IR fights off Sussex Academy’s surging girls’ basketball team
Coming into the Feb. 15 game at Indian River, the Sussex Academy girls’ basketball team had won five of six games. While the Seahawks lost 43-24, there’s still optimism flying around.
“Being able to finally have all the pieces that we’ve been looking for start to come together shows with these wins,” said said Sussex Academy coach Rayona Benson. “It’s big going from 1-11, losing the second and third games by two points each, and then winning five out of seven.”
Things looked bright for the Seahawks early in the first quarter as sophomore point guard Deb Williams kicked the scoring off with an aggressive drive inside and a pair from the charity stripe. Sussex Academy trailed 9-4 at the end of the first.
The Seahawks had to do battle without senior Rachel Carey, making it tough to keep the game close. Senior Samira Zahraoui filled in valiantly, grabbing eight boards, but Indian River sophomore Jayla Hudson was a force inside. Indian River took a 24-8 lead into the second half.
“Samira did an awesome job grabbing rebounds. She did try to get herself a couple of buckets as well,” Benson said. “She drove to the basket a couple of times, and it was good for her.”
Hudson scored 10 points in the game and was on the receiving end of quite a few Mya Whittington entry passes as the Indians used ball movement to get clean looks inside.
Sussex Academy threatened in the third, trimming the lead to 32-18, but Indian River, led by Whittington’s game-high 12 points, pulled away for the 43-24 victory.
In addition to Zahraoui’s rebounding, a bright spot in the loss was the aggressive play of Williams in the first half, Emiley Bisaha in the second and junior Falisha Amisial throughout the contest. Williams scored four of her five points in the first quarter, Bisaha picked up all seven of hers in the second half, and Amisial led the team with 10 points. Using her reworked outside shot, Amisial connected twice from deep.
The girls hope to make it six wins in their final eight games when they play Salisbury Christian at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Salisbury, Md.
