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Cape erases 10-point deficit, loses in OT

Vikings unable to hold late lead against CR
Nick Roth
February 1, 2013
Cape freshman guard Madison Smith has a layup blocked by Caesar Rodney's Chakia Young in the second half of the Vikings' 62-53 loss Jan. 29. BY NICK ROTH
Junior Jasmine Johnson reaches for a loose ball as it rolls toward the sideline in front of CR's Chakia Young and Cape senior Kadijah Doughty. BY NICK ROTH
Cape junior guard Shantel Hazzard watches a play develop in front of her. BY NICK ROTH
Cape freshman guard Madison Smith keys on CR's Kasandra Clayton-Lightburn. BY NICK ROTH
Cape freshman Madison MacElrevey keeps the ball away from the CR defender while looking for an open teammate. BY NICK ROTH
Cape freshman Madison MacElrevey unloads a pass in the Vikings' offensive zone. BY NICK ROTH
Cape senior Kadijah Doughty intercepts a pass and brings the ball up court. BY NICK ROTH
CR sophomore Whitney Victory boxes out Cape freshman Madison Smith. BY NICK ROTH
Cape freshman Allison Palmer plays tough defense against CR's Whitney Victory. BY NICK ROTH

It hasn't been an easy season for the Cape girls' basketball team and coach Lamont Hazzard, and it didn't get any easier Jan. 29 against Caesar Rodney. After winning their second game of the season against Polytech last week, the Vikings were on the verge of earning their second straight win against the visiting Riders, but it all came unraveled in the final minutes as they fell 62-53 in overtime.

"This would've been a big win," said Hazzard. "When we played Polytech the other day we were playing well, so we felt real good about winning this ball game."

Trailing by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, Cape battled back in the fourth to take the lead with just over three minutes left in the game. Junior Jasmine Johnson nailed a three-pointer with 4:51 left to tie the game and then another game-tying basket with 3:31 remaining. Johnson's hot hand gave the Vikings the lead shortly after when she hit another shot from beyond the arc to give Cape its first lead since the beginning of the second quarter.

But the Riders showed resiliency. With 29.9 seconds left, CR hit a three to cut the deficit to one point. A turnover on the ensuing inbound resulted in a Cape foul, putting CR's Shakyra Cephas on the line for two free throws. The Riders' junior hit the first, but missed the second to leave the game tied at 47-47, which it remained until the end of regulation.

"At the end of the game, we just didn't handle our business," Hazzard said. "We made some mental mistakes, and it cost us."

Overtime was all CR, as the Riders outscored the Vikings 15-6 to deal Cape its 10th loss of the season. The Riders improved to 7-6 with the win; their only loss in the Henlopen Conference came against Smyrna.

"They forced two turnovers [early in OT] and it seems like it was hard for us to recover after that," Hazzard said. "Those turnovers took a lot out of everybody."

Senior Kadijah Doughty led the way with 22 points. Johnson's big-time play resulted in 12 points, while freshman Madison Smith added seven points.

 

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