PACE, FLA- As a result of another commanding showing by Senior Forward Cooper Littlefield, Pace High School (2-0, 0-0 6A District One) dominated Central High School (0-2, 0-0 1A District One) 66-26, earning their first 2-0 start to the regular season since the 2020-2021 season. With the win, Pace will prepare to play Tate High School in a non-conference game on December 1st. Meanwhile, Central will look to earn their first win as they play W.S. Neal High School on November 29th.
After notching 18 points, five rebounds, and four blocks in Pace’s 41-36 win versus Pine Forest, Littlefield recorded a season-high 20 points, three rebounds, and two blocks on 7-11 (63.6%) shooting from the field against Central. Through Pace’s first two games of the season, Littlefield is averaging 23.5 MPG, 19.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.0 BPG while shooting 15-25 (60.0%) from the field. For Head Coach Houston Ramsay and the Patriots, Littlefield’s play is especially encouraging after Littlefield played just four minutes in the Tip-Off Tournament.
“Having Cooper [Littlefield] back after missing the two pre-season games has definitely given us a boost offensively, but his biggest impact comes on defense and his leadership” Ramsay said. “We are a better team when he’s on the floor and I’m excited for the rest of the season and we’re looking ahead and focusing on Tate for Thursday”
In addition to Littlefield, Junior Guard Jordynn D’Amico and Senior Guard Jackson Hazelwood had stout contributions to Pace’s 40-point win over Central. To begin, D’Amico posted a season-high eleven points on 3-7 (42.9%) shooting from the field while adding a game-high four assists. Likewise, Hazelwood’s statline of eleven points, three rebounds, and three steals were all season-highs for the 6’0″, 161 pound Guard.
It’s worth noting that Senior Guard Chance Donohoe is still enduring a shooting slump, as Donohoe had six points on 2-9 (22.2%) shooting from the field against Central, and is just 3-19 (15.7%) from the field in Pace’s first two games of the season. For context, Donohoe totaled 27 points on 10-21 (47.6%) shooting from the field during Pace’s two-game stint at the Tip-Off Tournament.
In spite of the unfortunate circumstances, Senior Guards Lucas Matthews and Dawson Corlies both had solid games versus Pace. Matthews posted ten points on 3-11 (27.2%) shooting from the field and 2-4 (50.0%) from three-point range, while Corlies pitched in eleven points on 1-3 (33.3%) shooting from the field. In addition to his second double-digit scoring output of the season, Matthews added three rebounds and one steal, and is now averaging 16.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, and 1.0 SPG this season for Central.
As a team, the Patriots were quite efficient, going 20-48 (41.7%) from the field, 6-19 (31.6%) from three-point range, and 20-29 (69.0%) from the free-throw line. For comparison, the Jaguars went just 6-20 (30.0%) from the field, 2-9 (22.2%) from three-point range, and 12-26 (46.2%) from the free-throw line. In addition to their shooting struggles, Central committed an excessive amount of personal fouls and turnovers, totaling 22 personal fouls and 19 turnovers. Meanwhile, Pace committed 19 personal fouls and 14 turnovers as a team.
After claiming a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, Pace kept the pressure on Central, scoring 53 of the game’s final 72 points to secure the 66-26 win. Pace had their best defensive performance of the season, notching a season-high 10 steals, three blocks, and even holding Central to just three total points in the fourth quarter.