As postseason play approaches, in-county rivalries are raising the temperature on the basketball court.
Girls
The Lady Fins hosted Basilica school on Jan. 6 for what would be both teams’ only game of the week. Marathon bested the Mariners 58-7, led by eighth grader Shaina Robinson’s team-high 22 points. Senior Daysi Williams added 20 and Sutton Sayer, also an eighth grader, scored 10 in the team’s second win of the season.
The Lady ’Canes improved to 4-2 on Jan. with a win over Key West. Melanie Estevez set the hoop ablaze with 33 points. Julia Miranda added eight while Niveah Howard and London Atkins each pulled down eight rebounds. Howard recorded four blocks and Atkins had three steals in the 52-33 win. Key West did not go down without a fight, though. Lilee Gage registered a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Damarla Thompson added 11 points and Jasmina Ibodilloeva had four in the matchup.
Boys
Key West evened its record to 8-8 after one win and one loss last week. A Jan. 6 matchup against Reagan High resulted in a 66-60 victory for the Conchs. Judson Snider scored 15 and Alex Means added 13 to the team total. Jakub Krytinar had 10 points and seven rebounds. On Jan. 9, the team headed to Miami Beach but the Hi-Tides washed away the Conchs’ hopes to secure a winning record. Snider scored 21 and pulled down eight rebounds while Zach Levering and Leo Batista each had double-doubles. Levering scored 16 with a dozen rebounds and Batista had 14 points and 10 boards in the 74-61 loss.
Marathon made the most of its lone game last week, defeating Basilica School 74-39. Josh Koler had the hot hand, sinking 18 points with six rebounds, three steals and a block. Jack Chapman added 16 and Taylor Huff scored 12. Briggs Roberts dropped eight points on the Mariners and added 13 rebounds and four steals. The loss ended Basilica’s five-game winning streak, but not without strong performances from the Mariners. Alex Bouttier scored 13 and Noah Wright 11 in the loss.
Coral Shores finished the week with a winning record, fueled by a pair of victories beginning Jan. 6. The Hurricanes hosted Somerset South Homestead, beating the other Hurricanes 83-56. Jordan Brown had a team-high 20 points, and Brock Stoky had 19. Jayden Meng and Sergio Alvear added a dozen apiece in the Jan. 6 win. The following night, Brown had the hot hand again, scoring 14 against MAST Academy. Jack O’Keefe added 12 and Meng scored eight in the team effort.
The season is winding down for Florida high school hoops. Jan. 31 marks the final day for regular games and district brackets open for business Feb. 3.
