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Football spectators now focus on winter sports

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral senior Camilo Avendano (10) sets up to attack the goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Mariner. The Seahawks travel to Tampa Jesuit on Saturday. To view more photos from the match, see our Facebook page.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Thomas Riccardi gets higher than Cape Coral’s Camilo Avendano (10) for a header trying to defend the play Tuesday in the Seahawks’ 3-0 win over Mariner. To view more photos from the match, visit our Facebook page.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner junior Joseph Lane (10) dribbles the ball across midfield in a match against Cape Coral Tuesday. The Tritons hosted Riverdale Thursday night. To view more photos from the match, visit our Facebook page.

Football season is over for Cape Coral schools, who now turn their attention to the winter sports – basketball, soccer and wrestling seasons.

Though Cape is relegated to the role of spectator for the duration of the football playoffs, Lee County is being represented by five teams that advanced to Friday’s state regional playoffs by winning district championships or finishing second.

South Fort Myers, Fort Myers and Dunbar each won their respective district title which earned them home field advantage for the quarterfinal round. South (8-2) hosts Venice (9-1) in Region 7A-3, Fort Myers (8-2) hosts Palmetto Ridge (8-2) in Region 6A-3, and Dunbar (7-2) hosts Southeast (5-5) in Region 5A-3. As district runner-up, Estero (4-6)

The state’s four smallest classes start with regional semifinal playoffs. District runner-up Bishop Verot (8-2) goes on the road to challenge Cocoa (8-2) in Region 4A-3.

Six teams from Collier County and two in Charlotte County make appearances in this year’s regionals as well. In all, 12 games are on Friday’s schedule for fans to attend.

Boys’ basketball regular season games are set to get under way next week while girls’ basketball, and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams are into their first or second week of their regular season schedules.

Bishop Verot’s girls’ basketball team is slated to visit Southwest Florida Christian on Friday while the school’s boys’ soccer team is scheduled to travel to Clewiston.

On Saturday, Cape Coral’s unbeaten Seahawks take their 3-0 mark on the road to Tampa Jesuit for a 1 p.m. kickoff in a boys’ soccer match. The Seahawks, always looking to play tough competition during the season to be better prepared when tournament time rolls around, were ready to take on St. Thomas Aquinas last Saturday afternoon, but the school’s lightning detectors sounded alarms triggered by a storm on the east side of the river for several hours before the teams gave up and went home. No report on a makeup date at this time.

Likewise, Ida Baker’s girls’ soccer team is scheduled to host American Heritage at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Next week, Island Coast, Cape Coral, Mariner, Ida Baker, Oasis, North Fort Myers and Bishop Verot all make their boys’ basketball regular season debuts, all in the span of three days.