Cape girls down Dover behind Watkins’ 16 points
The Cape girls’ basketball team outscored Dover 16-0 in the fourth quarter to power to a 45-35 Henlopen North victory Feb. 7, avenging a five-point loss Jan. 3. Cape is now 10-7 on the season.
Lexi Watkins led the Vikings with a career-high 16 points in the contest. Sydney Pedersen put up 10 points, including two from behind the three-point line. Dania Cannon scored nine.
After a turnover-ridden first quarter, Cape went into the halftime locker room down 10. The second half was a different story, as the Lady Vikings poured on intense defense and followed with a nasty offense that outscored the Lady Senators 27-5.
“Dania hit a big three for us at the beginning of the second half, and that just picked up our confidence and our play,” said Cape coach Lauren Carra. “We had good shots in the second quarter, but they just weren’t dropping for us. We let Dover dictate our play in the first quarter and we had quite a few turnovers. But that three was just huge.”
The second-year coach is pleased with her team’s maturity on the court.
“I think the girls took a huge step tonight,” said Carra. “We went down by 11, but the girls never stopped fighting, clawed their way back and eventually took over.”
“We really didn’t want to lose to Dover,” said sophomore guard Lexi Watkins, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half. “We are a much better team than the way we played in the first half. We came out and played scared, but we came out ready to play in the second half.”
Brionna Hill scored 14 points for the Senators.
The Vikings’ JV team defeated the Senators 40-24 despite having only five players dressed for the game due to injuries and sickness. Their record is now 11-4 on the season. Phelisha Scott scored 22 for Cape, with Rye Elliott and Lindsey Swontek each scoring seven.
The Vikings host Sussex Tech Thursday, Feb. 9.
