Prep Report: Mariner girls beaten 56-31
Top-seeded South Fort Myers had little trouble Monday night shooting its way past the Mariner Tritons 56-31 in the first round of the girls’ District 4A-11 basketball tournament.
The host Wolfpack rode the double-figure scoring of Mallory Motycka (17 points), Leaira Talford (14), Megan Lovell (11) and Liana Talford (10).
The win sends the Wolfpack (14-7) into the semifinals Thursday night against Estero, which defeated Fort Myers 59-52 earlier Monday night.
At times through the first half, the No. 8-seeded Tritons (4-21) kept the game within striking distance with Ashley Mercado leading the way with eight of her team-high 12 points. The Tritons were still within eight points, 24-16, with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half.
“I think the girls fought hard tonight,” said Tritons coach Jeremy Dearinger. “Would I like to have won the game? Yes, but this has been a season of defining moments for us. Those character-building moments are just as important to me as wins.”
The game was won by the Wolfpack in the third quarter when they outscored the Tritons 13-2 by using a clock-killing deliberate offense to successfully create scoring chances against the Tritons’ zone defense. Neither team turned the ball over in the third quarter, but the Tritons were guilty of a total of 16 turnovers overall to just eight for the Wolfpack.
“The girls finally grasped floor spacing and awareness,” said Dearinger. “We were better at not allowing the press, full court or half court, hold us back tonight. We were able to get the ball to open spaces where they (South) were not and attack the basket.”
The Tritons improved, too, at the free throw line where they converted 12-of-19.
The tournament continues Tuesday night with Lemon Bay tipping off against North Fort Myers at 5 p.m., followed by No. 7-seeded Ida Baker against No. 2 Cypress Lake. The winners meet Thursday in the first semifinal match at 5 p.m. The championship game is at 7 p.m. Friday.
Mariner 10 8 2 11 – 31
South FM 18 10 13 15 – 56
Mariner 31 – Mo. Bono 2, Ma. Bono 5, Heroux 5, Ynfiesta 7, Mercado 12. Totals: 9 12-19 31.
3PG – Heroux 1.
South FM 56 – Motycka 17, Lovell 11, Le. Talford 14, Li. Talford 10, Snowden 2, Dorsinvil 2. Totals: 24 4-13 56.
3-PG – Lovell 3, Le. Talford 1.