Tritons hold off Seahawks 44-41
The Mariner Tritons still rules Cape Coral high school basketball, but they’ve got some competition.
Cape High came into a noisy Mariner gym Friday and fought to the buzzer, with the Tritons winning 44-41 when Jonathan Moreno’s tying 3-pointer missed with no time on the clock.
“Cape’s good and we’re good,” Tritons coach James Harris said. “Good game. Once our guys settled in we played a good game. I thought it was a really good test for us.”
The Tritons (7-0) led 41-35 with 2:47 to play. Stephen Hawkins got the Seahawks (4-2) within 43-41 with 26.4 seconds left. Brandon Kostyk hit a free throw with 17 seconds left to put Mariner back up by three. With a chance to tie, Cape turned the ball over with 2.6 seconds to go only to see Mariner give it right back with 1.3 seconds left. Moreno put up a three from the right corner, but it bounced harmlessly off the rim and the Tritons survived.
“I wish we could have taken care of the ball better,” Seahawks coach Brandon Sensor said. “When you play a good team like that, it’s going to be like that both ways. You’ve just got to take care of the ball. We had over 25 turnovers. You can’t do that against a team like that. If we take care of the ball, we’re in the lead there at the end instead of trailing.”
It was a defensive struggle, with the final score less than the total the two schools had put up in football (57-48) four weeks ago at Mariner.
Jahmel Myers led Mariner with 15 points and five rebounds. Isiah Darrett added nine points with four steals. Brandon Alcide scored 10 for Cape, including three 3-pointers, and Bryan Markovich scored nine.
“We’re young,” Harris said. “We’ve got to learn to make plays, make the shots. But give Cape credit for forcing us to miss the shots.”
Cape came out hot early, grabbing a 9-2 lead. Mariner shook off a cold start to cut the margin to 12-11 after one period. Myers’ rebound and hoop just before the buzzer put the Tritons up 21-20 at halftime.
The third quarter proved decisive. The Tritons took their biggest lead, 33-25, before Moreno’s 3-pointer helped the Seahawks close the margin to 33-29 with one period to play.
“I think both teams wanted the game to be a barn burner,” Harris said. “But it was a real battle, and our guys have championship grit.”
Unlike other years, the Seahawks won’t get a chance for revenge this season. With the schools in different classifications – Cape in 6A, Mariner in 5A – the crosstown rivals play only once this year.
In fact, from a district standpoint, the Tritons’ game at Dunbar Saturday is bigger. Both the Tritons and Tigers are 2-0 in District 5A-12.
City rivals are another matter altogether.
“We’re separated by what, a couple of stop lights?” Harris said. “A whole lot of pride. I thought coach Sensor and his boys came in ready to play.”
“They’re still our rival, and we wanted it, man,” Sensor said. “We played with a lot of heart. Tough one.”
Cape Coral’s hosts Charlotte on Tuesday, a District 6A-10 matchup.
Island Coast 72, Lemon Bay 60: Sam Merchant eclipsed his own school record Friday night by pumping in 40 points to lead Island Coast’s District 6A-10 victory.
Merchant’s point total is both a school and career best to go with seven rebounds. He connected for 25 points in the first half, featuring seven 3-point baskets. Craig Sirmons added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Gators (5-3, 3-1 district), who travel to Cypress Lake on Thursday.
North Fort Myers 95, Port Charlotte 91 (2OT): Jordan Thomas and Brandon King delivered on double-double performances Friday night to power North Fort Myers to a District 6A-10 win over Port Charlotte in double overtime.
Thomas hit for 28 points to go with 11 rebounds with King adding 21 points and 10 rebounds. However, it was John Humbert’s three big 3-point baskets in the fourth quarter and overtimes that sealed the win. he finished with 12 points.
The Red Knights (2-3) host Lemon Bay on Tuesday in another district test.
Bishop Verot 52, Estero 48 (OT): Austin Mosbach pitched in a game-high 24 points to lead Verot past Estero on Friday.
Ryan Rocuant and Matt Deering scored 16 and 10 points, respectively, for the Wildcats (4-4). The Vikings (2-4) travel to LaBelle on Monday.
Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.