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Cape girls’ basketball team defeats Mt. Pleasant 38-35

Vikings face No. 4 Sanford March 2
Cape sophomore guard Alia Marshall gets fouled as she goes to the basket by Mt. Pleasant’s Na’Caia Jackson. DAN COOK PHOTO
Dave Frederick
March 1, 2017
Sydney Pedersen hits a three. She drained four three-pointers and ended the game with 20 points. DAN COOK PHOTO
Abby E’Nama goes strong to the hoop. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape guard Mallory Jones splits two Green Knights defenders and hits a shot. DAN COOK PHOTO
Sydney Pedersen calmly stands at the foul line to take two shots to seal the Vikings’ victory. She scored 20 points in the game. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape’s Alia Marshall takes a reverse lay-up. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape forward Niya Mosley drives baseline past the Green Knights’ Taylor Smith. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape’s Abby E’Nama drives the baseline on Mt. Pleasant’s Zaria Newson. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape’s Sydney Pedersen fights to a jump ball with Green Knights center Zaria Newson. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape coach Lauren Carra drives home a point during a Vikings timeout. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape’s Sydney Pedersen drives baseline around Mt. Pleasant’s Cherokee Burton. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape celebrates its first-round victory over Mt. Pleasant. DAN COOK PHOTO
Cape coach Lauren Carra celebrates her first tournament win. DAN COOK PHOTO
Na”Caia Jackson drives to the basket. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTO
Zaria Newson shoots over the defense. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTO
Aniyah Green gets all ball against Sydney Pedersen. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTO

The Green Knights of Mt. Pleasant came into Cape’s Big House Feb. 28 as the No. 20 seed in the 24-team DIAA Girls’ Basketball Tournament. But they passed the eyeball test; they were tall, athletic and coached up.

Cape had scratched and clawed its way to a 12-8 regular season, dealing with injuries and disruptions to the starting lineup the entire season. Front-line players Dania Cannon and Logan Shuttleworth sat on the bench Feb. 28, each out for the tournament.

The Green Knights jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and a collective “rut roh” simmered throughout the Cape crowd. But Mt. Pleasant forgot to guard Sydney Pedersen, and she went off in the first half, scoring 15 points, including three three-pointers. Following the slow start, Cape went on a 14-2 run to lead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, then 24-17 at halftime.

Cutting to the chase in the second half, Cape’s Abby E’Nama made shots on one end and blocked shots on the other, as the Vikings held on for a 38-35 win, the first state tournament victory for second-year coach Lauren Carra.

“I was happy for Sydney, who has had an up-and-down season, to lead us to this victory. Thank God she found her shot at the right time,” Carra said. “And Abby made some big shots and blocks, and she managed to stay out of foul trouble.”

Cape only loses one player to graduation - E’Nama. Everyone else is coming back. And when asked, “Is coach Carra coming back?” the teacher/coach smiled and said, “Yes. I’ll be back.”

Cape was led in scoring by Pedersen with 20 points and E’Nama with nine.

Na’Caia Jackson was the high scorer for Mt. Pleasant with 14 points.

Cape is scheduled to play at No. 4 Sanford (17-3) Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m.

Also advancing were the Golden Knights of Sussex Central, who disposed of St. Thomas More 50-40. Central will take on No. 3 Caravel March 2.

No. 8 Sussex Tech earned a first-round bye and will host No. 24 Delaware Military Academy March 2. DMA, the last team to get into the field, beat No. 9 Laurel on the road 48-37. 

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