Doughty's dozen days end with state title in shot put
Push comes to shove - Cape’s Kadijah Doughty won the state shot put title Feb. 9 at the University of Delaware Field House with a throw of 41-feet-7-inches on her first attempt. The title for the affable - glad she’s on our side - and versatile athlete culminated a crazy 12 days which began Jan. 29 in an overtime basketball loss to Caesar Rodney. During the waning seconds, DeDah was instructed by her coaches, “Foul her,” as the Riders were letting the air out of the basketball with the lead. A harmless two-handed shove by the school’s record holder and state champion in the shot resulted in a 60-year-old official calling a flagrant foul, no doubt thinking, “I’m glad she didn’t push me like that.” “Double Double” DeDah Doughty had 22 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. She was told she’d have to miss the next game versus Seaford and couldn’t even attend, so she went to the boys' road game at Seaford which, beginning with the JV contest, resembled a demolition derby. The next day, Feb. 1, she was down at the Worcester County Rec Center in Snow Hill, Md., winning the Henlopen Conference title in the shot put. On Feb. 7, she scored 21 in a win over St. Thomas More, then on Feb. 8 scored 18 in a loss to Smyrna. On Feb. 9 it was Big Yellow Taxi to Newark, and before the clock struck noon, DeDah was state champion in the shot put. Imagine a classroom teacher on Monday morning, Feb. 11 asking Kadijah, "So what’s been going in in your world?”
Fight the power - A tall, slender middle school athlete loaded with “maybe" potential is often described as a beanpole; and if you think about it, what the heck is a beanpole? Cape’s Jeremiah Cohen bought into the things teachers and coaches said he should be doing and one result happened Feb. 9 when Cohen won the indoor state title in the high jump, clearing 6-feet-2-inches by a mile, then shut it down. His in-flight form was just off; it happens to power players like Jeremiah - 6-foot-3, 210 pounds of muscle and no body fat - who would make a great stand-up backer on the outside at the next level. "Jeremiah goes to class and gets his grades, always has a smile for people,” said coach Matt Lindell. "He’s always making his teammates laugh, but in interviews he gets kind of quiet.” Maybe he can teach Grammy Award winners how to show a little humility.
Land and sea - Biathletes and triathletes do go on and on about their workouts, but not Brianna Hall of Sussex Tech. She just does them. A real deal power athlete, Hall won the triple jump state title Feb. 9 at the DIAA Indoor Track and Field State Championship with a leap of 34-feet-1-inch. She was also in the final of the 55-meter hurdles, long jump and high jump. Hall is also a member of the Ravens' swim team and will be competing in the Henlopen Conference meet Saturday, Feb. 16. A four-event swimmer, she will contest for a title in the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle and also swim on the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
Jump Street - Ryan Thomas of Milford did what he set out to do last Saturday at the DIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships: win a pair of state titles in the long jump and triple jump. Thomas jumped 22-feet-3-inches and 46-9, and if you’re asking, “In which events?” please return immediately to your elliptical orbiter for more biofeedback. Speaking of flying high, Thomas is also a top-notch academic student. Ryan and Cape’s Hall of Fame jumper Willie Savage are second cousins through their moms - Cartwright side - who are sisters. But don’t get me started.
Snippets - Caesar Rodney won the boys' indoor state track title Feb. 9 with Dover second and Sallies third. Cape placed 10th. The girls' title was won by Padua with Tatnall second and Smyrna third. Cape was tied for eighth with Sussex Tech. Expanded story and results in Gazette Friday, Feb. 15. A dumb reporter in the postgame locker room asked Kobe Bryant if LeBron and Dewayne were in the same league as Michael and Scotty. Bryant laughed: “Dude, are you serious? Six NBA titles!” If you need that repartee explained, you best get back to spin class. Go on now, git!
