Late run sparks Baker’s 74-59 win

MICHAEL PISTELLA Senior Ron Ward (20) of Baker hits a jumpshot in Friday’s win over Mariner. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
After three closely contested quarters, host Ida Baker used its superior size to distance itself from city rival Mariner in a high school basketball game Friday.
For good measure, Baker senior Jon Skinner put an exclamation point on the strong finish with a highlight-reel alley-oop slam dunk off a feed from fellow senior Zach Campbell with a few seconds left.
Skinner scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth, sending the Bulldogs to a 74-59 victory. The score was knotted 52-52 at the end of three, but the Bulldogs closed out the contest on a 22-7 run.
“We needed to do a better job of attacking the basket,” Mariner coach James Harris said. “We can shoot with anybody, but the game is won inside the paint. Baker did a good job winning the game inside the paint.”
Both the Bulldogs and Tritons entered the contest playing well. After a 1-7 start, the Tritons (9-9) have now won eight of 10 games. The Bulldogs (12-6) stretched their win streak to four in a row.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Tyler Vandermark (center) and sophomore Sam Guerrier guard Baker’s Johnathan Skinner (31) Friday night. The Bulldogs pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 74-59 victory. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
Given the recent trends, it made for a tight battle for three quarters. Mariner was led throughout by junior Ricardo Barsesa. He drilled six three-pointers and finished with a game-high 30 points.
The Bulldogs, though, picked up their play significantly with the game tied at the start of the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-5 Skinner pulled down 15 rebounds, to go along with his 23 points.
Seniors Zach Campbell (16 points, 10 rebounds), Ron Ward (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Xavier Battle (11 points) also seemed to get stronger as the game went on.
“I think our experience helped us down the stretch,” Bulldogs coach Greg Coleman said. “I think we kind of wore them down and they weren’t crashing the offensive boards as much.”
In the opening quarter, Mariner jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Campbell then heated up for the Bulldogs, hitting a pair of three-pointers. They built a 20-16 lead after one.
The second quarter was tight throughout, but a slam by Ward gave the Bulldogs a 32-30 halftime advantage.
The majority of the third quarter belonged to the Tritons. The Bulldogs were unable to locate Barsesa. His third three-pointers of the quarter, tied the game, 43-43.
The Tritons trailed by three late in the third, but Sam Guerrier connected from long range, tying it again.
“I told our guys it was going to be a dogfight,” Coleman said. “(Mariner’s) game is to shoot threes and we hit some early in the game, so then we wanted to cherrypick around the arc. That’s not our game.”
Skinner actually buried a three-pointer to begin the fourth, putting the Bulldogs ahead 55-52. After that, though, they worked the ball inside for layups – or dunks – and controlled the boards.
A quick 7-0 spurt gave the Bulldogs a 59-52 lead and they extended the lead to 69-57 with two minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday. They face DeSoto County in the Keller Classic at Charlotte. The Tritons host Cypress Lake next Wednesday.
Mariner 16 14 22 7 – 59
Ida Baker 20 17 15 22 – 74
Mariner (59) – Barsesa 30, Johnson 11, Beach 7, Emmons 2, Lagrace 2, Marrero 4, Guerrier 3. Totals: 20-52 12-20 59. 3-point goals: Barsesa 6, Guerrier 1.
Ida Baker (74) – Skinner 23, Battle 11, Campbell 16, Ward 16, Rodriguez 8. Totals: 30-73 9-15 74. 3-point goals: Skinner 2, Campbell 2, Battle 1.
- MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Tyler Vandermark (center) and sophomore Sam Guerrier guard Baker’s Johnathan Skinner (31) Friday night. The Bulldogs pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 74-59 victory. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.