LADY FINS CONQUER CONCHS ON THE COURT

a group of young women playing a game of basketball
Marti Kilbourne blocks Jasmina Ibodilloeva as she goes for a layup. Photo by MAICEY MALGRATKeys Weekly

Marathon made the trip to Key West on Dec. 9 to face the Conchs in a much-anticipated matchup. The Dolphins came home with the win, outscoring the Conchs 58-34 on the hardwood. 

Fin senior Elena Eubank had a game-high 25 points in the win. Daysi Williams added 13, Marti’yana Kilbourne scored 10 and Payton Junker added four in the victory. Key West’s top scorer was Jaylin Greene with nine points. Greene also had four blocks against the Fins. Monica Bueno scored seven with a pair of steals. Coleen Barter and Audrina McClellan scored six apiece and Jasmina Ibodilloeva added three points and grabbed four rebounds in Key West’s loss. 

The following night, Marathon traveled a bit farther, to NSU University School, where the Sharks sent the Fins home with a loss. Eubank scored 21 points for Marathon, with 15 more from Williams and eight from Kilbourne, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Sharks in the 65-46 defeat. On Dec. 12, the travel-weary Dolphins played their third road game of the week. St. Brendan outscored Marathon 48-41, with Eubank putting up the team high in points again. Her 21 points made it 67 for the week for the sharpshooting senior. Williams added 11 to her stats and Junker scored five in the loss. 

Coral Shores played once last week, hosting the Knights of Keys Gate. The ’Canes lost 70-47 in that contest, despite their effort. Grace Leffler had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Alex Burson had 10 points with five assists. Presley Bagwell and Mel Esterve each scored six and Esterve was praised by head coach Danielle Thomas for her multiple assists. Gabby Thomas pulled down five rebounds and scored three points and London Atkins added two in the loss.

At least one of the Keys teams still in the hunt for win number one will be successful when the teams play one another Dec. 16 at Key West and again Jan. 10 at Coral Shores. 

Tracy McDonald
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.