Lehigh hands Mariner its first loss of the season
For the first time in 21 games this season, the Mariner Tritons suffered their first defeat on Saturday when Lehigh posted a 65-62 victory at Frank Morris Memorial Gymnasium.
It had to happen. Sooner or later. Because unbeaten seasons are so rare.
The formidable Lightning took the lead for good on a pair of free throws with less than 34 seconds to go and the Tritons (20-1) were guilty of a charging foul after that to seal their defeat.
“We battled back even though we were down to take the lead,” said Tritons coach James Harris.
Tyrell Smith and Brandon Kostyk led the Tritons in scoring with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Amari Haynes added nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
“We had a chance, had the lead 43-41 going into the fourth quarter,” said Harris. “It was a packed house. Isaiah Darrett fouled out with six minutes to go. We were down nine points with four minutes to go, but regained the lead with less than a minute to play.”
Lehigh got the ball and scored late after the charging call to seal it. Even in defeat, the Tritons take away some positive things.
“We took the lead. We showed guts and moxie. It was championship caliber,” said Harris. “This game will make us better. We have to do a better job of protecting the paint. We got better tonight”
Mariner 66, Fort Myers 42: Amari Haynes led the Tritons with 18 points and Dominic Carpenter added 10 points. Both players grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
The Tritons led 19-7 after the first quarter and had an 18-point lead to start the second half.
Charlotte 65, Island Coast 58: A tight game throughout was decided by a crucial turnover by Island Coast in the final 30 seconds Friday night.
“We were down three points with less than 30 seconds to go when we turned the ball over on our own baseline,” said Gators coach Greg Coleman. “We fouled and they made the free throws.”
Kory Curtis led the Gators with 23 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Craig Sirmons pitched in a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds while Austin Grimm added nine points and five assist.s
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak by the Gators (12-12) heading into next Friday’s game against Mariner.
Cape Coral 78, North Fort Myers 51: C.J. Lewis led a quartet of Seahawks reaching double figures Thursday night in a blowout win over North Fort Myers.
Lewis came through with 20 points to lead the group. Luis Calderon connected for 13 points to go with 10 rebounds while Stephen Hawkins added 11 points and Keyshawn McCoy 10 points.
The Seahawks (12-10), who scored 31 points in the second quarter to open a 50-29 halftime lead, play at Oasis on Wednesday.
Girls Basketball
Ida Baker 53, Estero 38: Bre Kelly pitched in a game-high 27 points Thursday night to lead the Bulldogs to victory. Shelby Elmes added 13 points.
The Bulldogs (4-17) closed out the regular season on a winning note as they head into the District 6A-10 Tournament at Cape Coral on Tuesday.
Girls Soccer
The soccer gods were smiling on Cape Coral schools last Thursday as Mariner, Ida Baker and North Fort Myers all advanced in girls’ regional quarterfinal playoff action. They played a regional semifinal match Tuesday night in their respective classes.
Ida Baker 4, Braden River 3: Marcella Montoya’s goal in the second half proved to be the game-winner for the Bulldogs (18-6-1), who got two goals from Haley Rounsifer in the first half to take a 2-1 lead at intermission. Paxton Guerin assisted on both of Rounsifer’s goals and scored the team’s third goal, taking a 3-1 lead at the time. Goalkeeper Acelya Aydogmus was credited with seven saves before leaving the game in the second half with an injury.
North Fort Myers 2, Barron Collier 1: Taylor Kruse and Kelsey Pederson accounted for North’s goals Thursday in a Region 3A-4 quarterfinal win at Barron Collier.
Pederson’s penalty kick goal with about 20 minutes left proved to be the deciding score after the Cougars scored in the closing minutes off an indirect kick near the Red Knights’ goal.
Mariner 1, Naples 0: Sophomore Amanda Miller scored the game’s only goal early in the second half Thursday as Mariner blanked Naples in the Region 3A-4 quarterfinals.
Miller’s goal came off a crossing pass from fellow sophomore Aryanna Saenz to break a scoreless tie. Goalkeeper Alexis Restrepo was credited with six saves.
Bishop Verot 8, DeSoto County 0: Nina Gulati tapped in four goals and Maddie Sarnac added two to lead Bishop Verot’s shutout victory Thursday in the Region 2A-3 Quarterfinal playoffs.
Reilly McAloose and Samantha Webb-Martin each added one goal while Lander Peck contributed four assists.