Athletes of the Week
With 17 wins last season, it was clear the Bishop Verot girls’ basketball team was moving in a positive direction. Their expectations became even more serious, though, at the start of this season given the addition of senior guard Katlyn Payne.
Payne, a Florida Gulf Coast University recruit, moved to Fort Myers from the Chicago area where she was an All-State performer.
In her first three games with the Vikings, Payne brought consistent scoring and an up-tempo style, leading the team to three wins.
The Mariner Tritons are off to an encouraging start in boys’ basketball and it’s no surprise that senior Kameron Beach has been one of the key contributors. The four-year varsity player scored 22 points Saturday in a win over Cypress Lake, giving the Tritons’ three straight victories to start the campaign.
For their performances, Payne and Beach have been chosen as Daily Breeze Female and Male Athlete of the Week.
In her brief time living in Southwest Florida, Payne has enjoyed the warmer climate, and a more “relaxing” and “laid back” lifestyle compared to what she was used to back in the hectic Chicago area.
“(In Chicago) people are a lot different,” she said. “They’re always rushing.”
Payne was recruited by FGCU when the coaches saw her playing in AAU Tournaments in Chicago and throughout the midwest. Her father received a job transfer to the Fort Myers area, and she enrolled at Bishop Verot to be close to her future college.
Though Payne was ready for the change of scenery outside of the gym, there was no need to change her style of play on the court.
The 5-foot-11 point guard prefers to push the ball up the court and attack the defense. As a team, the Vikings have shown that ability early on, under new coach Father Chris Beretta.
“I like to run the ball,” Payne said. “I do not like to walk it up the court. Father Beretta is awesome at letting us run that fast-paced game.”
Payne has been the catalyst. She opened the season with 25 points and 15 rebounds in a 62-38 win over Cypress Lake Nov. 17 and continued her scoring ways with 36 last Tuesday in a 56-32 win over South Fort Myers. She tallied 21 points and five rebounds in a 56-50 win over Community School of Naples last Friday.
Through three games, she’s averaged 27 points and three steals.
As important as the stats, of course, is the team chemistry.
The Vikings had a strong nucleus returning this season to begin with and those players needed to get comfortable playing alongside Payne.
“It’s been awesome,” she said. “Our start has been great. The biggest (game) was against Community School. I think the team really came together and everybody stepped up and helped us win that game.”
Honorable mentions:
Mary Mahone, sophomore, Island Coast Gators basketball – Mahone averaged 10.8 points per game in the Gators’ four games last week, scoring a season-high 19 in a loss to Jupiter Christian Saturday.
Brianna Abatisti, junior, North Fort Myers Red Knights soccer – The goalkeeper made 21 saves in last Tuesday’s match against Mariner, helping the Knights earn a tie.
On a game-by-game basis, Beach, a 6-3 guard, has been synonymous with the Tritons’ basketball program over the past four years. He’s been a regular starter since his sophomore year, and has a chance this season to reach 1,000 points for his career.
For Beach, though, the only stat he’s focused on is wins.
The Tritons improved from seven to 13 wins last year and Beach wants to continue to see that progression.
“We’re just really focused on winning,” he said. “That’s real important to us this year.”
The Tritons and Beach got off to a strong start last week. He scored 15 points in an 84-39 win over Island Coast last Tuesday, and 20 points in a 56-18 win over Gulf Coast Friday, and 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in an 82-59 win over Cypress Lake Saturday.
His production came mostly in three quarters of action, since the Tritons had the games well in hand.
“He played a total of two minutes in the fourth quarter in all three games,” Tritons coach James Harris said. “He’s getting it done when we need to get it done. There will be games where he’ll have to play the entire game.”
Beach, who carries a 4.1 weighted GPA, began playing basketball at Diplomat Middle School before enrolling at Mariner.
Though primarily a shooting guard, he’s proven to be a versatile player with the ability to bring the ball up the floor, and rebound inside at one of the forward spots.
Last season, Beach played his part as the Tritons showed strong growth as a team and a consistent ability to shoot from the outside. He knocked down 124 three-pointers and averaged 15 points per game.
Harris said Beach’s work ethic and improving skills gives him a chance to play at the college level.
“He’s been a constant force for us for four years,” Harris said. “He works hard and has developed into a tremendously good high school basketball player.”
Honorable mentions:
Joel Hill, senior, Cape Coral Seahawks basketball – Hill scored 20 points in the Seahawks’ season-opening 67-62 win over Cypress Lake Friday and went for 20 again in a two-point loss to Gulf Coast Saturday.
Brendan Abernathy, senior, Bishop Verot Vikings soccer – Abernathy scored two goals and had one assist in the Vikings’ 5-0 victory over North Fort Myers last Monday.