On Dec. 21, Key West took on Spanish River High School, battling it out in a close game. Kameron Roberts scored 14 points and Leandro Batista dropped in 13, but the Conchs ultimately lost by 4, falling 62-58. Key West did add a win to their record over the holiday break, beating Jensen Beach the following day. Batista had a game-high 14 points in the victory.
The Conchs played two more over the break, losing to South Fork and Gig Harbor (Washington) on Dec. 28 and 29, respectively. Batista had the high scores for both games with 11 against South Fork and 15 against Gig Harbor. Watson Chery added 11 to the Gig Harbor score.
The Conchs play again on Saturday, Jan. 7 at home against Boca Raton, then face Coral Shores at home on Tuesday, Jan. 10 for Monroe County bragging rights.
Coral Shores traveled to Orlando over the holiday break to take on some of the best competition on the east coast in the KSA basketball tournament. The ’Canes played Pennsylvania’s 5A state champion Cathedral Prep to a 58-27 loss early in the tournament, then turned their efforts to Pingree (Massachusetts). Coach Jarrod Mandozzi said his squad “didn’t play well the first game,” but after a loss to Pingree, they regrouped and went on to play the Massachusetts team again, winning the second game 54-50. Matt St. Aubin was selected as the team MVP in the tournament and made the all-tournament team for the ’Canes’ bracket.
Watson Chery. (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
Amauri Butler-Bailey (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
Leandro Batista (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
Roberts, James Osborne (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
Kevon Mills (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
(Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly) 
Kameron Roberts (Photo by ELLA HALL/Keys Weekly)
Upon their return to the Keys, the Hurricanes shifted their efforts to the west coast, playing Gig Harbor in Tavernier. Despite having all-county guard Isaac Rivera back from knee surgery, Coral Shores was still shorthanded in the game, with multiple starters out of town for the break. After a close 9-9 first quarter, the Hurricanes’ hopes for a win slowly ebbed away.
“We really struggled with turnovers and some uncharacteristic mistakes in the second quarter that really did us in, as they ultimately beat us 69-37,” said Mandozzi. “I would have loved to have played them at full strength, but there were still some positives.”
Coral Shores opens up the second half of their season against Obridge Academy in Palm Beach on Jan. 6 to begin a five-game road stint for the ‘Canes.
Marathon did not play any games over the holiday break. The Fins play Boca Raton on Friday, Jan. 6 at home to open the second half of their season.
