For the first time in years, the Marathon Dolphins notched wins over both of their in-county rivals on the hardwood in a single season.
The Fins added a pair of wins to their record last week, starting with the Knights of Miami Sunset on Jan. 28. Jack Chapman had the game-high total of 21 points, draining five shots from beyond the three-point line. Daeshawn Holmes added another double-double to his stats with 16 points and 13 rebounds, then added five steals as well. Briggs Roberts and Drew Suarez scored eight apiece in the 55-51 win.
The following night, with a victory over their closest neighbors to the north still fresh on their minds, the Dolphins faced their southern rivals. Both teams left it all on the court, but with scoring machine James Osborne out for the season, the shorthanded Conchs were unable to break the Dolphins’ spirit and Marathon pulled off the upset win over Key West, their first in six years.
Senior Carlos Lezcano led the charge, scoring 16 points and hustling for four steals. Holmes registered his second double-double of the week with 13 points and a dozen rebounds, and Roberts added 11 points in the big win.
Their victory over the Conchs gave the Fins a five-game win streak, but it would end two nights later in a 51-36 loss to Barbara Goleman. Roberts had a double-double, scoring 14 points with 13 rebounds, but the Gators were set on avenging their loss to the Fins in Marathon one week prior.
The Dolphins swam in uncharted waters as they headed to Belle Glades to take on Glades Day Gators in their first postseason tournament of their new district on Feb. 3. In a fitting continuation of their red-hot end to the regular season, the squad notched a 56-46 win, earning their place in a showdown with the Terriers of Moore Haven in the semifinal round two nights later (results not available at press time).
In their loss to Marathon, Key West showed grit in a game that came down to the wire. While the Conchs have struggled without their top scorer, the team is settling into new positions and pressing forward. David Aviles had the team-high 11 against the Fins, with eight rebounds. Zach Levering scored 10 with eight rebounds and Tramane Scott pulled down 13 rebounds and added nine points to the team total.
The final game of the regular season for Key West was a lopsided loss to NSU University School; however, the defeat came after FHSAA rankings were determined and did not affect Key West’s position for the postseason. The Conchs, ranked No. 4 in District 16’s 4A class, took on the No. 5 Cobras of South Miami High in the quarterfinals held at St. Brendan School on Feb. 3. In a nail-biter, the Conchs came home empty-handed, suffering a one-point loss to the Cobras, 51-50.
Coral Shores suffered a trio of losses last week, but had a strong shot at changing their luck in the playoffs. The fifth-ranked ’Canes tipped off against the No. 4 Cougars of Miami Killian on Feb. 3 in FHSAA’s 3A District 16 bracket, but their trip through the bracket ended there in a 73-64 loss.
