After a string of three wins, Cocoa's good fortune finally ran out on Thursday. They fell 49-40 to the DME Academy Blue -. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Tigers came into the matchup with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 68th, while the - are ranked 316th).
Despite the loss, Cocoa saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Gianna Conklin-Jones posted 18 points along with seven boards and four steals. Conklin-Jones is crushing it when it comes to steals: she's grabbed at least two every time she's taken the court this season. Mya Drake was another key player, putting up seven points.
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| 12/19/24 - Neutral | 40-49 L |
Even though they lost, Cocoa smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 15 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Cocoa's defeat dropped their record down to 9-2. As for DME Academy Blue, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-6.
Coincidentally, the two teams will both be playing New Smyrna Beach the next time they take the court. DME Academy Blue will head out to face New Smyrna Beach at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, while Cocoa will head out to face them at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
