Prep report: Seahawks off to 5-0 start

YUNET JOMOLCA Cape sophomore Justin Mitchell tries to drive against the Mariner Tritons Saturday in a boys basketball game. More photos are available online at cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
Prior to the start of the high school basketball season, the Cape Coral Seahawks talked a lot about wanting to improve, and they believed they had the pieces in place to make that happen.
Still, nothing has been more valuable from a confidence standpoint than winning games.
The Seahawks, who finished just 10-15 last season, are halfway to that win total early on this season.
They improved to 5-0 on the young season with a 69-45 victory over the rival Mariner Tritons Saturday night at “the Nest.”
Junior Joel Hill continued his stellar play, scoring 21 points. Sophomore Josh Monteagudo tallied 14 points and senior Wellington Tavarez chipped in with nine.

YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner junior Ricardo Barsesa (left) puts up a shot during Saturday’s game. More photos are available online at cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
“I think we’re learning how to play with the lead. We weren’t in that position that much (last season),” said Seahawks coach Mark Rinehart.
The Seahawks concluded a busy week which saw them win three games in five days. It began Tuesday night with a key road win at Barron Collier, which figures to be among the favorites in District 5A-15.
The Seahawks trailed by 10 at halftime but came out with more focus and stronger defense in the second half, which turned the game around in their favor.
“Being able to go down to Barron Collier and win was probably as big as anything for us,” Rinehart said. “We feel from our kids’ standpoint they can say whatever they want but now they have something to back it up.”
The Seahawks came back with a 64-48 victory over East Lee County Thursday, before defeating Mariner Saturday. They host (3-0) Fort Myers Friday at “the Nest.”

YUNET JOMOLCA Cape senior Wellington Tavarez (left) goes up for a shot as Mariner junior Javier Rivera challenges the play. Cape defeated Mariner 69-45 Saturday in high school basketball action. More photos are available online at cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The Tritons (1-5) have been competitive in most of their games, despite the record.
They played Saturday without leading scorer Kameron Beach, who was injured in a loss to Evangelical Christian Friday, but the Tritons managed to get off to a strong start.
They jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first quarter against the Seahawks.
After that, the Seahawks picked up their play and took a 17-point halftime lead.
They maintained the advantage in the second half, although the Tritons once were able to cut the deficit to nine points.
Javier Rivera had 15 points to lead the Tritons.
- YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner junior Ricardo Barsesa (left) puts up a shot during Saturday’s game. More photos are available online at cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
- YUNET JOMOLCA Cape senior Wellington Tavarez (left) goes up for a shot as Mariner junior Javier Rivera challenges the play. Cape defeated Mariner 69-45 Saturday in high school basketball action. More photos are available online at cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.