Pirates girls basketball team eliminated from tournament

by KEVIN TURNER

kevin.turner@mynassausun.com

The Fernandina Beach High School Pirates girls basketball team fell to Florida High 64-49 in the first round of competition for the state 3A championship in Tallahassee Thursday night.

Pirate point guard India Johnson and guard/forward Haley Tan both scored 14 points apiece.

"We played well, but the girls weren't ready for the pressure," coach Mike Landtroop said Friday. "Florida High was just a little more calm. We were up 11-5 in the first quarter and 20-19 after the first half, but they won state for the last two years. These girls have been there before."

Looking ahead to next year, Landtroop said his team will lose only three seniors from this year's squad, and next year's players now have an idea of what championship competition is like.

"It's going to take some maturity, but they're hungry to get back to it next year," he said.