In recent years, Cape Coral area high school basketball teams have not found a successful formula for beating the perennial power across the river – the Fort Myers Green Wave.

The Wave have won the District 5A-15 title each of the past three years with undefeated records. That includes a stretch of dominance over Cape High, Ida Baker and Mariner.

Trying to beat Fort Myers continues to be an obstacle for Cape schools as the new season begins with the Wave belonging to the new 10-school District 4A-11.

The positive side is that all three schools have experienced coaches at the helm. They appear to have their systems firmly implemented, with their programs moving in the right direction.

The Ida Baker Bulldogs are coming off their first regional appearance, after posting a program-best 18 wins last season. Despite getting hit hard by graduation, third-year coach Greg Coleman said the ultimate goal doesn’t change.

“Our goal every season since I started coaching here is to make the regional playoffs and that goal is not going to change this year,” he said. “We have an extremely hard-nosed team that will compete.”

The Bulldogs have been the most successful Cape school the past two years, going 15-12 in 2007-08 and 18-11 in 2008-09, but last season was a good display of parity as both Cape and Mariner made significant strides.

Cape finished 17-8, with a key victory being a thrilling 79-76 overtime win over Baker. Mariner finished 13-14, splitting two games with rival Cape.

The teams will jockey for position in the large district that includes North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Riverdale, Cypress Lake, South Fort Myers, Lemon Bay and Estero.

Baker must replace eight seniors, including five starters that were instrumental in building the program – Gabe Rodriquez, John Skinner, Zach Campbell, Ron Ward, and Xavier Battle.

Despite those departures, the Bulldogs still have 10 seniors this season. Coleman said depth is a team strength.

“With 15 players on varsity, we will look to play a lot of guys and wear teams down,” he said.

Senior guards Rob and Al Serrano and senior wing Justin Pascale are the most notable returning players. Juniors Christian Davis, Shaun Manego and 6-foot-7 Phil Deems are expected to step forward.

The Cape Seahawks hope to build on the progress they made under fourth-year coach Mark Rinehart. The Seahawks won six games in Rinehart’s first year, but notched 11 and 17 wins the past two seasons.

Senior Joel Hill (6-3), who averaged 16.5 points per game last year, returns as one of the area’s most proven players. The Seahawks have four experienced juniors in Justin Mitchell, James McIntyre, Santo Figueroa ad C.J. Carter.

The Seahawks figure to be stronger later in the year as they work some football players into the rotation.

“We now feel as though we have built a foundation where we should be able to consistently compete with the best teams in the area,” Rinehart said.

The Mariner Tritons are in search of their first district title since 2003. They have a lot of pieces in place to make a run at that goal.

The Tritons’ strength last season was their long-range shooting, and they return much of that firepower.

Senior Kameron Beach averaged nearly 15 points and seven rebounds last year, and senior Ricardo Barsesa sank 66 three-pointers. Inside, the Tritons are counting on 6-6 senior Clint Johnson to give them balance.

Juniors Justin Emmons, Sam Guerrier and Nick Marrero add to the Tritons’ nucleus.

“If we can get consistent contributions from they bench, we’re poised to make a legitimate run,” said seventh-year Tritons coach James Harris.

After playing mostly a JV schedule last year, Island Coast opens its first varsity season in District 3A-12.

Second-year coach Matt Booth said the Gators are trying to implement the right philosophies and set a foundation for this year and beyond.

They have two key seniors in captains Jordan Hrkach (6-3) and Bryan Lopez (6-1), and three promising sophomores in point guard Isaac Aponte, forward Terrell Griffin and 6-6 center Edgar Cruz-Martinez.

The North Fort Myers Red Knights slumped to 8-14 last season, and begin this season under the direction of new coach Mack Mitchell, who previously coached at Mariner Middle School.

Senior guard Michael Rosario and senior forward Jude Joseph lead the Red Knights.

“My expectations are to improve our fundamentals and mental growth in the game of basketball,” Mitchell said.

The Bishop Verot Vikings are coming off another – and arguably, their most successful – season under 11th-year coach Matt Herting.

After five straight district titles, the Vikings reached the state final four for the first time.

Despite losing key standouts like Brennen Melvin and Etienne Effenberg, the Vikings return good skill and outside shooters.

Seniors Jacquard Hagan, Bobby Thomas and Abner Sandoval are all three-year players, and Herting expects consistent production from freshman Quinten Payne and junior Nate Howard.