DOG FIGHT: DeLand takes down Flagler Palm Coast for Five Star championship
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The final matchup of the Volusia-Flagler Five Star basketball tournament ended in a battle of Bulldogs: Flagler Palm Coast (9-11) and DeLand (14-6).
It was the second time the two teams met this season and both games ended with the West Volusia 'Dogs as the victor.
DeLand defeated FPC last week, 54-24, to be crowned the top area team.
Junior Nigle Cook put on a show, including a couple of four-point plays to lead his team to the momentum-building victory.
“It’s a great win for us going into districts and the rest of the games we have,” Cook said.
DeLand’s length bothered FPC offensively and defensively, holding the Palm Coast Bulldogs to just 12 points in the first half. That defensive effort translated into easier offensive opportunities, which pleased DeLand head coach Sebastian Singletary.
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Singletary and his district-focused team did not put much stock into the victory but were appreciative of the moment.
“Always winning the first one is special because you’re the first one to do it,” Singletary said. “But this isn’t the goal.”
FPC head coach Derrick Williams and his team had the same stance, and thus, were not discouraged by the loss. They have to play DeLand once more during the season during districts, so FPC didn’t want to reveal too much. Rather, they played to get a better grasp of DeLand, Williams said.
FPC was the dark horse of the tournament, defeating tough teams in Atlantic (14-5) and Pine Ridge (14-4) to make it to the final.
“Nobody was expecting us to be here so we were playing with house money,” Williams said. “In basketball you just have to be the better team that night. We went into the tournament that way.”
FPC's Karl Knighten Jr. and leading scorer Alex Aviles couldn’t catch a rhythm against DeLand. The two guards, who average a combined 25 points per game, had trouble penetrating DeLand’s defense to get inside the paint where they’re the most effective.
Williams, who appreciated his team’s defense, said their goal is to hold teams to close 48 to 50 points a game — which they did against DeLand.
Knighten Jr. did his best to make it tough on DeLand star Trayvon Barbary, guarding him most of the game. The Calvary Christian transfer fearlessly embraced the opportunity to battle against tough competition he was sure to get by transferring to FPC.
The junior, unfazed by the loss, clearly wants the big stage and bright lights for his new team. He led Calvary Christian to a district title last year.
“The county tournament is good and all but we want bigger,” Knighten Jr. said. “We’re not chasing city dreams, we want outside dreams."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school basketball: DeLand wins Five Star tournament, downs hot FPC
