Conchs and Dolphins Trade Victories with County Bragging Rights on the Line
A senior-heavy girls Dolphin squad was too much for a younger, less experienced Conch team on Dec. 15 when Marathon played Key West at home for their first of two meetups this season. Marathon won the game 61-43, giving them a two-game win streak and a spark going into the final week before the holiday break.
Fins coach Andra Garvey called it “a very exciting win for the girls.”
Abrianna Marshall had a strong showing for Marathon, scoring 21 points in the win. Elena Eubank added 18 to the score. An early lead provided some valuable experience for Garvey’s deep bench, and their efforts did not go unnoticed, with the coach noting that “the younger girls came out to play tonight.”
The Conchs have yet to add a win to their season, but Key West coach Shonta Mcleod found a lot of positivity in the loss, noting that her team “is heading in the right direction.” The young squad has just two seniors, and the Conchs are growing and learning with each game, putting up their highest point total of the season in Friday’s game.
Marathon is scheduled to play three games prior to the holiday break, culminating in a showdown with Coral Shores on Thursday, Dec. 15. Last season, the ’Canes topped the Fins by 6 points in their first contest, and the Fins narrowed it to 3 in the second. The Conchs and Hurricanes will not face off until January.
Momentum in the gym shifted quickly when the boys tipped off the second game of the in-county doubleheader. First-year coach Dexter Butler’s Conchs put pressure on Marathon from the start, something he says his team lacked in their earlier matches. That pressure continued until a late first-half run narrowed the Conch lead to just 6 points. Key West held onto the lead and secured its first win of the season, defeating the Dolphins 50-36.
The Conchs have faced an uphill battle this season but with Butler at the helm, things seem to be smoothing out. Their starting lineup includes two freshmen, both of whom were high scorers Friday night. James Osborne led the team with 15 points and Leandro Batista had 11. Senior Kevon Mills added 11 points, and his 6 steals helped keep the ball in the hands of the Conchs for the better part of the second half.
Marathon plays Coral Shores at home on Thursday, Dec. 15 before retiring for the winter break. Key West closes out the calendar year with Keys Gate on Dec. 17 and Gig Harbor on Dec. 29. Gig Harbor is located in Washington state, more than 3,400 miles from Key West – about as far from the Southernmost high school as one can get.
Fin Daeshawn Holmes (30) splits the defenders. 
Marathon’s Adrian Cruz (2) is surrounded by a sea of Conchs. 
The Conchs’ Watson Chery (34) glides to the hoop. 
There was a good crowd on hand for the rivalry doubleheader Friday night. 
Key West’s Kevon Mills (1) drives to the basket. 
The Lady Fins celebrate a victory over Key West. 
Marathon and Key West players scramble for a rebound. 
Key West’s Jalia Hicks (5) puts one up from the three-point line.
Coral Shores Triumphs after Trials
The Lady ’Canes were without two starters against Westminster on Dec. 5. Despite the disadvantage, coach Danielle Thomas worked some magic with her bench in the first half, keeping Coral Shores in the game. The team fought to a 4-4 tie at the end of the first quarter, a gap which grew to 10 by the end of the half and continued to grow. At the final buzzer, the score was a 40-15 loss to the Warriors.
Four days later, the ’Canes were back on track with a lopsided win against Keys Gate. Starter and leading point scorer Brooke Mandozzi was back in the Coral Shores lineup, scoring 14 points in the 55-5 victory. Alondra Apolinario had a hot hand at the three-point line, sinking two and adding to her 9-point total on the night. Lea Castellanos had 8, Grace Leffler scored 7, Makayla Hahn added 6 and Kacelyn Hollis put up 4 in a win that provided a lot of play time for the entire team.
The boys team played Somerset Silver Palms on Dec. 5. Matt St. Aubin scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the 52-46 loss. Allen Perez was 3-for-8 on 3-pointers, scoring 11, and Eddy Espinosa had 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the hard-fought game.
They turned the week around on Dec. 8 and 9, winning back-to-back contests against Mast Academy and Palm Glades Prep. Isaac Holmes had the high score against Mast, putting up 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists. Espinosa scored 14 and Ayden Lane had 9 points with 6 rebounds. In their Palm Glades matchup, Holmes had another monster game, scoring 18 points with 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. St. Aubin had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists and Perez had 12 points with 8 rebounds.
Coral Shores’ boys and girls will head down the road to Marathon on Dec. 15 for their final games before school is out for the holidays. Tipoff is 5 p.m. for the girls and 6:30 for the boys.
