Stretton Makes All Area Team

By Roger Lalonde

roger@coastalbreezenews.com

If you watch Cole Stretton, no matter how much pressure comes from opponents on the basketball court, he seems to be in control.

Even though a target the past season, Stretton, a sophomore, had enviable statistics. Plenty good enough to make the Naples Daily sponsored All-Area team.

Preston Reese, a junior, was named honorable mention.

High marks for two players in Class 2A, being judged along with players from schools like Naples, Lely, Community School and more.

It marks the second straight year that a Manta Rays player was named to the team. A year ago, it was Jared Jackson and Stretton was honorable mention.

Stretton said going to a small school helped him.

“If I had been at a larger school I would have been playing junior varsity for at least my freshman year,” he said. “Playing varsity as a freshman was a really good experience for this year.”

The Manta Rays won its regular season title, going 13-12 overall. It won its first-ever Class 2A-District 10 playoff game, before losing to taller and more experienced Southwest Florida Christian Academy.

Along the way his 18.8 scoring average per game was 10th in the state and No. 1 among all-area scorers. He was ranked second in the state for sophomores. He also led the area and the state in steals at four per game.

Reese earned his stripes at 6’11”, going up against bigger men every game, yet leading the area in rebounding at 9.8 per game.

Coach Roger Raymond provided the year-end statistics.

“Cole was outstanding all season,” Raymond said. “He is the team leader and good student-athlete, setting strong examples on and off the court.”

In the classroom Stretton has a weighted grade point average of 4.2 and unweighted, 3.9.

Reese has played all three seasons on the basketball team.

“He was our only experienced big man and battled every game,” Raymond said. “He is the best vertical jumper I have ever coached.”

“Over the three years the team has changed tremendously,” Reese said. “The first year we had just six on the team. This year’s team had a better understanding.”

His tenacious inside play grew double-fold. “I got roughed up a bit, but I am the only person with size in the paint,” he said. “I don’t let size intimidate me now.”

Stretton played quarterback on the football team, where he was named honorable mention to the All-Area team. He also ran cross country and played shortstop on the baseball team.

He predicts the breakout team will be in football next season.

“Basketball was the breakout sport this year, beating some of the bigger teams, surprising some people,” he said. “We have a number of kids coming back for the football team that I think will become the breakout team.”

After covering area sports and community news for 15 years for Scripps newspapers, Roger LaLonde is now a contributor to Coastal Breeze News. He is also a licensed real estate agent with Premiere Plus Realty.