Prep Report: Cape girls topple NFM

MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape High senior center Stephanie de los Santos reaches for a rebound behind the back of North High’s Sasha Ruiz-Lopez (55) Wednesday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
It was clear from the start which player on the Cape High girls’ basketball team would be the leader in the District 5A-15 contest against North Fort Myers Wednesday night at the Nest.
Senior point guard Jardin McCarthy played all 32 minutes, brought the ball up the floor on nearly every possession and constantly attacked the Red Knights defense.
Still, it took each player in the Seahawks’ lineup doing their part and contributing defensively in a hard-fought 48-42 victory.
“Everybody stepped up,” said McCarthy, who scored a game-high 27 points. “We knew we had to match their energy overall.”
Though it was only the third game of the season for the Seahawks (second for the Red Knights), both teams went after each other with a high level of intensity from the opening tip.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape High senior guard Jardin McCarthy tries to cut past North Fort Myers junior Carol Ruiz-Lopez (21) Wednesday night. More photos of Cape’s 48-42 win are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The Seahawks (3-0) won 17 games last season while the Red Knights (1-1) won 19, but the Red Knights took both meetings by scores of 51-50 and 49-43.
The Seahawks played without top returning scorer, senior Alexiss Griffin, who suffered an ankle injury in the season-opener against Fort Myers. She is expected to return within the next two weeks.
Several players helped fill the void, including senior Christine Gaywood, who had 12 points and nine rebounds, and 5-foot-9 senior Stephanie De Los Santos, whose long reach helped on defense.
“(The loss of Griffin) kind of crippled us,” Seahawks assistant coach Kirk Myers said, “but I feel the rest of the team came in here and did a good defensive job. I think we can score with the best of them, but the biggest thing is playing defense.”
In the opening quarter, it was the Red Knights defense that held the Seahawks to 2-of-15 shooting.
Cassidy Davis, Machera Calhoun and Carol Ruiz-Lopez each drained three-pointers, giving the Red Knights an 11-3 lead. The Seahawks fought back with the final six points of the quarter.
The second quarter had a similar theme. The Red Knights pushed their lead to 16-11 with 5:28 remaining in the half, but the Seahawks charged back with a 12-0 run to take a 23-16 lead.
McCarthy made 9 of 10 free throws and had 17 points in the first half.
The Red Knights switched two of their top defenders, Calhoun and Ruiz-Lopez, on McCarthy, but she was able to get the ball when her teammates got in trouble and reset the offense.
“We couldn’t stop her,” North coach Kathy Padilla said. “We let them dictate the game, offensively.”
The Red Knights made two significant runs in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, they tied it 26-26. The Seahawks responded with a 13-2 run. Cierra Dotson connected on a free-throw line jumper to spark the run.
After the Seahawks took a 44-29 lead with 5:17 left in the fourth, the Red Knights picked up the pressure and were able to create some turnovers. They managed to cut the lead to 46-42 with 1:40 remaining.
The Seahawks took care of the ball on a few long possessions, melting the clock, and preserving the win.
North 11 5 12 14 — 42
Cape 9 14 16 9 — 48
North (42) — Cassidy Davis 7, Carol Ruiz-Lopez 9, Machera Calhoun 9, Denasia Smith 5, Amber Dwyer-Williams 6, Jasmine Santiago 2, Sasha Ruiz-Lopez 2, Susie McKeever 2. Totals: 14-44 7-10 42. 3-point goals: Carol Ruiz-Lopez 3, Calhoun 3, Davis 1.
Cape (48) — Jardin McCarthy 27, Christine Gaywood 12, Cierra Dotson 5, Jomaris Vasquez 2, Stephanie De Los Santos 2. Totals: 15-46 14-16 48. 3-point goals: McCarthy 3, Dotson 1.
Bishop Verot 65, Moore Haven 14: Brittany Todd pitched in 15 points to lead a trio of Vikings in double figures in a lopsided victory over Moore Haven.
Mercedes Dacosta chipped in with 12 points and Cici Ward scored all 10 of her points in the Vikings’ 31-5 first quarter blitz.
Verot (1-1) hosts Venice Saturday.
Moore Haven 5 4 3 2 — 14
Bishop Verot 31 19 7 8 — 65
M.HAVEN 14 — Ford 5, Cooper 1, Gonzalez 4, Shepherd 2, Hughes 2. 3-point goals: Gonzalez 1.
VEROT 65 — Lanman 9, Butler 2, Mitchell 6, Ward 10, Kramer 6, Dacosta 12, Garda 2, Norton 3, Todd 15. 3-point goals: Todd 3, Ward 1.
Boys Basketball
Ida Baker 71, Seacrest 43: Three players scored in double figures to lead Ida Baker to a preseason victory over Seacrest in the first game of a preseason classic at Mariner.
Gabe Rodriguez led the Bulldogs trio with 14 points with Zach Campbell and John Skinner each adding 12 points.
The Bulldogs finish off their preseason tuneups Thursday night against Gulf Coast at 6 p.m. at Mariner.
Girls Soccer
North Fort Myers 1, Riverdale 0: Ashley LaPierre converted a direct free kick in the first half for the game’s only goal and North Fort Myers goalkeeper Brianna Abatisti made eight saves to preserve the shutout victory over Riverdale.
The Red Knights (3-4) host Gulf Coast Monday.
Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.
- MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape High senior center Stephanie de los Santos reaches for a rebound behind the back of North High’s Sasha Ruiz-Lopez (55) Wednesday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
- MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape High senior guard Jardin McCarthy tries to cut past North Fort Myers junior Carol Ruiz-Lopez (21) Wednesday night. More photos of Cape’s 48-42 win are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.