Though the season series aren’t over, the Upper Keys have the upper hand so far in the 2023-24 basketball season.
Coral Shores’ girls won a pair of games last week, improving to a Keys-best 5-1 this season. Win number one was against Marathon on Dec. 12. The ’Canes edged out their closest neighbor by 2 points, winning 44-42 at home. Senior Brooke Mandozzi dropped 26 points on the Fins, plus a trio of steals. Lea Castellanos scored 8 points and added 4 steals, and Makayla Hahn had 7 points and 4 steals. Niveah Howard had 10 rebounds to help elevate the Hurricanes over the Fins in the district win. Marathon’s Marti Kilbourne scored 14, Daysi Williams and Elena Eubank scored 8 each and Kayesha Christian and Payton Junker each added 3 in the close loss.
On Dec. 15, Divine Savior made the trip to Tavernier – and the ’Canes sent them home with a stingy 8 points. Mandozzi had the hot hand again, with 18 plus 5 rebounds and 6 steals in just 16 minutes of play. Jazmyn Blassio and Alex Burson had strong games coming off the bench. Burson had 4 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds for the ’Canes, while Blassio stole the ball 4 times in the lopsided 34-8 win.
The Lady Fins played three games last week, beginning with the district loss to Coral Shores. The tide turned for the Fins the following night against LaSalle as Marathon bested the Lions 49-45. Eubank had the high score in that matchup, scoring 16 points. Kilbourne had 13, Williams had 10, Christian added 7 and Junker put up 3 in the win. On Dec. 15, Marathon fell to First Baptist Academy 50-34. Kilborne scored 14 and Eubank had 13 in the loss.
Coral Shores’ boys opened the week with a road loss to Homestead High School, losing 81-66 to the larger 5A Broncos on Dec. 11. The ’Canes had better luck the following night with district and county rival Marathon in a much-anticipated home meeting of the two teams. Coral Shores edged out the Dolphins, earning a 70-61 win. Isaac Rivera and Donovan Thiery had 22 points each. Ayden Lane scored 16 and Keegan Fish added 8 for Coral Shores.
The Marathon Dolphins and Coral Shores Hurricanes duke it out in a boys and girls doubleheader hardwood showdown on Dec. 12. The Hurricanes picked up wins in both games, edging the Lady Fins 44-42 and the boys team 70-61. Photos by DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly. 
Coral Shores Isaac Rivera (3) moves the ball upcourt against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Isaac Rivera (3) lays up the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores AJ Johnson (25) shoots the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Keegan Fish (10) goes for two against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Ayden Lane (4) passes the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
The Coral Shores Varsity Basketball team takes on Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
The Coral Shores Varsity Basketball team takes on Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
The Coral Shores Varsity Basketball team takes on Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
The Coral Shores Varsity Basketball team takes on Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
The Coral Shores Varsity Basketball team takes on Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Isaac Rivera (3) lays up the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Marathon’s Adrian Cruz (2) shoots the ball against Coral Shores at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Marathon’s Adrian Cruz (2) shoots the ball against Coral Shores at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores AJ Johnson (25) shoots the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Alex Mallides (13) looks to pass the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Donovan Thiery (0) shoots the ball against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger 
Coral Shores Isaac Rivera (3) moves the ball upcourt against Marathon High School at Coral Shores Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The Canes went on to win 70-61. Photo by Doug Finger
Head coach Tony Simons praised Rivera, who he credited with lifting the ’Canes as he returned to the court from an early-season knee injury.
“His aggressiveness and leadership helped spur on a solid team effort from our players,” Simons said. “Having three guys in double figures also speaks to the team contribution we are getting on the offensive end. Combine that with good defense, and rebounding proved to be the difference.”
Marathon was no pushover for the ’Canes, though. Adrian Cruz and Xavier Grant had 22 points each while Carlos Lezcano led in rebounds with 7. Daeshawn Holmes added 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for the Fins.
Both teams went on to participate in the annual Palmer Trinity Holiday Classic against a field of eight South Florida teams, most of which participate in larger classifications than Marathon and Coral Shores. The ’Canes picked up one win at the tourney, against Marathon, beating them 71-53. Marathon did not improve its record, but, according to Dolphins’ head coach Jim Murphy, did gain some worthwhile experience.
“We were able to score this weekend, but had a tough time competing with larger schools with deep benches,” he said. “Tough tournaments like this will definitely help us in the long run.”
The Lady Conchs have not played a game since Dec. 2 as they continue to hunt for their first win. A much-anticipated game against Barron Collier was canceled last week. They will have one more chance to get into the win column when they head to Tavernier to take on Coral Shores on Dec. 21.
Key West’s boys did have a chance to play last week, playing Westminster in Miami to a 76-59 loss. James Osborne did his best to down the Warriors, scoring 20 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. David Aviles had 15 points and freshman DeMarcus Deroche put in 6, but a stacked Westminster team, ranked fourth in their division and 14th in the state, proved too much for the Conchs to pick up a road win. Key West is scheduled to play three games in three days, beginning on Dec. 21 with a trip to Tavernier to play Coral Shores.
