Mariner falls at Ft. Myers, 58-37

MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Clint Johnson (54) is fouled by Fort Myers’ Matt Yance (20) in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The Mariner Tritons missed many open shots in Tuesday’s boys’ basketball game at Fort Myers, and turned the ball over often against the Green Wave’s pressure defense.
In the second half, several Tritons showed frustration at the officiating as the Wave pulled away for a 58-37 victory.
All in all, it wasn’t the kind of performance the Tritons (6-1) were looking for against the perennial power Wave (3-0).
“Fun game to watch,” Mariner coach James Harris concluded in a sarcastic tone.
After opening the season with six straight wins – their best start since 2003 – the Tritons never got on track in their biggest test so far.
The Wave set the tone in the first quarter, outscoring the Tritons 10-0. They played suffocating defense, which began with a full-court press, and when the Tritons made it up the floor into their half-court set, the Wave continued to cut off driving lanes and help inside.
Senior Buddy McClendon and junior Evin Graham were active throughout. McClendon tallied nine steals and Graham scored a game-high 22 points. Collectively, the Wave recorded 22 steals.
“Our press definitely gave them trouble,” Fort Myers coach Scott Guttery said. “We turned it over a lot, too, and I felt like we didn’t convert well on a lot of those steals, but when you’re playing defense like that you can beat anybody.
“They’re a good team and they’ll be a tough battle for us at the end of the year,” Guttery added.
If any team is to challenge the Wave it remains to be seen. They opened this season with blowout wins over South Fort Myers and North Fort Myers before Mariner.
They won four consecutive District 5A-15 titles without losing a game and are off to an impressive start in the newly aligned 4A-11.
In the first quarter Tuesday, Harris said the Tritons played too excited and it threw them off their game. They missed all seven field goal attempts in the opening quarter and had eight turnovers.
“We wanted to get the ball inside but when we got the ball inside we missed shots,” Harris said. “I think our guys got caught up in the magnitude of the game.”
The Tritons got on the board with 7:42 left in the second on a basket by Kameron Beach, but the Wave answered quickly with a three by Matt Yance to go up 13-2. The Tritons trailed 22-9 at halftime.
The play opened up more in the second half and it led to a lot of turnovers by both teams.
The Tritons made a brief spurt toward the end of the third. Harrison Kuchman came off the bench and scored two quick baskets and Ricardo Barsesa made a three to cut it to 37-25.
The Wave scored the last six points of the third and the teams mostly traded points in the fourth.
Barsesa led the Tritons with 12 points and Beach finished with 11. The Tritons play at Cypress Lake Friday.
Mariner 0 9 16 12 – 37
Fort Myers 10 12 21 15 – 58
Mariner 37 – Kameron Beach 11, Clint Johnson 3, Ricardo Barsesa 12, Justin Emmons 5, Sam Guerrier 2, Harrison Kuchman 4. Totals: 11-42 12-19 37.
3-point goals: Barsesa 2, Beach 1.
Fort Myers 58 – Buddy McClendon 10, Evin Graham 22, Matt Yance 15, Josue Celestin 4, Reid Cunard 7. Totals: 23-61 10-12 58.
3-point goals: Cunard 1, Yance 1.
Port Charlotte 54, Bishop Verot 53: The visiting Vikings suffered their second heartbreaking loss in a row, falling by one point at Port Charlotte.
Brian Lockhart, who scored a game-high 19 points, sank two free throws with two seconds left to lift Port Charlotte (5-1).
Verot was coming off a 66-64 overtime loss to Florida Air Academy on Saturday.
Nate Howard hit four three-pointers and led the Vikings (2-3) with 12 points.
Bishop Verot 14 13 14 12 – 53
Port Charlotte 17 8 11 18 – 54
Bishop Verot 53 – Wagner 5, Payne 9, Reeves 3, Thomas 8, Hagan 9, Sandoval 7, Howard 12. Totals: 20 4-7 54.
3-point goals: Wagner, Reeves, Thomas 2, Hagan 1, Howard 4.
Port Charlotte 54 – Bajardi 8, Baerman 11, Lockhart 19, Robler 2, Laurens 12, Williams 1, Petetsky 1. Totals: 17 15-20 54.
3-point goals: Baerman 1, Lockhart 4.
Cape Coral 58, Cypress Lake 45: The visiting Seahawks held a one point lead entering the fourth, then senior Joel Hill took charge.
He scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth as the Seahawks outscored Cypress Lake, 24-12.
“He wouldn’t let us lose,” Seahawks coach Mark Rinehart said.
David Flynn chipped in with 12. The Seahawks (4-2) host Fort Myers Thursday
Cape Coral 10 11 13 24 – 58
Cypress Lake 3 16 14 12 – 45
Cape Coral 58 – Henry 2, Joseph 2, Flynn 12, McIntyre 7, Hill 28, Adams 2, Figueroa 5. Totals: 19 17-27 58.
3-point goals: Flynn 2, McIntyre 1.
Cypress Lake 45 – Belli 5, Petitdo 13, Drake 8, Hlimi 5, Edwards 8, Thurmon 9. Totals: 15 12-18 45.
3-point goals: Petitdo 1, Drake 2, Hlimi 1, Edwards 2.
Ida Baker 56, Riverdale 51: Christian Davis pitched in five three-pointers en route to a game-high 30 points to lead Ida Baker to victory at Riverdale.
Davis also pulled down 12 rebounds to record a double-double. Al Serrano chipped in with 11 rebounds while Rob Serrano contributed 14 points and eight assists.
The Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1 district) host Estero Friday.
Ida Baker 8 9 18 21 – 56
Riverdale 8 6 15 22 – 51
Ida Baker 56 – R. Serrano 14, A. Serrano 2, Manego 5, Davis 30, Dobbins 3, Deems 2. Totals: 18 12-20 56.
3-point goals: R. Serrano 2, Manego 1, Davis 5.
Riverdale 51 – Edwards 2, Payne 4, Sherrod 8, Johnston 11, Hagan 20, Miller 4, Rogers 2. Totals: 19 7-11 51.
3-point goals: Johnston 2, Hagan 4.