Five turnovers in the final two minutes not only cost Island Coast a nine-point lead, but the game as well as Cape Coral pulled out a 56-55 victory at the buzzer Tuesday night.

The Gators had erased a six-point halftime deficit with a mere 6-0 run over more than four minutes to open the third quarter. J.J. Bailey ended Cape’s scoring drought with a conventional three-point play followed by a second basket to restore a five-point lead.

“We had to give up on our press because we were not able to make stops,” said Seahawks coach Mark Rinehart. “We just got timid. We’ve lost so many close games you could see it on the kids’ faces. When you get timid, that’s when it just gets worse.”

The Seahawks took a 36-32 lead into the final period. The teams swapped one-point leads for more than two minutes before the Gators scored 10 straight points to seize a 54-45 lead with 2:20 to play.

The Gators had not committed a turnover in the fourth quarter before their nine-point lead started to evaporate. Two quick ones were converted into short-range baskets by James McIntyre, trimming the lead to 54-49 with 1:10 to go.

With 59 seconds remaining, Patrique Chery sank a free throw that would be the Gators’ final point and a 55-49 edge.

A three-pointer by David Flynn and back-to-back steals and layups by McIntyre and Chase Galuzny gave the Seahawks their final cushion with 24 seconds remaining.

Santo Figueroa caused the Gators’ final turnover with his defense, knocking the ball loose and smothering it on the floor. When Figueroa was tied up, the alternating possession gave the ball back to the Gators out of bounds under their own basket with two seconds left.

The Gators’ final shot wound up in the hands of Tim Dal Bon, whose three-pointer at the top of the key came up short of the rim as the buzzer sounded.

“The real back-breaker came with 45 seconds left when we broke the press and then threw a pass right to one of their players,” said Gators coach Greg Coleman. “We did not give ourselves a chance to put this one on ice. To beat a fundamental team like Cape you have to play smarter. We did not allow ourselves to get to that because the turnovers just killed us.”

Both teams had trouble turning the ball over all night. The Seahawks were guilty of 11 turnovers in the first half and 10 in the second. The Gators made 12 turnovers in the first half and 11 in the second, the last five in the final two minutes.

“We did a good job defending their out-of-bounds plays at the end,” said Rinehart. “We were able to force the ball out on the floor, not letting them get it inside. It’s a tribute to our kids the way they just kept fighting.”

Flynn finished with a team-high 15 points for the Seahawks with Galuzny adding 12 points.

Billy Rees knocked down a game-high 22 points for the Gators with Dal Bon adding 15.

The Seahawks (11-10) host Port Charlotte Wednesday night while the Gators (11-11) visit Fort Myers on Friday.

With three games left, the Gators’ bid for a .500 season is in jeopardy. The final two games after Fort Myers are Port Charlotte and North Fort Myers next week.

Cape Coral 14 12 10 20 – 56

Island Coast 8 13 11 23 – 55

CAPE 56 – Henry 2, Mitchell 1, Galuzny 12Flynn 15, McIntyre 6, Bailey 5, Marshall 8, Figueroa 6, Daniels 1. Totals: 21 10-13 56.

3PG: Galuzny 1, Flynn 3.

ISLAND COAST 55 – Chery 7, Dal Bon 15, Griffin 4, Orellana 6, Rees 22, Morris 1. Totals: 19 13-17 55.

3PG: Dal Bon 2, Rees 2.

Boys Soccer

District 4A-11: Heavy rain, lightning and thunder suspended the tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night at Cape Coral High.

Cypress Lake completed a 2-1 overtime victory over Riverdale in the first game in light rain, but the weather got rough midway through the first half of the second game, suspending play with Fort Myers leading Estero 2-0.

Fort Myers and Estero will finish their game at 3 p.m. Thursday at Cape before the scheduled 5 p.m. start for the other two quarterfinal matches.

Cape Coral goes against Ida Baker at 5 p.m., followed by Mariner and South Fort Myers at 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball

Dunbar 58, Ida Baker 48: Dunbar owned the boards and Baker was guilty of 14 turnovers and 18 fouls in a loss at Dunbar.

Shanelly Brown topped all scorers with 22 points for the Bulldogs, but had little support from teammates. Johnetta Williams led Dunbar with 21 points.

“They killed us on the boards,” said Bulldogs coach Ashley Underhill. “They had size and knew how to use it, but we don’t.”

The Bulldogs (12-10) travel to Lehigh Thursday.

Dunbar20 19 10 8 – 58

Ida Baker12 8 17 11 – 48

DUNBAR 58 – Stewart 8, Pittman 4, Burger 4, German 3, Morrison 6, Boule 12, Williams 21. Totals: 23 10-19 58

3PG: German 1, Stewart 1.

BAKER 48 – Nicloy 3, Emmons 7, Placher 7, Del Negro 5, Brown 22, Benvie 2, Ramsey 2. Totals: 19 4-11 48.

3PG: Brown 2, Del Negro 1, Placher 1.

Mariner 59, Gateway Charter 30: Balanced scoring throughout the game provided Mariner with enough control to defeat Gateway Charter.

Senior Kyla Taylor pitched in a game-high 28 points to lead the Tritons with Mariella Bono adding 11. Only two players scored for Gateway, led by Jasmine Battle’s 27 points.

The Tritons (5-19) host Ida Baker Friday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Gateway 9 6 2 13 – 30

Mariner15 10 18 16 – 59

GATEWAY 30 – Battle 27, Clark 3. Totals: 10 5-13 30.

3PG: Battle 4, Clark 1.

MARINER 59 – Taylor 28, Ma. Bono 11, Mo. Bono 8, Brinkdopke 2, Iturbe 2, McClure 4, O’Connor 4. Totals: 22 11-18 59.

3PG: Mo. Bono 1, Taylor 3.

Fort Myers 52, Island Coast 26: Island Coast had trouble finding the field goal range and lost at home to Fort Myers.

Hilary Jessup connected for a game-high 14 points to lead the Green Wave. Caroline Ortiz led the Gators with 12 points off four three-pointers.

“We have to come out and play great to be a good team,” said Gators coach Jerry Ellis. “For a two-year program I feel good about where we are at in our development. We’re still very young.”

The Gators’ next action is against Gateway Charter in the opening game of the District 3A-12 Tournament at LaBelle at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Fort Myers 16 10 17 9 – 52

Island Coast 7 7 2 10 – 26

FORT MYERS 52 – Barker 4, Troast 5, Rich 3, Lentz 7, Jessup 14, Gillingham 5, Lewis 2, Jamison 4, Hoye 6, Mitchell 2. Totals: 20 8-14 52.

3PG: Rich 1, Jessup 2, Gillingham 1.

ISLAND COAST 26 – Blackman 4, Mahone 2, Mims 2, Ortiz 12, Manning 6. Totals: 9 4-6 26.

3PG: Ortiz 4.