The local entry for this year’s City of Palms Classic is Mariner out of Cape Coral.  The Mariners return all the important pieces of a regional playoff participant from last season.  Westminster has a very talented starting five but doesn’t go much deeper than that.  Both teams like to play at a fast pace.

Westminster exploded out of the gate.  It started with a transition slam by Alex Lloyd.  An Alex Constanza transition basket and a three from Ethan Bertrand made it 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.  Constanza converted a three-point play, Lloyd dunked one home on the break and Constanza scored in transition to make the score 14-0 in favor of Westminster with 4:41 to play in the period.  Mariner finally got on the board with a putback from Kelvin Jimenez.  From there, the teams played somewhat evenly and after one quarter, Westminster led 26-13.

Westminster continued its offensive assault in the second quarter.  Mariner was able to score with a bit more frequency but after a three from Lloyd of Westminster with four minutes to go, Westminster led by twenty, 42-22.  Mariner tried to come back behind the power of the three but only fell further behind.  At the half, Westminster had doubled up Mariner, 52-26.

To Mariner’s credit, they kept pace with Westminster for much of the third quarter.  They were down 61-34 after a pair of free throws from Jimenez.  Westminster then erupted again, closing out the fourth quarter with a 12-6 run to make the score 73-40 with one period left to play.

Constanza of Westminster converted a three-point play to start the final period.  That kicked in the running clock.  When it was all said and done, Westminster won in a breeze, 89-45.

Westminster was led by Lloyd with 30 points while Dwayne Wimbley had 21 points, Constanza finished with 16 points and Jeremiah Police added 12 points.

For Mariner, Jimenez finished with 12 points.