MIA Basketball Endures Injury, Illness, Suspensions in Rocky Week

After winning their first three games, Marco Island Academy’s basketball team has lost three straight, the latest an 81-73 thriller to Seacrest, Friday, December 8, at the Rays’ gym.

To say there are extenuating circumstances in the Rays’ three game skid would be an understatement. On Monday, December 4, the Rays hosted The Village School of Naples, losing 84-53, in a game where the Rays’ entire bench emptied to participate in an on-court skirmish. On Thursday night, December 7, with the majority of their squad serving a one game suspension, the Rays were pummeled on the road by a solid Donahue Catholic squad, 74-32, while playing with a six-man roster.

The Rays were still down two starters against Seacrest, before coming up short. They were without starting point guard Jacob Watt, who injured his wrist in practice. He missed all three games and his season may be in jeopardy. Big man Mathis Fontes was also sidelined Friday night.

As chaotic as this may sound, the Rays’ unflappable head coach, Jim Watt, seems to be taking things in stride. He was excited about his team’s effort against Seacrest. Though they trailed for much of the contest, they closed the gap to four points several times in the second half.

"It was so close,” said Jim Watt after the game. “We missed Jake and Mathis. Mathis is out with the flu. Jake is out with a wrist injury. My kids fought so hard tonight. And I told them in the locker room that we proved to ourselves that we can hang with big teams. We put 73 up tonight. I feel like we had a great game. We're down 19 at halftime and we fought all the way back and got to within 4 or 5."

Watt acknowledges that it was a rough week for his team, starting with Monday’s game.

“One of our players and one player from Village School,” Watt said, "went for a 50-50 ball. Of course, they collided, and their player was knocked down.”

Watt said two of his players reached their hands down to help the Seacrest player to his feet. The next thing that happened is that one of the Rays’ players was pushed into the wall. Then, the two players went after each other briefly. 

"And then our bench cleared,” Watt said. "And once the bench crosses that line, it's a full-on violation. So everyone who is on the roster who came across that line ended up with a technical foul and they submit it to the FHSAA."

Watt said the entire game was filmed, so it was easy to show the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) that there was not a fight.

"No punches were thrown,” Watt said. “The hassle was well taken care of. Every kid that left the bench had to watch a video and they were suspended for one game. So we went to Donahue with a seriously depleted roster.

"Five varsity players with one JV kid,” Watt said, "and everybody else had a one-game suspension. So we went up to Donahue and lost, of course.”

There were lessons learned.

“The lesson learned is,” Watt said, "just sportsmanship. And make sure that you are following the guidelines. I mean, they were sticking up for their teammates. That's why they're coming out there. That's why they left the bench in the first place. But that's not the lesson. The lesson is sportsmanship and letting the referees sort things out."

Watt was proud of how his shorthanded squad competed against Seacrest.

"Grayson Jones played so well,” Watt said. "Nick Sadler, he didn't rest. He played the entire game. Maddox Mourning, who's a JV player, came in off the bench. He gave us some really nice minutes resting Jordan Rodden a little bit. And Jordan played great as a big. I mean, he was fantastic. I compliment every one of those guys in that locker room. The guys coming off the bench gave me good heart.”

Jones scored 23 points against Seacrest, Sadler had 22. Rodden added 10 and Veleon Nazarko seven.

MIA (3-3) traveled to Everglades City (1-2) on Tuesday, December 12, and hosted Donahue Catholic (6-1) on Wednesday, both after the Coastal Breeze News deadline. They travel to South Florida Christian (4-3) on Friday.