Cape girls’ basketball surges past Polytech 70-44
Cape girls’ basketball launched into the sophomore season of coach Pat Woods Dec. 5 at Polytech with a convincing yet concerning 70-44 victory. Dania Cannon led with 18 points, followed by Abbey Hearn with 16, as Cape’s outside-to-inside threats led the scoring assault. Lauren Head came off the bench to score 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Ella Rishko joined Head in the bench rotation and stole the ball five times while dishing off five assists, creating a new basketball statistic, the “steal and deal.”
“I’m nervous about this game,” said coach Woods before tipoff. “Polytech was a .500 team last year, but they beat us at home and almost beat us here. They can get up and down the court.”
Lefty point guard Yaa Asantewa Afriyie has a serious case of the quicks and a deft handle for the Panthers. She led all scorers with 23 points.
The good news was that Cape raced to a 23-5 first-period lead and outscored the Panthers in the third period 16-6. That’s a 39-11 domination. But Poly prevailed in quarter two 17-14 and hung by one 17-16 in quarter four, so advantage Polytech 33-31.
Cape started Abbey Hearn, Morgan Mahoney, Mehkia Applewhite, Cannon and Hearn. Rishko and Head were part of the prime-time rotation.
“Lauren and I missed some practice time because of lacrosse in Florida, but we’re catching up,” Rishko said. “We are so well coached. We feel this team gets better every practice.
Archbishop Carroll takes down Vikings 63-28
Playing Pennsylvania’s Archbishop John Carroll High School at the 76ers Fieldhouse Dec. 7, the Vikings fell 63-28 in the Tip Off Classic to drop to 1-1 on the season .
Archbishop Carroll buried eight 3-pointers against the Vikings, dominating the game after a first quarter tied at 8 apiece.
The Vikings had no players in double figures but were paced by Mehkia Applewhite with 9 points and six rebounds. Carlin Quinn hit the boards grabbling 9 rebounds.
Cape will host Sussex Tech Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the Vikings’ home opener at the Big House.
The Ravens are also 1-1, having lost to Caesar Rodney before beating Smyrna, with both games on the Ravens home court.
