Cape boys stun Appo in season finale
The Cape Henlopen boys’ basketball team closed out the season Feb. 19 with an upset 70-56 win over Appoquinimink at the Big House.
The Vikings’ leading scorers were senior guard Luke D’Ambrogi and sophomore guard Ja’Vaughn Burton. D’Ambrogi brought in career highs of 18 points and five assists, with 12 of his points coming on three-pointers. Burton had 17 points, two assists and four three-pointers.
"I felt great. I wanted to come out ready to go in my last home game,” said D’Ambrogi. “I made two threes from the wing and got hot. They were all off assists, so I credit my teammates. They found me when I was open, and I was able to make them. As a team, we played together. We had a ton of assists, we didn't turn over the ball that much, and everything went down. It felt like we couldn't miss."
Junior forwards Sh'Kai Chandler and Jo Jo Kirby scored 12 points each, with Chandler grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds. Junior guard Kris Rushin added 11 points and six assists. For the first time in at least eight years, five Cape players scored in double figures.
Vikings seniors D’Ambrogi, forward Anthony Smith and team manager Zachary “Bubbles” Simpler were honored before the game.
Head coach Steve Re was ecstatic about Cape’s performance.
"We were on it,” Re said after his team shot 49 percent from the floor and racked up 17 assists. “We did so many things right tonight in terms of the way we practice and what we're supposed to do. It gives me a lot of hope with this team. Knocking off a team like Appo – not only beating them but beating them the way we did – [is a big win]. We had very, very few breakdowns on both sides of the floor. The press break, offensive execution, quick-hitters, defensive rotations – it was just a phenomenal effort all the way around. It excites me that these guys are starting to understand what I've been talking about all year long. It was a great way to finish the season.”
Re praised his seniors for their leadership.
“I'm proud of Luke and Anthony for the way they've held it together all year,” Re said. “For Luke to go out and have a night like he did, it couldn't happen to a better kid. He deserved that.”
Appoquinimink got 21 points from junior guard Kamal Yellowdy and 17 from junior guard Avery Richardson.
The Vikings finished the season at 8-12, while Appoquinimink fell to 13-7.
