TIME RUNS OUT FOR KEYS BASKETBALL SQUADS

LaSalle knocks out Key West in quarterfinals; Riviera Prep downs

Coral Shores in semis

Playoff dreams were still alive for two Monroe County schools last week in boys basketball. Key West and Coral Shores each fought to advance in their respective district brackets on Feb. 7. At the final buzzer, the teams would experience different outcomes.

Key West faced LaSalle in a FHSAA 4A District 16 quarterfinal game on Feb. 7. The Conchs fell to the Lions 72-33, ending their season with a 4-19 record. Key West returns their top three scorers and shot blockers as well as five of their top six leaders in rebounds per game, paving the way for Dexter Butler and his Conchs to have a very successful season in 2024 and give the current Kings of the Keys, Coral Shores, a run for their money.

At the other end of the islands, Coral Shores came out of the gates with business on their minds in their quarterfinal game against Palmer on Feb. 7. The ‘Canes jumped to a quick first-quarter lead on the shoulders of standout forwards Matt St. Aubin and Isaac Holmes, who combined for 13 of the team’s 17 points. The Hurricanes went on to a decisive 63-33 win over the Falcons, advancing to the semifinals the following night.

Head coach Jarrod Mandozzi knew he was facing a challenge with the top-ranked Bulldogs of Riviera Prep. The Hurricanes not only had to play short-handed, with Isaac Holmes declared inactive due to a knee injury, but the remaining players had to match up against a much larger team, with one Bulldog measuring 7 feet tall.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 33-4 lead in the first quarter. Despite the unbalanced score, Coral Shores did not give up, fighting back to outscore the Bulldogs 13-11 in the final quarter. But an early deficit was too great to overcome, and Coral Shores’ fairytale winning streak ended at 12 at the hands of Riviera Prep.

“I’m so proud of our guys and the season they put together. This Riviera Prep team is absolutely loaded with talent from literally all over the world,” said Mandozzi, undiscouraged by his team’s loss. “There’s some hope we get an at-large bid to move to regionals, but this is probably the end of the road for us realistically.”

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald