New Look Rays Girls off to 2-1 Start

The new look Marco Island Academy girls’ basketball team won their first game in the school’s new gym Thursday night, December 2, 2021 toppling class 6A North Ft. Myers 32-25.

“It’s a new team,” said Travis Barry, the team’s head coach. “They’re young, and we’ve got a bunch of new players.”

Barry lost two key players from last year’s 14-2 squad, twin sisters Megan and Bridget Sweeney. Megan Sweeney put up dizzying rebounding numbers last season, in addition to being a reliable scorer underneath the basket. Sister Bridget was a tenacious defender.

 “We lost two senior girls that were getting 30 rebounds a game,” Barry said of the Sweeney twins, "so we’re trying to work on learning to rebound the ball. When we learn how to rebound the ball, we’re going to be a good team, because we’ve got good shooters.”

The Class 2A Rays made rebounding a team effort against North Ft. Myers, with newcomer Payton Rice grabbing seven, Cadence Snover six, Piper Noyes five and Jocelyn Snover and Katelin Reisinger four each.

Junior Kathryn Barry, the coach’s daughter, was the leading scorer with 11. Jocelyn Snover added nine and Rice eight. Cadence Snover was the only other Ray to score, with four points.

"Both the Snovers are rebounding the ball well,” Barry said, "they’ve been working on it. They’re the senior leaders, so they have to rebound, because we don’t have a lot of height. In fact, we don’t have any height. But we’re trying to get them skilled up so they can play against good teams.”

Though North Ft. Myers is a much larger school, they are not one of the good teams Barry is referring to. The Red Knights (0-6) are winless so far.

The Rays (2-1) added their second win Friday night, December 3, with a comfortable 42-28 decision at class 5A Cypress Lake. Barry was the top scorer against Cypress Lake with 16. Cadence Snover scored 15. Cadence Snover also grabbed 13 rebounds and Rice 10.

The Rays opened their season on Monday, November 30 with a 38-25 road loss at Everglades City, a game Barry felt they let get away.

"I think we should have won the first game,” Barry said. “We were just trying to work out the kinks. Kathryn tore two ligaments in her ankle two months ago - totally through. She’s back on the court. So, I’m happy for that. She’s going to get her speed back, so we’ll be good.”

Jocelyn Snover was the leading scorer against Everglades City with 12 points to go along with eight rebounds. Rice totaled 11 rebounds against the Gators.

Barry is pleased with junior newcomer Rice.

"Payton Rice is very aggressive,” Barry said. "We’re happy to have her on the team. She fouled out against North Ft. Myers, but I’m okay with that. We have another junior on the team, Astrid Fossoe. She’s from Denmark, so she’s only going to be here for one season. She’s an exchange student.”

Barry is upbeat about the prospects for this season.

"I’m happy with what they’ve done so far,” he said. "A bunch of nice girls who work hard. We’re going to work fitness next week. A lot of fitness.”

The Rays will look to avenge their loss to Everglades City (3-1) on Friday, December 12 at the MIA gym. They will also be home the following Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday when they face Gateway Charter (4-1), Everglades City, Bishop Verot (0-6) and Donahue Catholic (2-1).