After opening a 26-point lead at one point in the first half, the Island Coast Gators held Cypress Lake at bay down the stretch by draining free throws to claim an 80-75 win Wednesday night.

Senior Kyle Harding and junior Patrique Chery combined to drain 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:30 to seal the win for the Gators, their 10th of the season and surpasses their nine wins last year in their first varsity campaign.

“This was a big, sweet victory,” said Gators coach Greg Coleman. “We were hungry for that 10th win to get over the hump. Our district games were over so early it’s important for us to stay motivated and try to improve each game.”

Terrell Griffin led the Gators with 22 points and eight rebounds. Tim Dal Bon added 18 points, harding finished with 16 points and Chery 14. Senior Billy Rees contributed a school-record 10 assists. Chery and Griffin each had six assists.

The Gators overcame the game-high 32 points by the Panthers’ Jonas Petitdo.

The Gators (10-8) visit North Fort Myers Thursday night.

Island Coast24 22 14 20 – 80

Cypress Lake 9 18 21 27 – 75

ISLAND COAST 80 – Chery 14, Dungan 1, Francois 1, Dal Bon 18, Griffin 22, Harding 16, Matos 4, Rees 2, Morris 2. Totals: 30 15-22 80.

3PG: Dal Bon 2, Harding 3.

CYPRESS LAKE 75 – Belli 3, Petitdo 32, Calhoun 2, Lacell 14, Bouras 10, Grimm 2, Edwards 12. Totals: 31 8-17 75.

3PG: Belli 1, Lacell 3, Edwards 1.

Girls Basketball

Cypress Lake 56, Island Coast 25: Injuries to key players is keeping Island Coast disabled in recent games, including a loss to Cypress Lake.

Patrice Mahone led the Gators with 10 points while Loresha Blackman contributed five blocked shots to go with four points.

The Gators (10-10) host North Fort Myers Thursday night.

Cypress Lake 18 12 15 11 – 56

Island Coast 2 13 2 8 – 25

CYPRESS LAKE 56 – Drake 8, Roedding 2, McKenzie 12, Vaughn 4, Fortune 4, St. Hubin 8, Boren 8, Grimm 9, Anderson 1. Totals: 23 6-12 56.

3PG: Boren 2, Drake 2.

ISLAND COAST 25 – Blackman 4, Mahone 10, Young 4, Ortiz 5, Manning 2. Totals: 11 2-5 25.

3PG: Ortiz 1.

Girls Soccer

Island Coast 3, Lehigh 2: Kennedy Adams rattled in two goals and Janelle Keary one as Island Coast led from start to finish for its second straight win.

Goalkeeper Hayley Hood made 15 saves for the Gators (4-13), who only had one win all of last season. Kady Kania and Andrea Adsit had assists on the goals.

The Gators host Fort Myers Thursday night.

Boys Soccer

Lehigh 4, Island Coast 0: Island Coast’s one-game win streak was snapped by Lehigh, which scored three goals in the first half en route to a shutout victory.

Matthew Dal Bon had 12 saves tending the goal for the Gators (1-13-1), who host Fort Myers Thursday night.