Rays Taking Their Lumps

Though the game scores don’t necessarily reflect it, the Marco Island Academy basketball team is improving. And their coach, Jim Watt, thinks his team’s tough first-half schedule will result in some wins as the season progresses.

The Rays (0-7) suffered lopsided losses to Southwest Florida Christian (3-3), 83-52, on Tuesday,  Donahue Catholic (4-2), 72-37, on Wednesday, Everglades City (4-3), 79-32, on Thursday, and Imagine School of North Port (2-4) 77-37 on Saturday. The Rays have lost 12 games in a row dating back to last season.

Though the score may not indicate it, the Rays looked like a better team in Saturday’s loss to Imagine School than they did earlier in the week.

“It was a good hard fought game,” Watt said after the Imagine School game. “It's kind of getting us ready for the second half of our season. We've played the hardest teams in our conference."  

The Rays were led by point guard Jacob Watt, the coach’s son, with 15 points. Veleon Nazarko was the only other Ray in double figures with 12 points—eight of them coming in the second quarter.

Watt appreciates his team’s never-say-die attitude. 

"Our kids are fighters,” Watt said, "but we're just not converting on our shots. We’re getting shots up, but we're not converting on them. We got out hustled tonight though. But that’s a good program, a good school. A great coach, too. Hopefully, we're coming into where we can start putting some wins together."

The Rays hosted Mason Classical Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and welcome Marathon on Thursday night at 7. On Friday, they host Donahue Catholic at 7.