Lely Upset in District Final

The top-seeded Lely boys basketball team looked like a team on a roll heading into their Saturday, February 7 district final game against Aubrey Rogers after dominating Estero 74-32 Thursday at Trojan gym. But Estero had a different plan. Using pesky defense and employing a 6’8” rim protector, the third-seeded Patriots (13-12) came in and delivered Lely (19-6) a 56-54 setback on their home court.

The win gives Aubrey Rogers its first basketball district championship. The school opened in August of 2023. The win was an especially sweet one for their head coach, Brandon Dean, whose team has struggled through a .500 season.

“It was a tough one,” Dean said. "We've been through a long season, guys in and out because of injuries or sickness. So, our consistency hasn't been there. It was good to actually put one together from start to finish against a tough team who’s had a heck of a season. For a lot of these guys, this is the first time they've ever played in a district championship.”

While Lely appeared to come out flat, Rogers came out aggressively.

“We picked up the pressure a little bit,” Dean said. “We wanted to be the aggressors and have the momentum going in our favor instead of reacting to it. Our defense was steady through the whole game, which is one thing I'm proud of because that's been one of our weaknesses this year.”

The Trojans were facing Rogers’ big man, 6’8” senior Hunter Puthoff, for the first time this season. The Trojans and Patriots won in each other's gym during the regular season.

“That was actually his first time playing against Lely this year,” Dean said, "he had a broken wrist, so we didn't have him in the first game. Then the second time we played them, he could have played, but I sat him out knowing that we'd probably end up seeing them in districts and it would be their first time seeing them. They really didn't have an answer for him offensively or defensively. Having the big guy down there for us changes things a lot. He gives our guards a little extra boost of confidence to get out there and guard a little bit, knowing they have him to clean it up on the back end.”

The Trojans, who have had a penchant for winning close games down the stretch, just couldn’t pull out the win against the Patriots, who were led by senior Daniel Coldiron, a transfer from Naples Classical, who scored 27, with 20 of them coming in the second half.

“When I was coaching Naples Classical I had him as a sophomore,” Dean said. "He was the number one scoring sophomore in the state. I'm glad we got him over here this year because he's probably the best player in the county. The kid can play. And he got a little toughness to him.”

Lely was led by senior guard Blake Boyd, who did everything in his power to keep his team in the thick of it. Boyd finished with 22 points, the only Trojan in double figures. He scored 17 in the second half, including clutch 5-5 shooting from the free throw line down the stretch.

In the Trojans’ big win over Estero, it was Brandon Baptiste’s 27 points that led the way. Baptiste had six three pointers in the win.

Lely coach Fritz Jacques, while disappointed in the loss to Aubrey Rogers, is looking ahead to regionals, beginning February 14.

“Congratulations to the Aubrey players for securing the victory,” Jacques said. “We had our chances, and I still have unwavering faith and love for my boys.