KEY WEST -- When Key West senior Fiorella Bravo took a fast-break pass from Alexsa Rahming and converted a late second-quarter layin Friday night against visiting West Boca, the Conchs' fans erupted in their loudest cheer of the night.

After waiting for nearly 13 minutes of game-time, the crowd finally had something to celebrate. Unfortunately for Key West, that would be about all the fans would have to cheer for.

The Conchs missed their first 19 shots from the floor, didn't make a field goal until Bravo's basket with just three minutes remaining in the first half, and missed 12 layups on the night. The shooting woes, combined with several turnovers, resulted in a 59-39 loss in the team's regular season home-opener. The loss dropped Key West to 0-2 this season, while West Boca, which topped Marathon, 59-23, on Thursday, improved to 2-1 with the victory.

After the poor start, Key West coach Glenn Hayes said his players became frustrated and started going away from the original gameplan. That served only to makes things worse.

"Everybody wants to blame everybody but themselves, and it's a team effort," Hayes said of his players. "When you get out on the court and don't want to play team ball and want to play 'buddy ball,' it doesn't work. We've got to learn to get everybody involved in the game. When we do that, we'll be better off."

West Boca came out with an aggressive full-court press that forced Key West into several early turnovers. When the Conchs did move the ball downcourt, they were unable to get to the basket and were forced into taking jump shots, many of which were contested.

"I'm very happy with the way we played and our defensive effort," Bulls coach Patrick Faber said. "Defense is kind of our signature, it's our No. 1 priority."

Key West scored its first point of the game on a Jamica Mack free throw with just 1:53 remaining in the first quarter. West Boca took a 13-3 lead into the second, and led 25-8 when the Conchs' finally converted their first field goal. The Bulls led, 31-17, at the half.

Hayes said he tried to get his team to slow the tempo heading into the second half.

"(West Boca) plays basic fundamental basketball, which is good, but our team wants to run it all the time," the coach said. "Sometimes we need to slow it down and see what they're doing in order to stop it. We don't slow down and pay attention."

The Bulls opened the third with a 13-3 run and never really looked back from there.

Chelsie Storr led the Conchs with 13 points, Bravo added seven points to go along with five rebounds and a blocked shot, and Rahming finished with four points. Shanyia Watson was held to just three points, but had four rebounds and two blocks, and Mack finished with three points and nine boards.

Nicole Desiqueiia, who hit three 3-pointers, and Julie Menke led West Boca with 16 points apiece.

Key West won't have much time to try and fix things, as the Conchs return to District 16-4A play today with a 5 p.m. tipoff at Miami Jackson.

"It's sad," Hayes said. "We've got a very good team, but we don't play as a team."

wjacobson@keysnews.com