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Cape boys come up short at Sussex Tech

December 12, 2019

Senior forward Ja’Shaun Johnson scored 20 points and ripped down 11 rebounds Dec. 10, as the Sussex Tech boys’ basketball team used a 32-10 mid-game surge to defeat cold-shooting Cape Henlopen 65-53.

The Ravens broke open a back-and-forth game late in the second quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a 12-point halftime lead behind a bevy of put-backs and free throws from Johnson. Tech never looked back from there, as the team pushed the lead to as many as 20 points in the third quarter and cruised to victory.

Senior point guard Skylar Johnson, who spent his freshman and sophomore years at Cape, carved up his former teammates to the tune of 16 points, seven boards, six assists and six steals. The Ravens (1-2, 1-2 Henlopen North) also got 13 points and three three-pointers from senior guard Kevin Custis. 

Junior guard Ja’Vaughn Burton led Cape (1-1, 1-1 Henlopen North) with 12 points, while senior guard Kris Rushin and junior guard Nate Sivels added nine points apiece. The Vikings struggled to find their range for the second straight game, shooting just 34 percent from the floor after a 29 percent effort in their season-opening win over Polytech. They compounded their off night with a subpar showing on the glass, giving up 22 offensive rebounds and losing the battle of the boards 46-26.

Cape looked ready to rumble with its cross-county rivals early on, taking a 10-6 lead late in the first frame. That’s when Burton picked up his second foul and was forced to sit on the bench for the remainder of the half. The Vikings were still ahead 21-19 when senior forward Sh’Kai Chandler was sidelined with his second foul, and Tech took advantage with a 17-3 run to end the half.

Cape head coach Shemik Thompson said the untimely whistles took their toll.

“We can’t afford to foul,” Thompson said. “We were playing great help defense by sliding and stopping guys with our body, but we picked up a couple fouls and guys had to sit. We were down to one starter [on the floor] before halftime, but I thought we played very well given those circumstances. When those fouls pile up, they just kill us.”

The Vikings return to the hardwood Friday, Dec. 13, when they host unbeaten Caesar Rodney. The Riders have mercy-ruled their first three opponents, winning those games by an average of 38 points.

 

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