Cape outlasts North 59-47
The Cape Coral Seahawks continued to play hard on the defensive end and continued to crash the offensive boards Friday night, hoping at some point they would find an offensive groove against the North Fort Myers Red Knights at “the Nest.”
The offense never really clicked for the Seahawks, who finished 22-of-71 from the field (31 percent), but their gritty play was enough to earn a 59-47 win in the District 5A-15 contest.
“We just couldn’t finish,” Seahawks coach Mark Rinehart said, “but we’ve been preaching the whole year as long as we’re guarding, we’ll be fine.”
Leading 31-22 at halftime, the Seahawks (13-5, 4-2) took control in the third quarter when they held the Red Knights to only six points. The Red Knights (5-12, 1-7) could muster only one field goal in the first five minutes of the quarter.
The Seahawks’ pressure caused 20 turnovers. They also attacked the offensive boards. Senior Wellington Tavarez finished with 14 rebounds, 11 of them were offensive.
Joel Hill led a balanced attack with 12 points. Justin Mitchell had 11 points and four steals, and Cameron Hall chipped in with 10 points.
It is the second victory of the season for the Seahawks over the Red Knights. They won 69-64 on Dec. 18.
“Our guys have gotten through the dog days part and they realize if we keep winning district games we control our destiny for the No. 2 seed (in the district tournament),” Rinehart said.
The opening quarter Friday belonged to the Red Knights. They jumped out to a 14-9 lead. Erwin Guerrero, a 6-foot-4 senior, scored eight of his 16 points in that quarter.
The Seahawks missed their first six shots and finished a woeful 3-for-19 in the opening period.
The tide shifted early in the second quarter. Hill and sophomore Josh Monteagudo scored baskets and senior Yoko Roldan drained a three-pointer, putting the Seahawks up 16-14.
After the Red Knights tied it 18-18, the Seahawks finished the half on a 13-4 run. Hall, the senior point guard, led the spurt with eight points, including two three-pointers. Sophomore James McIntyre also converted a jumper.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks picked up their defensive intensity and the Red Knights had trouble getting the ball up the floor and into their halfcourt set.
North’s Tre Boston made a layup to begin the third quarter, but the Red Knights didn’t score again until the three-minute mark. By that time the Seahawks had a 42-26 lead.
“We were only down nine (at halftime) so we felt that was the time to make a run,” North coach Trevor Montgomery said, “but we went backwards instead of forward. We really didn’t take care of the ball in the second and third quarter.”
The Red Knights return to the court Monday when they host Gateway Charter. The Seahawks host Cypress Lake Saturday at “The Nest.”
North Fort Myers 14 8 6 19 – 47
Cape Coral 9 22 11 17 – 59
North Fort Myers 47 – Wirka 2, Guerrero 16, M.Malaise 13, Boston 12, A.Malaise 4. Totals: 18-41 9-17 47.
3-point goals: M.Malaise 2.
Cape Coral 59 – Tavarez 7, Mitchell 11, Hill 12, Roldan 8, Monteagudo 9, Hall 10, McIntyre 2. Totals: 22-71 11-20 59.
3-point goals: Roldan 2, Hall 2.