Basketball Recap: Varela's Higher State Rank on Full Display on Friday

Varela's tournament run continued when they took on Marathon on Friday. The Vipers managed a 69-65 win over the Dolphins. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Vipers' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 269th, while the Dolphins are ranked 591st).

Varela's victory bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Marathon, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost six of their last seven contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-8 record this season.

Varela and Key West will face off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday without much rest, having both just played. As for Marathon, they will get a bit of extra time to process the defeat as their next game is a ways off. They'll take on Miami at 11:00 a.m. on January 2, 2026.