Monroe County’s boys basketball teams gave fans competitive games to enjoy all season long, especially in their in-county matchups.
Key West finished on top this season with an 11-12 record, including a postseason win against Sunset and sweeps of Marathon and Coral Shores. Though it once was the expectation that the larger-school Conchs defeat their smaller in-county opponents, that has not been the case for several years. However, the late Dexter Butler’s leadership led his young squad in the right direction. Without a single senior on their roster and only one junior in the starting lineup, the Conchs look to grow even stronger in the coming seasons.
Marathon, 7-9, managed to pick up steam as the season wore on. The Fins lost their first two games against Coral Shores as well as both against Key West, yet managed a win in their third go at the Hurricanes. Though Marathon graduates three starters, their bench is young yet experienced, including a pair of middle schoolers who saw significant playing time during the season.
Coral Shores finished 7-13 with two of their wins against neighboring Marathon. The ’Canes will certainly feel the loss of a senior-heavy roster, but have plenty of talented juniors and underclassmen waiting to fill in the spots on the lineup.
Photos by Barry Gaukel, Doug Finger and Grace Andrew
MVP
James Osborne
Sophomore, Key West
Shooting guard
Key West’s James Osborne averaged a stellar 17.1 points and 2.3 assists per game for the Conchs, shooting with 49% accuracy and improving with each game he played. Coach Dexter Butler had plenty of praise for his young shooting guard, saying, “James had a phenomenal sophomore campaign this season as he led the way offensively and really took a huge leap forward with his ball handling, passing, and how can I not mention scoring. With so much more potential to tap into, the sky is truly the limit.”
Donovan Thiery
Sophomore, Coral Shores
Guard
Coral Shores sophomore Donovan Thiery led his team in both scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game, and shooting percentage, with 52% accuracy. The talented guard is deadly all over the court, with the ability to sink a three as easily as he can dunk the ball. His coaches were particularly pleased with his strong performances at key times throughout the season.
Demarcus Deroche
Freshman, Key West
Center
Demarcus Deroche averaged 10.3 points per game with a 64% field goal percentage. His dominance in the paint is illustrated by his 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. When Deroche joined the Conchs midseason, head coach Dexter Butler said he “gave us a missing piece to our puzzle,” adding that the freshman is “a special kind of athlete, with the ability to dominate in the paint for the next three years.”
Kameron Roberts
Junior, Key West
Point guard
Conchs junior Kameron Roberts averaged 9.8 points and nearly 2 assists per game offensively. With 1.4 steals per game, he proved to be a formidable defender as well. “Kameron had another solid season for us – he is always all over the court, making timely shots when we need them and always ready to play,” said coach Dexter Butler. “This will be a huge senior season for him.”
Adrian Cruz
Senior, Marathon
Shooting guard
Marathon’s Adrian Cruz scored 322 points this season for a career total of 487. He was credited with 69 assists as well. Described by coach Jim Murphy as “a leader on and off the court,” Cruz finished his 60-game career with the Fins with a standout senior campaign.
Xavier Grant
Senior, Marathon
Point guard
Grant added 244 points to make it a career 302 for the Fins in his senior season. In addition to what coach Jim Murphy described as “many game-changing threes in big games,” Grant accumulated 105 rebounds to keep the ball in Marathon’s possession.
Ayden Lane
Junior, Coral Shores
Forward
Described by the Coral Shores coaching staff as “a consistent tough competitor,” Ayden Lane led the ’Canes in both offensive and defensive rebounds. The junior forward averaged 11 points and 2.4 assists per game, making him an all-around solid player.
Artorious “AJ” Johnson
Senior, Coral Shores
Center
Praised by his coaches for his hard-playing style, AJ Johnson was key for the Hurricanes in locking down their opponents on defense. Johnson was second in rebounding for Coral Shores and he used his athleticism and will to win to give his team a spark when it was most needed.
Yaniel Garcia
Senior, Marathon
Forward
Garcia, a first-year varsity player, stepped up big-time for Marathon, scoring 217 points and earning 27 steals. The only Fin to start all 27 games this season, Garcia was a dependable workhorse for Marathon’s defense.
