Cape unified falls to Dover in barn burner
In one of the most exciting and highest-scoring games of the season, the Cape unified basketball team fell to Dover 69-60 Feb. 18. The Vikings move to 2-9-1, while Dover is 9-2.
“This was a great game to see how far we have come this season,” said Cape coach Katie Collick. “It is always phenomenal to see the growth in all the players over the past 12 games. Dover is a fast-paced team that earlier in the season our players might have shied away from, but tonight everyone was out there ready to play.”
There were numerous fast breaks in the game where Zane Richardson, Harlan Jones, Luke Archer, Dan Gartman and Jaxon Benton finished with a basket or an assist. X Zimmer took his patented underhand shot for a bucket. Jaylin Tingle was a force in the paint with a basket. Ronald LeRoy made numerous assists to his teammates. Norman Rust and Austin Hastings kept their eight-point-per-game average intact.
“I thought the game went really well,” said Hastings. “The second half was big for us. It was a close game, and I love the close games, so I’m happy about how we played.”
“This season has been so much fun,” said junior unified partner Camilla Willis. “It’s been great to meet new people and build new friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“We have one more game to play, and I’ll do some of my signature dribbling moves in that game,” said Zackary Valles.
The Vikings were missing their unified partner leader and captain Bennett Steinmann, who was out with an injury.
“The other unified partners picked up where he would have been to make the spirit of the game come alive,” said Collick. “Bennett always embodies the true spirit of unified basketball through compassion, encouragement and genuine friendship with everyone on the team.”
The Vikings will conclude the season at 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, against Lake Forest at home.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
