Modican, Jones

Blocks: Joseph 2

Feb. 4 vs. Florida High

Florida High     6   10   10  15 – 41

Franklin Co.     9   11    8   18 – 46

SEAHAWKS: Prince 0/1 2s, 4/7 3s 4/6 FTs, 16 pts.; Modican 4/5 2s, 8 pts.; Winfield 2/4 2s, 1/4 FTs, 5 pts.; Tydron Wynn 0/2 3s; O’Neal 3/16 2s, 0/2 3s, 5/8 FTs, 11 pts.; Jones ¾ 2s, 6 2 pts.

Totals: 12/31 2s, 4/11 3s, 10/20 (50%) FTs

Rebounds: Jones 13; O’Neal 10; Winfield 8; Prince 7; Joseph 5; Modican 4

Steals: Prince 4; O’Neal 2; Joseph

Assists: Prince, O’Neal 4; Joseph

Blocks: Joseph, Modican, Winfield, Jones