Beacon girls win Capital Classic to complete perfect season
Make it three in a row for the Beacon girls’ basketball team. Not wins. Perfect seasons.
“I can't say enough nice things about these girls,” said Beacon coach Paul Weisengoff. “They came in November and they worked hard from the beginning. There was nothing that I've asked them to do that they wouldn't. The hard work that they put in has paid off, and this is the ultimate ending to a phenomenal, phenomenal season.”
Defeating Fifer Middle School 29-23 in the Grotto Pizza bracket of the Capital Classic Feb. 17 at Sussex Academy, Beacon completed a perfect 13-0 season. The Riders made the Vikings earn their achievement.
“I’ve said since the beginning, as soon as we get talking on defense we’re going to be comfortable,” said eighth-grader Mikaela Gordon.
With the score knotted at 12-12 to begin the second half, Kha’Nihya Johnson showed why she was named the tournament MVP.
“I think I did my job, and I was able to include my teammates in the fun,” Johnson said.
By doing her job, the electric playmaker meant connecting twice from downtown to score eight of her team's nine third-quarter points to give the Vikings a 21-18 advantage to start the fourth.
Adding five more clutch points in the fourth, Johnson ended her Beacon career with a game-high 19 points and made sure her team was well positioned with a 27-23 lead when she left the floor after fouling out.
Gordon, working with four fouls down the stretch, said it was stressful for her and Johnson to operate without a margin for error. An emotional Johnson, whose play put her team over the top, thought she had let her teammates down, but was quickly comforted.
“When I realized there was only 10 seconds left, it felt great that I gave my all to my teammates,” Johnson said.
Gordon and eighth-grader Teagan Baker each added a free throw to secure the 29-23 victory and clinch perfection for the third straight season.
“It shows how much hard work we put in at our gym,” Gordon said. “I said before the game that we wanted it more and that we put in more work than them, and it showed on the scoreboard.”
Johnson will move on to the new Frederick D. Thomas Middle School in Lewes for her eighth-grade season, while Gordon, Lindsay Hassell, Baker, Erin Noonan, Laura Karen Lima and Kathryn Kralevich move on with an unblemished Beacon career.
In addition to Johnson winning MVP, Gordon joined her on the all-tournament team and seventh-grader Anna Neustadter won the Sportsmanship Award.
“Our coach and the players are amazing. It was a fun season,” Gordon said.
