Holiday layoffs coming to a close
As the turn of a calendar page brings an end to 2015 and ushers in 2016, high school athletic teams begin to shake off the dust from as much as a two-week layoff and get back to real competition next week.
For Mariner and Island Coast basketball, though, it’s business as usual this weekend with their participation on Saturday in a holiday shootout at Venice. The eight-team shootout consists of four games in one afternoon of action.
The Tritons (13-0) square off against Palmetto at 1:30 p.m. while the Gators take on host Venice at 4:30. Fort Myers, Lehigh and Port Charlotte also are participating.
The Tritons are coming off a brief layoff since winning two games in their own holiday tournament before Christmas.
“This will help get us back in stride for the district run to start the new year,” said Tritons coach James Harris. “It’s a really good test for us coming off a long break.”
Regular season play fires up again on Monday and Tuesday for basketball and soccer.
Cape High has been active during the holidays with participation in the Smoothie King Basketball Classic at Bradenton Christian. The Seahawks lost to defending champion Bradenton Southeast 62-57 Tuesday night in the semifinal round.
City rivalry games await the Seahawks against Ida Baker on Tuesday and at Island Coast on Friday with a visit to Cypress Lake in the middle.
Mariner has dates with Lely and Dunbar during the week while Island Coast also faces Port Charlotte and Dunbar in addition to the Seahawks.