Gators outshoot Bulldogs 81-70
Island Coast prevailed in an 81-70 shootout with Ida Baker Thursday night.
Sam Merchant won the high-scoring battle with 34 points for the Gators against Corey Friar’s 32 points for the Bulldogs.
“We just couldn’t shake them tonight,” said Gators coach Greg Coleman. “We’d go up by 15 points and they’d cut it to eight every time.”
Craig Sirmons backed Merchant with 19 points and Smith Joseph led the team in rebounding with 10 to go with four assists.
Devin Hanley chipped in 15 points for the Bulldogs (4-8, 2-5 district). The Gators (8-4, 5-2) visit Fort Myers Friday night.
Mariner 68, North Fort Myers 51: Mariner jumped out to a 13-point lead at halftime and held off North Fort Myers Thursday night. The win bumps the Tritons’ unbeaten start to the season to 11-0.
Tyrell Smith topped the Tritons with 16 points followed by Amari Haynes with 15 and Dominique Carpenter 14. Haynes also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
The Tritons take on LaBelle in Mariner’s two-day Holiday Shootout that begins Friday.
Cape Coral 73, Gateway Charter 57: Cape Coral led start to finish Thursday night en route to a 16-point victory at Gateway.
Brandon Alcide led the Seahawks with 15 points with C.J. Lewis adding 11. Cam’ron Blissett chipped in with eight points and five rebounds.
The Seahawks (7-4) host Lemon Bay on Friday.
Girls Basketball
Island Coast 39, Ida Baker 24: Baker couldn’t keep up with Island Coast Thursday night as the Bulldogs slipped to 2-12 on the season. They are idle now until Jan. 5.
Boys Soccer
South Fort Myers 1, Ida Baker 0: South Fort Myers broke the scoreless tie with just three minutes left in regulation time Thursday night to clip Baker. It was the Wolfpack’s first and only shot on goal.
The Bulldogs (5-8-2) play again this weekend in the two-day Mariner Holiday Tournament that begins Friday.
Girls Soccer
Ida Baker 1, South Fort Myers 0: Marcella Montoya’s penalty kick goal 10 minutes into the second half was the difference Thursday night as Baker held off South Fort Myers.
The Bulldogs (11-5-1, 5-3 district) dominated the Wolfpack 30-1, but only got the one goal. The Bulldogs play again this weekend in the two-day Mariner Holiday Tournament that begins Friday.
Bishop Verot 3, Oasis 3 (tie): Oasis scored the tying goal with four minutes remaining Thursday night to force a tie with Bishop Verot.
Nina Gulati, Maddie Sarnac and Reilly McAloose accounted for the Vikings’ goals with goalkeeper Bridget Linden credited with three saves.
The win earns Verot (9-6-1, 6-0-1 district) the top seed for the upcoming district tournament. The Vikings are idle until Jan. 4.